Where to find the bank account section in Workday
Your bank account information in Workday lives in your personal profile, not in payroll settings. Log in to Workday, then click your name or profile icon in the top right corner. Select Profile from the dropdown menu.
Once you're in your profile, look for a section called Banking Information, Direct Deposit, or Payment Elections—the exact name varies by company. If you don't see it immediately, scroll down or look for a tab labeled Personal or Financial. Some employers hide banking details under Benefits or Payroll instead, so check your company's Workday setup guide if you're stuck.
Key Takeaways
- Bank account changes in Workday are made through your personal profile, accessed by clicking your name in the top right corner.
- You will need your new bank's routing number and your account number before you start, and the change typically takes effect on your next paycheck.
- Most employers require you to verify the new account with a small test deposit before full paychecks are sent there.
- If you change your account mid-pay period, your employer may split that paycheck between your old and new accounts, or hold it until the next cycle.
- Contact your payroll department if the change doesn't appear to take effect after two pay periods, or if you need to reverse it quickly.
What information you need before you start
Gather your new bank's routing number and your new account number before you open Workday. The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank; you can find it on a check, on your bank's website, or by calling the bank directly. Your account number appears on checks, statements, and in your online banking portal.
You will also need to know whether the account is checking or savings. Workday requires you to specify this because the bank uses it to process the transfer correctly. If you're unsure, log into your bank's website or call customer service—they can confirm both numbers in under a minute.
The step-by-step process to add or change your account
In the Banking Information section, look for a button labeled Add, Edit, or Change Bank Account. Click it to open the form. Enter your new bank's routing number, your account number, and select whether it's checking or savings. Some versions of Workday also ask for the bank name, which you can type or select from a dropdown.
After you fill in the fields, click Submit or Save. Workday will show you a confirmation screen with the account details you entered. Review this carefully—a single wrong digit in the routing or account number means your paycheck goes to the wrong place. If something is wrong, click Edit or Back and correct it before confirming.
Once you submit, Workday usually displays a message saying the change is pending or will take effect on your next pay date. Write down the date shown on screen, because that's when the new account should receive your paycheck.
When the change takes effect and what to expect
A bank account change in Workday typically takes effect on your next scheduled pay date after you submit the change. If you change your account on a Monday and you're paid every other Friday, the new account receives money on the next Friday that falls within the pay period after your submission.
Before your first full paycheck hits the new account, your employer may send a test deposit—usually a small amount like $0.01 to $1.00. This is standard practice and serves two purposes: it confirms the account number is correct, and it gives you a chance to verify the deposit appeared before your real paycheck is sent. Check your new account within 2 to 3 business days of submitting the change. If you don't see the test deposit, contact your payroll department immediately, because it means something is wrong with the account information.
If you change your account in the middle of a pay period, your employer may split that paycheck between your old and new accounts, or they may hold the entire check until the next pay cycle begins. Ask your payroll department which approach your company uses, especially if you're changing accounts close to payday.
What happens if you make a mistake
If you entered the wrong routing number or account number, you have a short window to fix it. Go back to your Banking Information section in Workday and click Edit. Correct the information and resubmit. If you catch the error before payday, the corrected account will receive your paycheck instead.
If your paycheck was already sent to the wrong account, contact your payroll department and your bank. Your payroll team can issue a replacement check or attempt to reverse the direct deposit, though reversals are not always possible once the money has been processed. Your bank can also help trace the deposit and may be able to recover it if it went to an account that doesn't belong to you. This process takes time, so act quickly if you discover an error.
Removing an old bank account or setting up multiple accounts
If you're replacing an old account entirely, you can usually delete it from Workday once the new account is active and receiving paychecks correctly. In your Banking Information section, find the old account and look for a Delete or Remove button. Some employers require you to wait one full pay cycle before deleting the old account, to make sure nothing is still being sent there.
Some employers allow you to split your paycheck between two accounts—for example, sending 80 percent to checking and 20 percent to savings. If your company offers this, Workday will show an option to Add Another Account in the Banking Information section. You can set the dollar amount or percentage for each account. This feature is not universal, so check with your payroll department to confirm whether your employer supports it.
Troubleshooting: when the change doesn't work
If two pay periods have passed and your paycheck is still going to your old account, log back into Workday and verify that your change was actually saved. Go to your Banking Information section and confirm the new account details are showing. If they're not there, the submission may have failed—try adding the account again, and watch for any error messages that appear.
If the new account details are showing in Workday but your paycheck still isn't arriving there, contact your payroll department. Provide them with the date you made the change and the account number you entered. They can check whether the change was processed on their end and whether there's a delay or a system issue. In rare cases, Workday syncs with your employer's payroll system on a delay, and payroll needs to manually push the change through.
If you need to reverse the change immediately—for example, if you closed the new account or realized you entered the wrong one—call your payroll department right away rather than trying to fix it in Workday. If payday is within 24 hours, they may be able to stop the deposit and send it to your old account instead, but only if you reach them before the payroll batch is processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a bank account change to show up in Workday?
The change appears in your Workday profile immediately after you submit it, but it doesn't take effect for payroll until your next scheduled pay date. The actual deposit to your new account may take one to two business days after payday, depending on your bank's processing speed.
What if I don't see a test deposit?
Check your new account for three business days after submitting the change. If no test deposit appears, the routing or account number is likely wrong. Go back to Workday, verify both numbers against your bank statement or online banking portal, and correct any errors. Then contact your payroll department to let them know you're fixing it.
Can I change my bank account if I'm on leave or out of the office?
Yes. You can change your bank account in Workday from anywhere you have internet access. The change will take effect on your next pay date regardless of whether you're working. Just make sure you have your new bank's routing and account numbers before you start.
What if my employer uses a different payroll system, not Workday?
This guide covers Workday specifically. If your employer uses ADP, Gusto, Paychex, or another system, the process is similar but the menu names and button labels will be different. Check your employer's payroll documentation or contact your payroll department for instructions specific to your system.
Can I set up direct deposit to a savings account instead of checking?
Yes. When you enter your account information in Workday, you'll select whether it's checking or savings. Your bank's routing number works the same way for both. Just make sure you have the correct account number for the savings account you want to use.