Set up direct deposit
Direct deposit electronically transfers employee pay to their bank accounts. When a payroll run is created, OnePayroll automatically creates payment batches for employees, grouped by payment method. Batches for employees with an electronic payment method are processed from the Payroll Payments page.
How it works
- Each employee has one or more Employee Payment Method records with bank details.
- You create a payroll run. OnePayroll creates payment batches grouped by payment method.
- On the Payroll Payments page, select the employee electronic payment batch and choose the Pay action.
- OnePayroll generates a payment file and attaches it to the payment batch.
- You download the file and transmit it to your bank.
Set up Employee Payment Methods
Bank account information is stored directly on the Employee Payment Method record. There is no separate bank account table — each payment method holds the bank details for that payment destination.
To set up a direct deposit payment method:
- Open the Employee Card.
- Choose the Payment Methods action to open the Employee Payment Methods list.
- Create a new record and fill in the following fields:
General group:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A descriptive name for this payment method |
| Priority | Determines ordering when the employee has multiple payment methods (lower numbers = higher priority) |
| Allocation Type | Primary (receives the remainder), Fixed Amount, or Percentage |
| Allocation | The allocation amount (for Fixed Amount or Percentage types; not editable for Primary) |
| Start Date | When to start using this payment method (not editable for Primary) |
| End Date | When to stop using this payment method (not editable for Primary) |
Transfer group:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Payment Method | A reference to a standard BC Payment Method code |
| Bank Account No. | The employee's bank account number |
| Bank Identifier Code | The routing number (ABA, SWIFT, or transit number) |
Communication group:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Address | Payee address |
| City, Post Code, County, Country/Region Code | Address details |
The first payment method created for an employee is automatically set to Primary allocation type.
Split payments (multiple deposits)
To direct an employee's pay to multiple bank accounts:
- Open the employee's Payment Methods.
- Create multiple records, for example:
- Priority 1: Allocation Type = Primary, Bank Account No. = checking account (receives the remainder)
- Priority 2: Allocation Type = Fixed Amount, Allocation = 500.00, Bank Account No. = savings account
- During payment processing, the fixed and percentage allocations are applied first, and the primary method receives whatever remains.
Standard BC Payment Method and employer bank account
The Payment Method code assigned to each Employee Payment Method determines which employer bank account the funds are drawn from. The Payment Method code's Bal. Account No. field specifies this bank account.
For direct deposit, ensure the Payment Method code has:
- Bal. Account No. — set to the employer bank account.
- Default Bank Payment Type — set to Electronic Payment.
If employees are paid from different employer bank accounts, create a separate Payment Method code for each bank account. OnePayroll generates a separate payment file for each employer bank account, so each bank receives only the transactions relevant to its account.
Configure payment export (US localization)
For US-based payroll, the payment export uses a NACHA/ACH file format. The US demo data includes a preconfigured data exchange definition ("US EFT PAYROLL"). For production environments, confirm with your bank that the file format meets their requirements.
Process direct deposit
Step 1: Post the payroll
- Create a payroll run for the pay group.
- Review payroll entries.
- Approve (if required) and post the payroll.
Step 2: Generate payment file
- Open the Payroll Payments page (from the role center cues or by searching for Payroll Payments).
- Locate the employee electronic payment batch for the payroll run.
- Choose the Pay action.
OnePayroll generates a payment file through the configured payment export interface. The file is automatically attached to the payment batch and is also visible in the Attachments FactBox on the Payroll Runs page. You are also prompted to download the file.
If a payment file has already been generated for this payment batch, you are prompted to confirm before generating another one.
Step 3: Transmit to bank
- Download the payment file (from the download prompt or the Attachments FactBox on the Payroll Payments or Payroll Runs page).
- Log into your bank's secure portal and upload the file.
- Note any confirmation number from the bank.
Warning
The payment file contains sensitive employee bank account and payment information. Delete the file from your computer after successful transmission. Always use secure transmission methods.
Step 4: Reconcile
After the bank confirms processing, verify deposits posted to employees' accounts and reconcile GL payroll liability accounts to actual deposits made.
Troubleshooting
"No payment entries to export" error
- Verify payment entries exist for the payroll run (check Payment Entries on the Payroll Runs page or Show Payment Entries on the Payroll Payments page).
- Confirm employees have Employee Payment Method records with bank details (Bank Account No. and Bank Identifier Code).
Payment file export fails
- Verify the payment export interface is configured correctly.
- Check that all employees have valid bank details on their Employee Payment Method records.
Bank rejects payment file
- Confirm the file format matches your bank's requirements.
- Contact your bank to verify file structure expectations.