Direct Deposit Accounts provide not only the convenience of having your payroll check, your social security check, your IRS tax refund check, or your any other government checks direct deposited electronically into your personal banking account, they are also inherently a whole lot safer than having to go to a bank or to an automated bank teller machine to deposit a check.

In order to take advantage of Direct Deposit, you would need to setup direct deposit arrangement at the payer, as well as at your financial institution -your bank. You would have to have your accounting staff in payroll or someone from Human Resources (HR) flag your payroll account to deposit your payroll checks electronically into your checking, savings, or direct deposit bank account. Your employer would need the details such as the name and contact details of your bank (address, phone number, etc.) as well as your account number and your bank's routing code.

If you wish to have your social security check (SSI) directly deposited in your bank account, you will need to contact Social Security Administration Website, or call them up using their tall-free number: (800) 772-1213. You will need to provide them your bank's routing (transit) number, as well as your own account number.

If you wish to have your tax refund check directly deposited in your bank account, you will need to indicate so on your tax return. You would also need to include your bank's routing number as well as your own account number on your tax return.

You should check with your bank if they charge any Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or Direct Deposit fees. Many banks that offer no-frill checking accounts with no or minimal monthly fees, often charge a hefty fee (between $30 to $75) for every direct deposit or EFT transaction. It is highly advisable, therefore, to carefully review your bank's terms and conditions as they may apply to direct deposit transactions.

Direct deposits are usually safe, and are considered relatively more secure than the usual credit card transactions. Direct deposit arrangement are certainly more convenient, and are quite effective when it comes to preventing your checks from being lost in mail, or getting stolen from your curb-side mailbox.