Last updated: October 8, 2025

Need cash before payday hits? Then you may want to get paid early. This increasingly popular feature is helping people stay ahead of bills and enjoy financial flexibility.

In this post, we’ll explain how getting paid early works, how it connects to early direct deposit, and how you can take advantage of it.

What does it mean to get paid early?

To get paid early means receiving your paycheck before your official payday—often up to two days in advance. It’s not a loan or an advance, just a faster way to access money you’ve already earned. Select banks and financial apps that use early direct deposit offer this benefit. 

How early direct deposit works

Let’s start with what happens during a traditional direct deposit:

1. Your employer sends payroll information to the bank via the ACH (Automated Clearing House) network.
2. The bank receives the deposit details one to two days before payday.
3. Most banks wait until the scheduled payday to release your funds.

Here’s where early direct deposit comes in. When you bank with an institution that offers it, they’ll skip the wait. Instead of holding the funds until payday, they’ll deposit your paycheck as soon as they receive the payment. This allows you to get paid early.

It’s your money, just sooner.

Why you might want to get paid early

There are several benefits to choosing a bank or banking app that offers early direct deposit:

• Faster access to your money means less stress when bills are due
• Helps with budgeting and cash flow
• Often part of fee-free, mobile-first banking experiences

If you want more control over your money, choosing to get paid early can be a game changer.

Is there a catch?

Getting paid early is a great perk, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Your employer still controls the payroll schedule. If they submit payment late, it may affect the timing.
• Not all banks and apps offer this. You’ll need to use one that supports early direct deposit.
• Timing may vary. While most people see their paychecks up to two days early, holidays and weekends can sometimes delay processing.

How to start getting paid early

Want to get paid early? Here’s what to do:

1. Open an account with a bank or app that offers early direct deposit.
2. Set up direct deposit with your employer using your new account’s routing and account number.
3. Wait for your paycheck and you might just see it arrive up to two days sooner.

Most people are up and running with early pay in just one or two pay cycles.

Why getting paid early is worth it

With more banks and financial tools offering early direct deposit, the ability to get paid early is becoming the new normal. Whether you want to pay bills faster, reduce financial stress, or just enjoy early access to your hard-earned money, this simple banking feature delivers.

TL;DR, make the switch to Dave and you can get paid up to 2 days early.¹ And if you need more money on top of that, you could get up to $500 with ExtraCash™.² There’s no credit check, interest, or late fees. Check out this post to see how it works.