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Paycheck FAQs
What can I do to get more employees in our department to sign up for direct deposit?
All employees should be informed that direct deposit is a cost-free employee benefit which is highly encouraged by the Division of Finance and Payroll Services. Efforts to communicate this message include: presentations at each New Employee Orientation that provide details of how the ACH process works, the many advantages of direct deposit, and an opportunity to complete the authorization form; printed promotional material available from Payroll for departments to distribute to their employees; Direct Deposit Campaigns for non-participating employees, conducted by Payroll at the invitation of department heads and directors. In addition, Personal assistance to answer questions and assist individual employees in completing the authorization form is provided by Payroll staff as needed.
What is Direct Deposit?
Direct deposit is the electronic transfer of payment to an individual’s checking or savings account. It is a proven, safe and confidential way to receive your payment.
How do I begin using Direct Deposit?
- Complete a direct deposit authorization form. Forms can be found on the Payroll website, obtained from the Payroll office or your employing department.
- Return the form to Payroll Services or your departmental payroll contact.
Can I continue to use my hometown bank?
Yes. Direct Deposit can be made through any bank or financial institution that is a member of Automated Clearing House (ACH). A foreign bank must have a correspondent bank in the U.S.
How can I be sure my deposit was made?
Employees who have chosen to receive an "electronic notification of earnings" will access their pay information through HRConnect instead of receiving a paper retainer. Employees who have not made this election will receive a retainer from their departmental payroll contact. Paper retainers are made available by Payroll Services to departments two days before payday.
For more information, please visit the Electronic Notification of Earnings page.
I am interested in direct deposit but I don't have an account. Can I have my payroll deposited into someone else's account?
Although Texas A&M University has no policy against this, some financial institutions do not allow deposits to be made if the depositor's name is not on the account. Employees should verify the policies of their specific financial institution regarding this type of deposit before making this election.
Can I stop using direct deposit if I change my mind, or change banks while I am on direct deposit?
Yes. Indicate the change you would like to make on the direct deposit authorization form. Notify Payroll Services before you close an account.
When do I have access to the money?
Your payment is available to you at the opening of business on payday. Your financial institution can tell you exactly when your money will be available.
* Why is Direct Deposit good for consumers?
Direct Deposit is secure, convenient and fast. With Direct Deposit there are no lost checks, it saves consumers from waiting in lines at the bank, and gives many people access to their money earlier than a traditional check.
* Are checks safe?
According to a study by Tinucci & Associates for NACHA, "While the banking system itself is secure, the sheer number of times a check must be passed from hand to hand while it is being processed means there is less security available."
In short, checks are usually safe, but Direct Deposit is safer. For Banks, check fraud is a $4.3 billion annual problem. Direct Deposit can eliminate these problems. It is the most private, safe, proven way to transfer money.
* Why should I help save my employer money?
Direct Deposit saves money for employees, companies, the government and society. Most employees are aware that a stable and healthy company provides a reasonable measure of job security, as well as benefits community and country.
* Source: ElectronicPayments.org.
Will student workers and wage employees who are on direct deposit be able to access their pay information through HRConnect?
Yes. Students can now view their pay information on HRConnect. They can also view and print their W-2 on HRConnect.
I understand that the confirmation from HRConnect is received via email after an employee selects the option for electronic notification. How is the message sent if a student worker does not have an e-mail address in the payroll system or HRConnect?
The employee should call Benefits in Human Resources at 845-4105 or Payroll at 845-2711 to request assistance. A temporary PIN will be assigned allowing access to HRConnect. Once logged into the system, the correct email address can be entered.
Does the automatic email that is received by the employee after payroll has been processed contain the earnings data?
No. Because email is not necessarily a secure application, no confidential information is included in the message. The automated message simply tells the employee that the earnings information is available on HRConnect. Using his or her SSN and PIN, the employee can then access the data by signing on to HRConnect.
When department payroll staff receive the ACH earnings statements from Payroll Services, how will we know who selected electronic notification and who should have a printed stub for that payday?
A report will be included with the earnings statements that are distributed by Payroll Services. The report lists all employees being paid via direct deposit within the department's pay sequence. If the employee has chosen electronic notification, "Email" will be printed to the left of the name, which indicates that no statement was printed. For any employee who has not made this choice, the department will receive a printed statement for distribution to the individual.
