How do I set up or change my direct deposit?

Applies to: All workers — US W-2 employees, Canada T4 employees, independent contractors (US and international), and international EOR employees.
Screens vary by bank country, and if you are employed outside the US or Canada some fields will look different from the examples below. The place you go and who you contact are the same everywhere.

You can link or update your bank account for direct deposit directly in your Ascen portal — no need to contact Ascen support.

Setting up direct deposit for the first time

Direct deposit is part of your onboarding checklist. You can also access it at any time after onboarding.
1. Log in to your portal at app.ascen.com.
2. Navigate to Direct Deposit in your account menu (or complete the step when it appears in your onboarding checklist).
3. Choose one of the two ways to add your account:
- Add Bank Instantly — you sign in to your bank through a secure bank-linking flow. Your account is connected and verified in one step, and there is nothing further to do.
- Add Bank Manually — you type in your account details yourself. You will be asked for your bank country, currency, bank name, account holder name and type, and your account and routing/transit numbers. The exact labels depend on your bank country, and you will need to type the account and routing numbers twice to confirm them. Double-check them; an error will cause your deposit to fail.
4. When you save your details, we ask you to confirm your identity with a 6-digit code emailed to you. See below.
5. Once the code is accepted, you will see your account listed as your active direct deposit method.

Confirming your identity
Changing where your pay goes is a sensitive action, so we confirm it is really you before saving. When you submit your bank details, a Verify Your Identity prompt appears and we email a 6-digit code to the address on your account. Enter it to finish saving.
This applies to both ways of adding a bank — instantly and manually. Expect a fresh code each time you add or change an account; codes cannot be reused.
Didn't get it? Check your spam folder and confirm the email address on your profile is correct, then use Resend Code (available after a short countdown). If the code is rejected, request a new one rather than retrying the old one.

Your first paycheck will go to the bank account on file at the time payroll is processed. Make sure your account is added and verified well before your pay date.

Updating your bank account

You can change your bank account at any time from the Direct Deposit page.
1. Log in and go to Direct Deposit.
2. Because you already have an account on file, the buttons read Update Bank Instantly and Update Bank Manually.
3. Follow the same steps as setup — instantly, or manually.
4. Confirm your identity again with a new 6-digit emailed code.
5. Your new account replaces the previous one once the change is saved.

Changes take effect for the next payroll run. If payroll has already been processed for the current period, your update will apply to the following pay date.

Removing a bank account

You can remove a bank account yourself from the Direct Deposit page — find it in your list of saved accounts and use the red delete (trash) button on that row, then confirm when prompted. If you need to remove your only account without adding a new one (for example, if you are switching to a pay card), email Ascen at support@ascen.com so your pay method can be redirected first.

Troubleshooting

Need help?

Ascen is your employer of record, so anything to do with pay, direct deposit or tax comes to us — not your staffing partner. If you run into an issue you cannot resolve in the portal, email Ascen at support@ascen.com. Your staffing partner handles scheduling, timesheet approval and future assignments.