Payroll Software for Direct Deposit and Pay Cards

Last updated: September 2026

A new hire on the line doesn’t have a bank account yet. Payday comes, and the only option left is a paper check, which means a trip to a check-cashing store and a fee taken out of their own pay. That’s the exact problem pay cards were built to solve, and it’s why payroll software needs to support more than one way to get people paid.

Payroll software with built-in direct deposit and pay card options gives every employee a fast, low-cost way to access their pay, whether or not they have a traditional bank account.

Why Direct Deposit Alone Isn’t Enough

Direct deposit works well for employees who already have a checking account. It doesn’t work for everyone. According to the FDIC’s National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households, millions of U.S. households still don’t have a traditional bank account, and that population skews heavily toward the hourly, deskless workforce many mid-market employers rely on.

For those employees, a paper check isn’t just inconvenient. It often means paying a fee just to access their own money on payday.

What Pay Cards Solve

A payroll pay card works like a reloadable debit card. Pay loads onto it automatically every payday, the same way direct deposit works, without requiring a bank account to set up. Employees can use it to pay bills, withdraw cash, or make purchases directly.

• No bank account required to get paid electronically
• Funds available on payday, same as direct deposit
• Eliminates check-cashing fees for unbanked employees
• Reduces paper check printing and mailing costs for the employer

How Netchex Supports Flexible Pay Options

Netchex builds direct deposit and pay card options directly into payroll processing, so employees choose the payment method that works for them without extra paperwork on the HR side. For multi-location employers in restaurants and hospitality, where hourly turnover is high, that flexibility often matters as much as the pay rate itself.

Adding a pay card option cut down on so many payday headaches for our team. Employees who didn’t have direct deposit set up finally had a real option.

— Verified Reviewer, HR Manager, G2

Why Payment Flexibility Affects Retention

Getting paid on time and without a fee sounds basic, but for hourly workers living paycheck to paycheck, it’s a real factor in whether they stay. Payroll.org research consistently shows that pay experience, not just pay rate, influences how employees feel about an employer. Offering more than one way to get paid removes a friction point before it becomes a reason someone leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide reflects publicly available product information and independent reviewer data (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Reddit, Software Advice, GetApp) as of 2026. Feature availability and pricing may vary by plan. Contact each provider for current details.

Disclaimer: Any product roadmap or future plans provided herein are for informational purposes only. They do not represent a commitment to deliver any material, code, feature, or functionality. Plans may change without notification. The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described remain at the sole discretion of Netchex, its affiliates, and partners. Netchex does not give legal, tax, or accounting advice. You are responsible for ensuring your use of Netchex product meets your individual business and compliance requirements.

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