Direct Deposit FAQs

Bowling Green State University employs thousands of individuals across faculty, post-doctoral, administrative, classified, and student positions. To process payroll in a timely and accurate manner, it is important to utilize tools that improve efficiency and reduce the risk of errors. Direct deposit provides a secure and reliable method of payment, ensuring employees receive their earnings on time while minimizing delays and administrative processing associated with paper checks.

It is recommended that any additions or changes to your bank account information be made at least one week prior to your scheduled pay date. This allows sufficient time for the update to be processed before payroll is finalized.

If you are unsure whether your change was made in time, please contact the Payroll Office at 419-372-2201 for confirmation.

For added security and to help prevent fraud, employees are limited to one direct deposit change per day. If you need to make an additional update, please return to the direct deposit setup page on the following day.

If a direct deposit is rejected due to a closed account or incorrect banking information, the funds will be returned to the University by the bank. Once the funds are received, Payroll will contact you to obtain updated banking information and reissue the payment.

*Please Note - the return process can take up to seven (7) business days to complete.

Yes. BGSU allows you to split your paycheck into (at most) three bank accounts based on the selections made during the direct deposit setup process.

No. BGSU does not issue paper checks to employees. All employees are required to have a valid bank account on file in order to receive their pay through direct deposit.

No. Direct deposit cannot be set up until you have been officially hired and your employment information has been processed in the BGSU payroll system. Please check back closer to your start date to enter your direct deposit information prior to your first paycheck.

Your bank can provide your routing and account numbers for your savings account. This information is typically available on a direct deposit authorization form, a bank letter, or an account verification letter. If you’re unsure, contact your bank and request the information needed to set up direct deposit.

Maybe. Some credit unions use the same base account number for both checking and savings accounts and require additional digits to identify the specific account type. Not all credit unions follow this format, so it’s best to contact your credit union to confirm whether any additional information is needed when setting up direct deposit.

Unfortunately the answer is no. Direct deposit requires a U.S.-based bank account. Financial institutions outside of the United States do not operate on the same electronic payment system used for U.S. payroll processing, so deposits cannot be sent to international accounts.

The numbers printed along the bottom of a paper check are called MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) numbers. These numbers are printed using special magnetic ink and allow banks to quickly and securely process checks.

The MICR line typically includes:

·         Routing number (9 digits): Identifies the bank

·         Account number: Identifies your specific account

·         Check number: Identifies the individual check (not used for direct deposit setup)

These numbers are essential for processing electronic transactions, including setting up direct deposit, as they ensure funds are routed accurately and securely.