Direct deposit is safe, confidential, efficient—and required—for all current MIT employees and students who will be receiving disbursements from the Institute. Direct deposit has many advantages over paper checks. You have immediate access to your pay, without having to deposit a check and wait for it to clear. Most banks give you access to your salary payment on payday morning.
Set up bank account(s)

To receive your MIT pay, you must open a bank account within the United States at a financial institution that accepts Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. If you do not currently have a bank account, you may find that the MIT Federal Credit Union is a convenient option. Account and direct deposit services are free for MIT employees and students.

Provide bank routing number(s)

You will need your bank Routing Transit Number (RTN) and checking or savings account number to set up your direct deposit. If you have a checking account, the first nine digits at the bottom left corner of your checks typically are the RTN. If you have a savings account or you are having trouble identifying your RTN, you should contact your bank directly to confirm these numbers.

Your account number is also on the bottom of your check, but you may find it easier to locate it on your bank statement.

Once you have your account and RTN numbers, go to Atlas, and view the Full Menu. Click on About Me on the top navigation and then to the Money Matters and select Direct Deposit Preferences. Next, select Set Up Your Account and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note that although you will have the option of designating up to two deposit accounts to receive your pay, you may only designate one of those accounts at a time for expense reimbursements (travel expenses, for example). 

Update account information

You can update your direct deposit bank information—including adding a second deposit account—at any time on Atlas. You must have a current MIT Certificate on your device to update your information.

Access funds and paystub

Log into your bank’s secure website on payday to see the direct deposit amount credited to your account.

Your paystub is posted on Atlas the day before you are paid. Go to Atlas and choose About Me from the top navigation. See Money Matters on the left side and choose Paystubs. From here you can view, download, save, and print for your records.

The Details

Set up bank account(s)

To receive your MIT pay, you must open a bank account within the United States at a financial institution that accepts Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. If you do not currently have a bank account, you may find that the MIT Federal Credit Union is a convenient option. Account and direct deposit services are free for MIT employees and students.

Provide bank routing number(s)

You will need your bank Routing Transit Number (RTN) and checking or savings account number to set up your direct deposit. If you have a checking account, the first nine digits at the bottom left corner of your checks typically are the RTN. If you have a savings account or you are having trouble identifying your RTN, you should contact your bank directly to confirm these numbers.

Your account number is also on the bottom of your check, but you may find it easier to locate it on your bank statement.

Once you have your account and RTN numbers, go to Atlas, and view the Full Menu. Click on About Me on the top navigation and then to the Money Matters and select Direct Deposit Preferences. Next, select Set Up Your Account and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note that although you will have the option of designating up to two deposit accounts to receive your pay, you may only designate one of those accounts at a time for expense reimbursements (travel expenses, for example). 

Update account information

You can update your direct deposit bank information—including adding a second deposit account—at any time on Atlas. You must have a current MIT Certificate on your device to update your information.

Access funds and paystub

Log into your bank’s secure website on payday to see the direct deposit amount credited to your account.

Your paystub is posted on Atlas the day before you are paid. Go to Atlas and choose About Me from the top navigation. See Money Matters on the left side and choose Paystubs. From here you can view, download, save, and print for your records.

Did You Know?

You can customize your direct deposit preferences online to add an additional account.
Research and teaching assistant stipends are considered earned income and are subject to income tax withholding requirements.
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