Employee payment methods

If you're set up for a check payment method, you can change this to direct deposit from your Gusto account. 

You'll be prompted to sign a Direct Deposit Authorization form. You can find this form for future reference in the Documents section of your account.

1. Sign into your Gusto account.
2. Click the Job & Pay tab.
3. Under Payment Method: Check, click Add Method.
4. Enter your routing number, account number, account type, and display name—make sure all information is accurate.
   • We'll send a test transaction to the account number entered—if we receive an error, the information may need to be updated and verified. This may take a few days.
5. Click Save.

Once the account has been verified, you'll be paid via direct deposit on future payrolls that haven't already been processed. 

Add multiple bank accounts and split payments

Employees can add up to 5 bank accounts for direct deposit—follow the steps below to add accounts.

1. Click the Job & Pay tab.
2. Under the first listed bank account, click Add Method. 
3. Enter the new account's routing number, account number, account type, and display name.
4. Click Save.
5. Under Payment Method: Direct Deposit, click Split Paycheck.
6. Split funds into the different accounts by percentage or flat dollar amounts.
7. Click Save.

If your payment method is set to direct deposit, you can change this to check directly from your personal Gusto account.

1. Go to the Job & pay section of your employee account.
2. Next to the bank account you're using for direct deposit, click Edit.
3. Click Remove Account.
4. If you're an employee, repeat this process if you have multiple bank accounts set up for direct deposit.
   • At this time, contractors cannot have multiple bank accounts set up. 

You'll now be paid by check on future payrolls. Your employer is responsible for distributing the check to you. 

In Gusto, employees can be paid through payroll cards, also known as prepaid debit cards. At this time, payroll cards are not supported for contractors and we do not offer Gusto-specific payroll cards.

How to use a payroll card with Gusto

Have your employee enter their payroll card's routing number and account number in their Gusto profile, and we'll deposit funds directly on the card every pay period. If their card is lost or stolen, have them add a new card or bank account information and delete the old card.

Where to get a payroll card

A good payroll card is Serve card by American Express. They have a lower fee structure and better user experience relative to other payroll cards. 

Learn more or sign up on their website.

Gusto Spending Account—an alternative option

Gusto does not offer payroll cards (prepaid debit cards), but we do offer the option for employees to apply for a Gusto Spending Account¹—a personal checking account—which comes with a debit card².

Unlike a payroll card, a Gusto Spending Account is a personal bank account that an employee must apply for directly. There are several benefits to this type of account, but approval is not guaranteed.

_{1. The Gusto Cash Account, savings goals, and spending account are issued by nbkc bank, Member FDIC.}

_{2. The Gusto Debit Card is issued by nbkc bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.}

After you've entered your account and routing number for direct deposit payments, we'll verify your bank account with a one cent test transaction. If we receive an error, the information may need to be updated and verified. This may take a few days and payments may not go through on payday until the account has been verified.

We'll send you and your payroll administrator an email if we're unable to successfully process the test transaction. If this happens you should update the account or routing number as soon as possible. You and your payroll administrator will receive emails every three business days as a reminder that the bank account details need to be updated.

Gusto accepts alphanumeric routing and account numbers but does not support account numbers with dashes, semicolons, commas, questions marks, etc.

Once updated, we'll automatically resend the payments to the updated direct deposit account in the next few business days. If no action is taken within 12 business days, we'll return the direct deposit payment back to the company's bank account.