Skip to content
BOL Conferences
Learn More - Click Here!

Page 1 of 2 1 2
New Reply Thread Options
#2257805 - 08/06/21 06:40 PM Employee Banking
Anonymous
Unregistered

Can an employer (financial institution) require an employee to open an account for the purpose of direct deposit?

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257808 - 08/06/21 06:50 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
MNCompliance Offline
New Poster
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
This is my understanding. So in some states (this is state specific), employers can require employees to receive payroll through direct deposit. However, even in states where employers can mandate direct deposit, employers cannot require employees to use a specific bank for the direct deposit. So in other words if you require direct deposit (if your state allows it), you cannot make an employee open an account at a specific financial institution for purposes of receiving their direct deposit. This would apply to the financial institution as an employer.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257811 - 08/06/21 06:58 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
BrianC Online
Power Poster
BrianC
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,694
Illinois
No. You can require that they only receive direct deposit at your institution, but if they refuse you must provide an alternative.

1005.10(e)(2) Employment or government benefit. No financial institution or other person may require a consumer to establish an account for receipt of electronic fund transfers with a particular institution as a condition of employment or receipt of a government benefit.

Commentary:

1. Payroll. An employer (including a financial institution) may not require its employees to receive their salary by direct deposit to any particular institution. An employer may require direct deposit of salary by electronic means if employees are allowed to choose the institution that will receive the direct deposit. Alternatively, an employer may give employees the choice of having their salary deposited at a particular institution (designated by the employer) or receiving their salary by another means, such as by check or cash.
_________________________
Sola Gratia, Sola Fides, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria!
www.tcaregs.com

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257812 - 08/06/21 06:58 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
burkemi Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 549
And from a regulatory standpoint - You can require direct deposit if your employee is permitted to chose the bank.

Commentary to 1005.10(e)(2)

1. Payroll. An employer (including a financial institution) may not require its employees to receive their salary by direct deposit to any particular institution. An employer may require direct deposit of salary by electronic means if employees are allowed to choose the institution that will receive the direct deposit. Alternatively, an employer may give employees the choice of having their salary deposited at a particular institution (designated by the employer) or receiving their salary by another means, such as by check or cash.
_________________________
I reject your reality and replace it with my own.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257813 - 08/06/21 06:59 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
burkemi Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 549
You JUST beat me to it!!! lol
_________________________
I reject your reality and replace it with my own.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257857 - 08/09/21 02:45 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

OP here; thank you for your help and direction!

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257879 - 08/09/21 05:26 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

Another anon here - there is something to be said for keeping your personal banking data separate from your work life. If I had an employer require me to take direct deposit into an account held by the employing financial institution, I would do so. Then I would use online banking to immediately transfer the full amount of each direct deposit to my own bank. Having been in BSA/AML for a long time, I see no reason to subject any person's own financial transactions to additional scrutiny (of the "This is higher risk because she is an employee!!" hysterical variety) merely due to the choice of conducting the activity at the same bank where the person works.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257898 - 08/09/21 07:21 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Retired DQ Offline
10K Club
Retired DQ
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
^^^ Agreed.
_________________________
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2257929 - 08/09/21 10:35 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

About a decade and a half ago, I worked at a financial institution where I also banked.

I was very young, and very dumb. I took out a car loan, and was determined to have it paid off in no time. I think my monthly payment was $105.00. Rather than pay $105.00 all at once, I would make many small payments throughout the month. $5.00 here, $10.00 there, $15.00, whatever. Apparently my excessive amount of payment triggered something on the back end, which got the Fraud Department suspicious. I totally take responsibility for that.

HOWEVER, this "activity" gave the bank a pass to look at every transaction on my account. Where I was shopping, where I was eating, where I was writing checks. I had to sit in a meeting and explain why I was writing checks to this business for this dollar amount, or why I was using my debit card so many times a month at this business. Why was I eating at this restaurant so often? It was a Fking nightmare, and of course my business quickly got around the bank. I put my tail between my legs. If that had happened today, you'd have one big a$$ lawsuit on your hands.

[censored] in my own backyard again, and never bank where I work. And I haven't since.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258052 - 08/11/21 03:38 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

Interesting Topic.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258077 - 08/11/21 06:42 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
SmallBankBSA Offline
100 Club
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 232
I agree with not banking where you work. Years ago I worked at a mid size institution and being a member of a certain department we had access to everyone's accounts....well one employee would "spy" on the ex girlfriend of her husband, she had access to her direct deposit amount, where she spent her money etc. It was ridiculous. A report was eventually created monitoring employee account access and if you viewed an employee account you better have a good explanation other than "I was just looking".

I keep a small account I use for incidentals (ordering lunches, girl scout cookie orders etc). but everything else is far far away.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258088 - 08/11/21 07:35 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

Another anon here again - by the way, when transferring the funds out from the employing bank to the elsewhere bank, I would typically use the elsewhere bank's online banking system. In other words, have the other bank pull the funds, rather than the employing bank sending the funds. Even the transfers can lead to internal alerts and absurd scrutiny and discussion (with or without you) for these unimportant triggers like:

Why was the online banking login done at 12:48am (or, why was it done at 315pm during work hours)
Why was the login done from a new PC or device not previously used to access online banking
Why are there 3 transfers this month rather than 2
Why is the "velocity of funds" so high (direct deposit in on a Friday, amount transfers out on same day = big red flag, for some systems, especially if it's a pattern)

If you choose to bank where you work and you ever deposit cash in any amount....well...good luck to you.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258094 - 08/11/21 08:14 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

I also found that banking where you work can lead to some uncomfortable requests, a "bending of the rules" perhaps, especially to the teller line.

