Direct Deposit : Frequently Asked Questions

What is Direct Deposit? Where can I have my Paycheck directly deposited? What are the advantages to Direct Deposit? What is a Routing Number and how can I find it? Once I submit my Direct Deposit Authorization Form how long before my paychecks are directly deposited? How will I know how much money was deposited into my account? What should I do if I change financial institutions? Does Direct Deposit cost me any money? Is my privacy protected with Direct Deposit?

Q. What is Direct Deposit?

A. Direct Deposit is the electronic transfer of your Ithaca College payroll check into your checking or savings account.  Deposits are made and available the morning of each payday.

Q. Where can I have my Paycheck directly deposited?

A. You can have direct deposit set up for any bank in the United States, for either your checking or savings account.  You can also have direct deposit to multiple accounts.

Q. What are the advantages to Direct Deposit?

A. There are several advantages to direct deposit.  With direct deposit your paycheck is in your account the morning of payday.  You do not have to go to the bank and wait in line to cash your check.  With direct deposit you do not have to worry about receiving your pay while you are out of the office or out of town.  Direct deposit also eliminates lost, stolen, or stale-dated checks.  Direct deposit is environmentally friendly.  There is no paper waste and you save on gas!

Q. What is a Routing Number and how can I find it?

A. The Routing Number, also called the ACH number, is your banks 9 digit identifying number.  It can be found on the bottom left hand corner of your personal checks.  If you cannot find your routing number please contact your bank. 

Q. Once I submit my Direct Deposit Authorization Form how long before my paychecks are directly deposited?

A. The first paycheck after you submit your direct deposit form will be an actual check.  We will process a test run with no dollar amounts the first pay to make sure the account numbers have been recorded correctly.

Q. How will I know how much money was deposited into my account?

A. Ithaca College employees view their pay on-line through “IC Employee Self Service” or IC Student Employee Self Service.”  To access this go to http://vail.ithaca.edu/ace and click on the Parnassus tab located at the top of the screen.  The information you receive online contains the same information as your paycheck stub.

Q. What should I do if I change financial institutions?

A. You will need to provide the Payroll Office your new account information by completing a new Direct Deposit Authorization Form or by completing the changes on line through Self Service.  Be sure to leave the old account open until the first Direct Deposit transaction appears in your new account.

Q. Does Direct Deposit cost me any money?

A. No.  Direct Deposit will not cost you anything.  In fact, many financial institutions offer free checking to consumers using direct deposit.

Q. Is my privacy protected with Direct Deposit?

A. Yes, in fact your privacy will increase when you use Direct Deposit.  There are less people involved with direct deposit than with processing a paper check and there will be no paper record of your pay.