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Direct deposit gets paychecks into employee bank accounts automatically. No paper checks to print, sign, or distribute. Most employees prefer it, and it’s easier for you.

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Setting Up Your Funding Account

Before employees can receive direct deposits, you need a bank account to fund them. Go to Settings → Payroll → Funding Account. You’ll need:
  • Bank name
  • Routing number (9 digits)
  • Account number
  • Account type (checking is most common)
Pluvel verifies the account with test deposits — two small amounts (usually under $1) that you’ll need to confirm.
Verification takes 1-2 business days. You can’t run payroll until the funding account is verified.

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How Funding Works

When you run payroll:
  1. 4 business days before check date — We calculate the total payroll amount
  2. 2 business days before — We initiate a debit from your funding account
  3. Check date — Money arrives in employee accounts
The 4-day lead time is required by the ACH network. Plan your payroll submissions accordingly.

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Employee Bank Accounts

Each employee needs their bank info on file. Employee self-service: Employees log into Pluvel and enter their own bank details. They verify with micro-deposits, just like the company account. Admin entry: You can enter bank info on behalf of employees. Go to the employee profile → Payroll → Direct Deposit. Either way, bank info is encrypted and stored securely. Only designated admins can view full account numbers.

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Split Deposits

Employees can split their paycheck across multiple accounts:
  • Send $500 to savings, rest to checking
  • Send a fixed amount to one account, percentage to another
  • Up to 3 deposit destinations
Employees set this up in their profile, or you can configure it for them.

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Verification Process

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Company Account

  1. You enter bank details
  2. Pluvel sends two micro-deposits (e.g., 0.12and0.12 and 0.34)
  3. You log into your bank, find the deposits
  4. Enter the amounts in Pluvel to verify

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Employee Accounts

Same process, but employees do it themselves:
  1. Employee enters their bank info
  2. We send micro-deposits
  3. Employee confirms the amounts
  4. Account is verified
Unverified employee accounts can’t receive direct deposits. Payroll will issue them a paper check until they verify.

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Changing Bank Accounts

Employee changes: Employees can update their own bank info anytime. New accounts need verification. There’s a brief hold period (usually 2 pay cycles) for security. Company changes: Changing your funding account requires re-verification. Plan ahead — you can’t run payroll during the verification period.
Be cautious of employee requests to change bank accounts right before payday, especially via email. This is a common fraud vector. Verify unusual requests through a separate channel.

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Paper Checks

If an employee can’t or won’t use direct deposit:
  • They won’t enter bank info (or you’ll skip it)
  • Pluvel generates a pay stub
  • You print and sign a check manually
  • Mark it as paid in Pluvel
Paper checks are tracked separately. You’ll see which employees get checks vs. direct deposit on each payroll.

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Prenote Transactions

When you add a new bank account, Pluvel sends a “prenote” — a $0 test transaction to verify the account exists and routing is correct. This happens automatically during verification and catches errors before real money moves.

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Troubleshooting

Check the routing and account numbers. If they’re wrong, deposits go to the wrong place. If correct, wait 3-4 business days — some banks are slow. If still nothing, try a different verification method (instant verification via Plaid is available for some banks).
This usually means insufficient funds or an account issue. We’ll alert you immediately. You’ll need to resolve it with your bank and potentially run a late payroll once the account is in good standing.
First, confirm the account is verified. Then check the payroll status — if it says “deposited,” contact the employee’s bank. Deposits can take 1-2 days to appear depending on the receiving bank.
Some savings accounts work, but many have transaction limits (often 6 per month under Regulation D). A checking account is safer for payroll funding.

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Security

Direct deposit involves moving money, so security matters:
  • Bank info is encrypted at rest and in transit
  • Only designated admins can view full account numbers
  • Changes to bank info are logged in the audit trail
  • Employees are notified when their bank info changes
  • You can require two-factor auth for payroll operations

Running payroll

Once direct deposit is set up, run your first payroll.

Employee setup

Add employees and their payment preferences.