We had an employee that would ask "favors" of the tellers.....like cashing a check for a spouse that wasn't a signer on the (or any) account. Because, you know, I work here!

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258117 - 08/12/21 01:13 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

It sounds like a lot of these places have very weak control systems in place imo.

Also to the person who mentioned the employer/bank would have a big lawsuit on their hands - I would think that's unlikely. A) I'm guessing you agreed to such reviews via your employee handbook and B) if not, the bank is allowed to investigate the transactions of any other customer so what makes a customer who happens to also be an employee any different?

With that said, if that's what your bank is wasting resources on, then I wholeheartedly agree that you should leave them for banking purposes. From an employer perspective, I think I would also question the relationship.

But I think it comes down to one simple rule: you don't want your employer/bank to know what you are doing, then bank elsewhere.

Interesting thread.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258245 - 08/16/21 03:25 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
John Burnett Offline
10K Club
John Burnett
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,086
Cape Cod
Originally Posted by Anonymous
If I had an employer require me to take direct deposit into an account held by the employing financial institution
... the employer would be violating federal law and regulations.

But I agree that, if you don't want your employer (or coworkers) to have access to your account history, don't use the bank where you work.
_________________________
John S. Burnett
BankersOnline.com
Fighting for Compliance since 1976
Bankers' Threads User #8

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258255 - 08/16/21 06:40 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Amy S Offline
100 Club
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 222
I'm curious as to where this information can be found in regards to Credit Unions. My previous employer (CU) wouldn't give you an option, so I wrote myself a check every payday and used mobile capture to move the funds. Having gone from Bank to CU back to Bank, I just thought is was a CU thing.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258257 - 08/16/21 06:49 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
BrianC Online
Power Poster
BrianC
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,694
Illinois
Credit Unions are subject to the same sections of Regulation E that banks are.
_________________________
Sola Gratia, Sola Fides, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria!
www.tcaregs.com

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258953 - 08/30/21 07:27 PM Re: Employee Banking BrianC
Amy S Offline
100 Club
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 222
Interesting. I'll have to look into that more.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258987 - 08/31/21 02:17 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
John Burnett Offline
10K Club
John Burnett
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,086
Cape Cod
Credit unions have their own version of a Truth in Savings regulation because of the unique ways in which accounts are handled and dividends are paid by CUs. But they don't have a separate regulation for the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Regulation E regulates CUs just as it regulates banks.
_________________________
John S. Burnett
BankersOnline.com
Fighting for Compliance since 1976
Bankers' Threads User #8

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2258997 - 08/31/21 02:58 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
TMatt87 Online
Diamond Poster
TMatt87
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,984
Idaho
I bank where I work, but I never use my debit card except for ATMs. So my account history is my payroll, credit card payments, transfers to an online savings account, and ATM withdrawals. Not a lot to scrutinize.
_________________________
All opinions are my own, not my employer's

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2259435 - 09/09/21 02:43 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

^^^^^ So you pay cash for everything?

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2259463 - 09/09/21 04:51 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
RockChucker, CAMS Offline
Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,700
The Country
My guess is he uses his credit card for purchases to get rewards and pays off the balance of that credit card. I am also guessing that his credit card is not owned by the bank he works for.
_________________________
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
-David Brinkley

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2259525 - 09/10/21 03:21 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered

Originally Posted by TMatt87
I bank where I work, but I never use my debit card except for ATMs. So my account history is my payroll, credit card payments, transfers to an online savings account, and ATM withdrawals. Not a lot to scrutinize.

Another anon here. The above statement, for me, is a pretty good illustration of why you shouldn't bank where you work. While a person may feel that there is nothing much to scrutinize because they aren't using debit cards (or because they only withdraw cash and never deposit any), the above scenario may actually be of interest to an internal reviewer, depending on volume, amounts, frequency, etc. (As illustrated in the thread, an anon poster questions, "So you pay cash for everything?" and RockChucker pops up with a theory; so if they were your co-workers, yeah, you'd be getting discussed and scrutinized if your account was flagged for review or was subjected to an automatic periodic review merely because you are an employee.)

For instance, if a bank employee withdraws $300 in cash once a month, we wouldn't even notice. But if a bank employee visits an ATM once a week, we would notice. We would have internal discussions about it: is so-and-so a gambler? Why all the cash withdrawals? Does he ever deposit any cash, any at all? Why? Does he pay any bills through this account? Why aren't there any "normal" transactions here? Who lives on cash? What doesn't he want his bank to see? What is he buying that he would want to only use cash? etc. It's a very short walk from "This employee's activity is weird" to "We have to file a SAR."

Being an employee lowers the SAR threshold to zero, and raises the interest in cash usage considerably. While there might not be a lot to scrutinize, there would be zero to scrutinize if there was no account at the employing bank.

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2259530 - 09/10/21 03:33 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
Skittles Offline
10K Club
Skittles
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,965
TN
I have found this thread fascinating. I have always banked where I work without question.
_________________________
My Opinions Only

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
#2259542 - 09/10/21 04:51 PM Re: Employee Banking Anonymous
HappyGilmore Offline
10K Club
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,844
Pulling people out of the ditc...
Originally Posted by Anonymous
But if a bank employee visits an ATM once a week, we would notice. We would have internal discussions about it: is so-and-so a gambler? Why all the cash withdrawals? Does he ever deposit any cash, any at all? Why?

we have an ATM in our operations center, i see people hitting it daily, some people daily before going to lunch. why would you waste time scrutinizing how frequently an employee takes out cash simply because they are an employee? wasted time by the bank
_________________________
Providing alternative truths since the invention of time

Return to Top Reply Quote Quick Reply Quick Quote
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Quick Reply:
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled




Moderator:  MagicCity, P*Q, Truffle Royale