Are you having to make sure you’re at work every payday to get your paycheck? Do you race to the credit union and spend your lunch hour depositing it into your account? Then you should definitely consider getting Direct Deposit.

Simply put, Direct Deposit makes sure you receive your paycheck every payday, even if you’re not physically at work. It doesn’t matter if it’s because of bad weather, an emergency, you’re out sick, taking a vacation, or you’re working from home; with Direct Deposit your paycheck is automatically deposited into your account on payday — no matter what! Plus, with Direct Deposit, there’s no risk of ever losing a paycheck.

Another advantage of Direct Deposit? You can start using your funds right away. You’ll have your money payday morning, regardless of the time your employer normally hands out the paper paychecks.

With Direct Deposit you can also split up your paycheck between different accounts. For instance, you could divide your check between your checking account, savings account, and retirement fund which could help you improve your ability to save money. That is what we in the banking business call the “pay yourself first” financial strategy. It helps you avoid the temptation to spend money that you’ve originally planned on setting aside.

Finally, Direct Deposit is more environmentally friendly than paper checks and it offers better protection from identity theft, which can be a risk if your paycheck is lost or stolen.

So, stop waiting around for your paycheck every payday and ask your employer if they offer Direct Deposit. Then you can spend your lunch hour actually eating lunch instead of racing to the credit union.