Payroll Management Services

What are the advantages of Direct Deposit of Payroll Checks?

Direct Deposit of payroll checks is a convenient way to have your pay automatically deposited on payday into your checking or savings account or other account of your choice including credit union or money market fund accounts. Your money is immediately available to you on payday, even if you are on vacation, on a business trip, out ill, or unable to go to the bank because of bad weather or lateness leaving work.

Must I participate in the Direct Deposit program?

No. This benefit is being offered to you as a convenient alternative to a paycheck.

How do I start EFT or direct deposit?

By completing and returning an authorization form(s) to the Human Resources Office (Room A-201). It you currently have more than one Job Sequence Number (JSN) and receive more than on pay check, you must fill out an application for each check you want to have direct deposited. Employees who have multiple JSN's may use different banks or credit unions on each individual "Net Pay Authorization Release Form" submitted.

Dependent upon which type of account you will be using for direct deposit, you must attach a voided check, preprinted savings deposit slip, or header of a recent bank savings statement. If you are depositing funds into a savings account or a credit union's saving or checking account (see below), you will also have to obtain your bank or credit union's ABA number, Forms and instructions are available in the Human Resources Office (Room A-201).

If I only have one JSN and receive one pay check, can my pay be deposited into two different accounts?

Not at this time.

Can my account be a joint account?

Yes, The program is very flexible and does not require any changes to your present account. As you complete the authorization form, please note that regardless of which name you use at work, you must sign the authorization are using the name under which you bank.

Can I use my money market account?

Yes. Be aware, however, that all banks handle money market accounts differently. Some banks treat these accounts as savings while others handle them as checking. You must check with your bank to see whether they classify money markets as savings or checking accounts. You must also obtain the ABA number from your bank.

Can I use my credit union account?

Yes, but may credit unions use another bank to process their direct deposits. You must contact your credit union to obtain the ABA number that is used for direct deposits. Because many credit unions use a processing bank, employees should ask their credit union when direct deposit or EFT funds are available.

If I currently have credit union deductions made, can I also have direct deposit?

Yes. To achieve this end, you may do either of the following:

Continue the deduction for your credit union. File a direct deposit authorization form to have the remainder of you check deposited to a credit union or bank.

Contact the Municipal Credit Union or the PSC Credit Union to stop your credit union payroll deduction. File a direct deposit authorization form to deposit your total net pay in the credit union or bank of your choice.

How will I know when and if my pay has been deposited into my account?

On payday, you will receive your regular pay stub. The stub will show your gross and net pay, your Federal, State, City withholding, and all other itemized deductions. The amount deposited will also be noted on your monthly account statement from the bank.

If I elect direct deposit, when will my money be available?

On payday. With direct deposit, your bank should receive your payroll deposit the night before payday, ensuring that your account is updated and your money available for use on payday. You should be able to write checks or withdraw cash from your account and you should have access to your earnings through electronic banking networks such as NYCE, MAC, CIRRUS, PULSE, PLUS, SAM cash machines.

Do I need to notify the payroll office if I change my bank account?

Yes. You must cancel your old enrollment and re-enroll by filling out a new authorization form(s). It is possible that there will be a break in direct deposit and you will receive one or more paper paychecks before EFT resumes.

May I discontinue direct deposit and receive a paper check again?

Yes. You simply sign and complete a cancellation authorization.

Will the EFT program maintain the confidentiality of my earnings?

Yes. The payroll data is automatically transmitted to your financial institution.

Must I meet any qualifications to be eligible for direct deposit?

Yes. To enroll, you must be in an active for pay leave status (this status includes all paid leaves, e.g. sick, annual, fellowship, travia) and your bank ABA number must be valid.

Does meeting the qualifications guarantee that I will be paid through Direct Deposit?

No. All your account information must be correct. Incorrect information will cause you to be removed from direct deposit. You will receive paper paychecks until you have re-enrolled with the correct information. In addition, some ordered deductions (e.g. Family Court, IRS Levy, etc.) and Leave without pay situations may cause you to receive a replacement or supplemental paper paycheck for the current pay period only. Direct Deposit should resume for subsequent pay periods.

What happens if I am overpaid?

You will receive a paper paycheck for the correct amount instead of direct deposit. Direct deposit will resume for subsequent pay periods. In some instances, OPA, if directed by your payroll officer, may have to deduct overpayment direct deposit funds from your bank or credit union account. In those instances, you will receive paper checks due you until your payroll officer receives confirmation that overpayment monies have been successfully recovered from your account.

What do I do if my pay is not in my account on payday morning?

First, check with your payroll officer (Human Resources Office - Room A201 - Extension 5436). You may not have been eligible for direct deposit this pay period due to leave without pay, or you may have submitted incorrect account information and the Human Resources Office may have been unable to notify you in time.

If your payroll officer verifies that you were to receive direct deposit this pay period, see a customer service representative at your bank and ask if the bank has posted ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions and/or updated its ATM system. On rare occasions, your bank may not have posted ACH (direct deposit) transactions yet or may not have updated its ATM system. If your net pay is not available at 9:00 a.m. late posting/updating is most often the reason. Banks are required to post ACH (direct deposit) transactions by midnight of the settlement date (pay day).

If your bank tells you that ACH transactions are posted later in the day, your net pay should appear in your account shortly after the time given. If you have written checks, they should not be returned for insufficient funds because the bank has posted ACH (direct deposit) transactions after 9 a.m. Banks must post all credits (net pay in this instance) before posting debits (checks).

In the rare instance that your bank has posted ACH transactions/updated its ATM system and your net pay amount is not reflected in your account, see your payroll clerk (Human Resources Office - Room A201 - Extension 5436). A timekeeping/payroll action by your agency and/or OPA may have caused you to receive a paper paycheck or replacement check for this pay period and you have not received the notification in time. Your payroll clerk will confirm whether or not you were to receive a direct deposit this pay period. If you were due a direct deposit, your payroll clerk will contact the Office of Payroll Administration (OPA). Your net pay credit may have been returned due to some error in account information or other reasons.

OPA will initiate an investigation. OPA, by Citywide contract, has three business days (5:00 p.m., of Tuesday following pay day) to either confirm that funds are in your account or provide a replacement paper paycheck.