How to Get and Fill Out the CIBC Direct Deposit Form

To set up direct deposit at CIBC, you can download a pre-filled CIBC direct deposit form (a PDF void cheque with your account details already on it) through CIBC Online Banking or the mobile app in about two minutes, or hand your payer a paper void cheque. Either document gives the payer the three numbers it needs: your five-digit branch transit number, CIBC’s three-digit institution number (010), and your seven-digit account number.

Download the Pre-Filled Form from Online Banking

The desktop route produces a PDF that already carries a digitized bank stamp confirming the account is valid.

  1. Sign on to CIBC Online Banking.
  2. Select the account you want deposits sent to.
  3. On the Account Details page, select “Manage My Account,” then choose “Void cheque/direct deposit info” from the dropdown. A preview of your void cheque opens.
  4. Select “Open PDF.” Print or save it, sign it, and give it to your payer.
1CIBC. Download Void Cheque and Set Up Direct Deposit

Download It in the CIBC Mobile Banking App

  1. Sign on to the CIBC Mobile Banking app.
  2. Select the account you want deposits sent to.
  3. Tap “Account Info,” then “View cheque.” A preview opens.
  4. Tap “Open PDF.” Save or print, sign, and deliver it to your payer.
1CIBC. Download Void Cheque and Set Up Direct Deposit

If you can’t access online or mobile banking, visit any CIBC branch and ask a representative to print your direct deposit information.

The Three Numbers on the Form

Every Canadian bank account is identified by three numbers, and getting any one of them wrong will delay or misdirect the payment.

  • Branch transit number, 5 digits. Identifies your home CIBC banking centre. Each branch has its own transit number, and the one tied to your account stays the same even if you start banking elsewhere.
  • Institution number, 3 digits. The code assigned to CIBC across Canada is 010.
  • Account number, 7 digits. Your unique deposit or personal line of credit account number.
2CIBC. Transit Number, Institution Number and Account Number

Some employer enrollment forms ask for an eight-digit “routing number” instead of separate transit and institution fields. Combine the five-digit transit number and the three-digit institution number into a single string, transit first, then institution.

Using a Void Cheque Instead

A paper cheque carries the same transit, institution, and account numbers printed along the bottom in magnetic ink, so many employers accept one in place of the PDF. Write “VOID” in large letters across the face before handing it over. That prevents anyone from cashing it while keeping the printed numbers legible.3CIBC. Void Cheques

If you don’t have a chequebook, the downloaded PDF serves the same purpose and is generally preferred because it eliminates any risk of the cheque being processed as a payment.

Filling Out the Blank Form Manually

CIBC also provides a blank printable direct deposit and pre-authorized debit form for situations where you need to enter details by hand. Beyond the banking numbers, it has two sections to complete:

  • Your information: title, first name, middle initial, last name, and full mailing address including city, province or territory, and postal code.
  • Banking information: the branch address, city, province or territory, and postal code of the CIBC banking centre where your account is held.
4CIBC. Account Information – Payroll Direct Deposit and PAD Form

At the bottom, print your full name, sign inside the signature box, and date the document. Double-check every digit of your transit and account numbers before signing. A single transposed digit can send your pay to someone else’s account, and sorting that out takes weeks.

Where to Send the Completed Form

Once the form is signed or your void cheque is ready, it goes to whoever pays you. The destination depends on the payer.

Employer Payroll

Most employers accept the PDF uploaded to a payroll portal or handed directly to human resources. Some still want a physical copy or a scanned attachment sent by secure email. Ask your payroll department which method they prefer and whether they need the original or a photocopy. Keep a copy for yourself, plus any confirmation showing the date you submitted it.

Canada Revenue Agency

For federal payments like tax refunds, the GST/HST credit, or the Canada Child Benefit, you don’t need to mail anything. You can register through CIBC or the CRA:

  • Through CIBC Online Banking, use the direct link inside the platform that passes your account details to the CRA. If the information matches what the CRA has on file, the update takes one to two business days.5CIBC. Set Up Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Direct Deposit
  • Through CRA My Account, sign in, go to your individual profile, scroll to Direct Deposit, select Edit, and update your banking details.6Canada Revenue Agency. Direct Deposit for Individuals

If you’re switching banks, don’t close your old account until the first CRA payment lands in your new CIBC account. The CRA gives the same advice: keep the old account open as a safety net.6Canada Revenue Agency. Direct Deposit for Individuals

What to Expect After You Submit

Processing speed depends on the payer. CRA updates made through your bank or through My Account typically take effect within one to two business days. Employer payroll departments usually need one to two full pay cycles to update their systems, so your first deposit under the new setup may not arrive until the second or third payday after you hand in the form.

During that transition window, the employer may issue a final paper cheque or deposit into a previously linked account. Watch your CIBC account history in the app or online, and check the transaction description on the first deposit to confirm the source and amount match what you expected.

If the deposit hasn’t appeared after two complete pay cycles, contact the payer’s payroll or accounts department. They can confirm whether the funds were sent and provide a trace number so CIBC can help locate the payment. The most common culprit is a mistyped transit or account number.

A Note on CIBC Bank USA Accounts

If you bank with CIBC’s American subsidiary rather than the Canadian operation, the Canadian form and void cheque won’t work. U.S. accounts use a nine-digit ABA routing number instead of the Canadian transit-and-institution pair. The CIBC Bank USA routing number is 071006486.7CIBC Bank USA. Personal Checking Accounts Your employer’s form will ask for that routing number plus your CIBC Bank USA account number.

Keep the Numbers Safe

Your transit and account numbers are sensitive. Anyone who has them could potentially set up a pre-authorized withdrawal. Only hand your void cheque or direct deposit form to a payroll department, a government agency, or an institution you already have a payment relationship with, and never email it to an unverified address. The PDF is safer than a paper cheque because it can’t be accidentally cashed. Turn on deposit and withdrawal alerts in the CIBC mobile app so you see every transaction as it posts, and shred old cheques and forms after you switch accounts. If you spot an unauthorized transaction, contact CIBC immediately.