If you don’t have a checkbook, the most widely accepted substitute for a voided check is a direct deposit authorization form from your bank, and most major banks let you download a pre-filled version in a few minutes. A bank verification letter, a recent bank statement, and a counter check from a branch will also do the job. Any of the four gives an employer or biller the same information a voided check would: your legal name, the bank’s name, the nine-digit routing number, and your account number.1Wells Fargo. Digitize the Payment Process With ACH
What the Substitute Has to Show
A voided check is just a convenient carrier for ACH transfer details. Whatever you send in its place needs to display the same four items clearly: your full legal name as it appears on the account, your bank’s name, your routing number, and your account number. Payroll forms often also ask whether the account is checking or savings, since the transaction codes differ.
You can pull your routing and account numbers from your bank’s app or website under account details. Many apps mask part of the account number by default, so tap the reveal icon to see the full string. Verify every digit before you send anything. When an ACH payment lands on the wrong account, the receiving bank returns it with an error code and the funds bounce back, which can push your first paycheck out by several days.2East West Bank. ACH Return Processing Guidelines
Direct Deposit Authorization Form From Your Bank
This is the easiest swap, and most payroll departments already expect it. A direct deposit authorization form is a standardized document your bank produces with your routing number, account number, and bank name pre-printed on it. Chase, for example, lets you sign in online, choose your checking account, and download a pre-filled form you can email straight to your employer.3Chase. Set Up Direct Deposit4Truist Bank. Direct Deposit Enrollment Form5Bank of America. Non-Federal Direct Deposit Enrollment Request Form
If you can’t find the form online, call your bank or walk into a branch. A teller can print one on the spot. Because these forms carry the bank’s branding and are formatted for payroll processors, they’re widely accepted and reduce the chance of a transcription error compared with handwriting your numbers on blank paper.
Bank Verification Letter
A bank verification letter is a formal document on the bank’s letterhead confirming that you hold an open account and listing the routing and account numbers. A bank representative signs or stamps it, which gives it more weight than a self-printed form. Some employers, landlords, and government agencies specifically ask for this format when they need proof of account ownership beyond the numbers themselves.
You’ll usually need to visit a branch or call to order one, and the bank may need the name and address of whoever should receive it. Fees vary. Some banks provide basic account confirmation letters for free, while others charge for a formal verification of deposit. U.S. Bank, for instance, charges $25 for mortgage-related verification requests and $15 for business credit inquiries, though government and housing assistance requests are free.6U.S. Bank. Verification of Deposit Contacts and Fees Ask about the cost before ordering, and clarify whether a simple account confirmation letter will satisfy the recipient or whether they need a full verification of deposit.
Recent Bank Statement or Account Screenshot
A recent bank statement doubles as proof of account ownership because it shows your name, the bank’s name, your account number, and usually the routing number. Most employers and billers accept a statement from the last 30 to 60 days, and you can download a PDF from your online banking portal without waiting for a paper copy.
If a full statement isn’t ready yet, a screenshot of your digital account summary can work, as long as the routing number, account number, and your legal name are all visible. Before you send either version, redact anything the recipient doesn’t need. Use a digital editing tool or a black marker to cover your balance, transaction history, and individual purchases. The recipient needs your banking coordinates, not a window into your spending. Leave the account identifiers and your name untouched.
Counter Check From Your Bank
If the recipient insists on an actual voided check and won’t accept the alternatives, ask your bank for a counter check, sometimes called a temporary or starter check. A teller prints it at the branch with your account and routing numbers on it. Write “VOID” across the front in large letters and hand it over just as you would a regular voided check.
Counter checks typically cost between $1 and $2 each, though some banks provide them free, especially for new account holders. Not every bank offers them, so call ahead before making the trip. This is a good fallback when the recipient’s system only accepts a check image.
Digital Wallets and Prepaid Cards
If a digital wallet is your primary account, you can still set up direct deposit. Venmo assigns you a routing and account number accessible through the app under Settings, then Direct Deposit, then Show Account Number. When the payroll form asks for a bank name, use Venmo’s FDIC-insured partner bank: The Bancorp Bank, N.A.7Venmo. Direct Deposit FAQ PayPal, Cash App, and similar services offer comparable direct deposit features with their own routing and account numbers.
Reloadable prepaid cards are less reliable. Most prepaid cards don’t have a routing number printed on them, and not all prepaid accounts support ACH direct deposit. If your card was issued by a bank and is tied to a deposit account, you may find routing information in the card’s app or by contacting the issuer. Many prepaid products simply aren’t built for payroll deposits, so confirm with your card provider before attempting setup.
You Can Choose the Bank
Federal law allows your employer to require direct deposit, but you get to pick the bank. Under Regulation E, no employer can force you to open an account at a specific institution as a condition of employment. Your employer can either let you choose where your paycheck lands or offer a choice between their designated bank and an alternative payment method such as a paper check.8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.10 Preauthorized Transfers
This matters if you’re being pressured to hand over details for a bank you don’t use. You can direct your pay into any checking or savings account you choose, including a credit union, an online-only bank, or a digital wallet that supports direct deposit. If your employer refuses to accept one of the alternatives above, name the account you want and remind them you have the right to choose your institution.
Sending the Information Safely
Your routing and account numbers are sensitive. Submit documents through your employer’s secure HR portal or benefits dashboard whenever possible. If email is the only option, send an encrypted message or a password-protected PDF and share the password through a separate channel such as a phone call.
Direct deposit scams are common. A fraudster posing as HR or payroll will email a form and ask you to update your banking details. Watch for mismatched sender names and email addresses, urgent language, and forms with errors or missing information. If you get an unexpected request to change or confirm your banking details, verify it by calling your HR department at a number you already have on file, not one printed in the suspicious email.