If you don't have an online savings account, you really should stop showing your face in public until you get one. If you have one and don't know how to deposit money in it, you're really stuck living in the '90s. In all seriousness, there are more options than direct deposit. Many banks that offer online savings accounts allow you to have your employer directly deposit your paycheck into your account. While this can be convenient, you might have other plans.
Step 1
Send in a check. Now, this is very 1990. Crank up some Whitney Houston in the background while you do this, but most banks that offer online savings accounts have an address you can send a check to. Call your bank or check out their customer service or FAQ page online. Find out what that address is and follow your bank's instructions. In most cases, you simply sign your check and write your account number on it. You might also have the option of including a deposit slip, which your bank can provide for you.
Step 2
Make an automatic transfer between another bank account, such as your checking account, and your online savings stash. You'll need to establish a link between the two accounts first. Follow your online saving account's instructions for doing this. Generally, it involves supplying your other bank's routing number and your other account's account number. Once established, most online saving accounts let you make automatic transfers on a set schedule.
Step 3
Wire money. While this is illegal sounding -- like something you'd do with a Swiss bank account -- it's not. You'll need to get instructions -- such as the account numbers your banks use for wiring funds between them -- from your respective banks to make this process happen.
References
Tips
- Many banks that offer online savings accounts also provide customers with an optional ATM, debti card or both. You can use this card to pay for purchases or get money from your savings account. Some banks even reimburse all or part of the ATM fees you incur.
Writer Bio
As a writer since 2002, Rocco Pendola has published numerous academic and popular articles in addition to working as a freelance grant writer and researcher. His work has appeared on SFGate and Planetizen and in the journals "Environment & Behavior" and "Health and Place." Pendola has a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies from San Francisco State University.