Direct deposit, explained

Why this trips people up

"Set up a direct deposit" is the most common bonus requirement — and the most common reason bonuses fail. Banks don't all define it the same way, and the offer's fine print is what actually counts.

What usually qualifies

• Payroll from an employer.
• Government payments like Social Security or a pension.
• Some ACH credits pushed from a payroll provider or another institution, depending on how they're coded.

What often does NOT qualify

• Transfers between your own accounts (moving money from another bank you own).
• Person-to-person payments — Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App.
• Debit-card loads, ATM, mobile-check, or cash deposits.
• Some "ACH push" transfers — banks increasingly filter these out.

How banks tell the difference

ACH transactions carry a code. Payroll-style deposits are often flagged as a true direct deposit, while one-off transfers may be coded differently and rejected. You usually can't see the code, which is why results vary between banks for the same kind of transfer.

How to play it safe

• Use real payroll when you can — split a portion to the new account.
• If you must test an external transfer, send a small amount first and confirm it posted as a direct deposit before relying on it.
• Check recent reports for the specific bank — what counts at one may not at another.
• Read the offer's exact wording: the bonus terms define what qualifies.

Get this right and most checking bonuses are straightforward. Browse offers in the directory.