Banks That Deposit Military Pay Early
Updated: February 23, 2024
Written by Veteran.com Team
The Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) sends your pay electronically to your bank before your “official” payday. Many military-friendly banks and credit unions offer early military pay direct deposit, allowing you to access your directly deposited funds from DFAS before the actual pay date, sometimes by as much as three days.
In the event that your pay date falls on a weekend or holiday, these banks and credit unions will usually give you access to your funds two business days prior.
Note: Banks and credit unions are only able to provide early access to your deposit in situations where they receive your payment information ahead of time. If DFAS is delayed or late in issuing this information, the banks may be unable to post your deposit early. Instead, your deposit will be posted on your normal payday or as soon as they receive information from DFAS.
While it is nice to have early access to your paycheck, it is recommended that you do not write checks or authorize any other withdrawals against your directly deposited funds until you verify that they have been posted to your account. You will still be responsible for any overdraft fees from transactions clearing before your payroll deposit from DFAS.
Note: If you receive multiple VA benefit payments monthly, then you must set up a single account to receive all the benefits. If you currently receive payments into separate accounts, the VA is requiring you consolidate those to a single account before April 20, 2024.
Here are the banks and their early pay calendars for active duty and retired military pay.
Early Military Deposit Pay Calendars
Armed Forces Bank Early Pay Dates
Early pay is a free, automatic direct deposit service offered to military service members. Whether active or retired, all service members can have access to their Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) direct deposits one business day before the set pay date.
If you have a deposit account with Armed Forces Bank with direct deposit from DFAS, then you’re already enrolled. There are no forms to fill out or fees to pay.
Armed Forces Bank Early Pay Calendar
Navy Federal Credit Union Early Pay Dates
If you use Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) for your military pay deposit, when you see your pay depends on what type of checking account you use. NFCU has five kinds of checking accounts:
- Free Active Duty Checking
- Free Easy Checking
- Free Campus Checking
- Free EveryDay Checking
- Flagship Checking
Only the Free Active Duty Checking account offers early crediting of military pay deposits. With this account, you can access your military pay 1 day earlier.
For those retired from the military, your payment timeframe is a little different from the Active Duty pay dates. However, NFCU still allows you to access these funds one day early (provided you have the Free Active Duty Checking account).
Navy Federal Credit Union Active and Retired Pay Calendar
FrontWave Credit Union Advance Pay and Military Days
FrontWave Credit Union (formerly Pacific Marine Credit Union (PMCU)) credits military pay deposits two business days prior to the actual military payday. There is no requirement to have a certain type of account to gain access to early pay.
FrontWave Advance Pay Calendar
Security Service Federal Credit Union
With free expedited direct-deposit service, all military service members, whether active or retired, will have access to their military Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) direct deposits as soon as Security Service Federal Credit Union receives notice from the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS), one to three days before their set posting date.
There are no forms or steps to enroll – if you have a Security Service account with direct deposit, you are automatically set to have early access to your pay.
Because SSFCU has a carrying range of one to three days on early pay, they do not post a pay calendar.
Service Credit Union
Service Credit Union credits military pay deposits two business days prior to the actual military payday. It has 14 branches on U.S. military bases in Germany and has many customers who enjoy having a local branch bank at their overseas location.
“Immediate credit of your direct deposit to your Service Credit Union checking account up to two (2) days early is based upon when we receive your payroll from your employer. Service Credit Union cannot assume any liability for not depositing these funds to your account early.”
Service Credit Union Pay Calendar (scroll down on the page)
USAA Early Pay Dates
Early access to direct deposit funds is subject to when USAA Federal Savings Bank receives notice of payment from DFAS, which is generally one to two business days before the scheduled payment date. Early access to direct deposit funds is not guaranteed, may be stopped at any time, and may vary between pay periods.
Eligible direct deposits that may be paid early include payroll, military pay, government benefits and pensions. Early access to direct deposit with USAA Federal Savings Bank is available at no cost for members who establish direct deposits on their bank accounts.
USAA Military Early Pay Dates 2024
| Pay Date | 1 Day Early Pay Date | 2 Day Early Pay Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jan 15 | Fri, Jan 12 | Thu, Jan 11 |
| Thu, Feb 1 | Wed, Jan 31 | Tue, Jan 30 |
| Thu, Feb 15 | Wed, Feb 14 | Tue, Feb 13 |
| Fri, Mar 1 | Thu, Feb 29 | Wed, Feb 28 |
| Fri, Mar 15 | Thu, Mar 14 | Wed, Mar 13 |
| Mon, Apr 1 | Fri, Mar 29 | Thu, Mar 28 |
| Mon, Apr 15 | Fri, Apr 12 | Thu, Apr 11 |
| Wed, May 1 | Tue, Apr 30 | Mon, Apr 29 |
| Wed, May 15 | Tue, May 14 | Mon, May 13 |
| Fri, May 31 | Thu, May 30 | Wed, May 29 |
| Fri, Jun 14 | Thu, Jun 13 | Wed, Jun 12 |
| Mon, Jul 1 | Fri, Jun 28 | Thu, Jun 27 |
| Mon, Jul 15 | Fri, Jul 12 | Thu, Jun 11 |
| Thu, Aug 1 | Wed, Jul 31 | Tue, Jul 30 |
| Thu, Aug 15 | Wed, Aug 14 | Tue, Aug 13 |
| Fri, Aug 30 | Thu, Aug 29 | Wed, Aug 28 |
| Fri, Sep 13 | Thu, Sep 12 | Wed, Sep 11 |
| Tue, Oct 1 | Mon, Sep 30 | Fri, Sep 27 |
| Tue, Oct 15 | Mon, Oct 14 | Fri, Oct 11 |
| Fri, Nov 1 | Thu, Oct 31 | Wed, Oct 30 |
| Fri, Nov 15 | Thu, Nov 14 | Wed, Nov 13 |
| Fri, Nov 29 | Wed, Nov 27 | Tue, Nov 26 |
| Fri, Dec 13 | Thu, Dec 12 | Wed, Dec 11 |
| Tue, Dec 31 | Mon, Dec 30 | Fri, Dec 27 |
USAA Retiree Payment Dates 2024
| Month | Pay Date | 1 Day Early Pay Date | 2 Day Early Pay Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | Thu, Feb 1 | Wed, Jan 31 | Tue, Jan 30 |
| Feb 2024 | Fri, Mar 1 | Thu, Feb 29 | Wed, Feb 28 |
| Mar 2024 | Mon, Apr 1 | Fri, Mar 29 | Thu, Mar 28 |
| Apr 2024 | Wed, May 1 | Tue, Apr 30 | Mon, Apr 29 |
| May 2024 | Fri, May 31 | Thu, May 30 | Wed, May 29 |
| Jun 2024 | Mon, Jul 1 | Fri, Jun 28 | Thu, Jun 27 |
| Jul 2024 | Thu, Aug 1 | Wed, Jul 31 | Tue, Jul 30 |
| Aug 2024 | Fri, Aug 30 | Thu, Aug 29 | Wed, Aug 28 |
| Sep 2024 | Tue, Oct 1 | Mon, Sep 30 | Fri, Sep 27 |
| Oct 2024 | Fri, Nov 1 | Thu, Oct 31 | Wed, Oct 30 |
| Nov 2024 | Fri, Nov 29 | Wed, Nov 27 | Tue, Nov 26 |
| Dec 2024 | Tue, Dec 31 | Mon, Dec 30 | Fri, Dec 27 |
Additional Banks with Early Pay Deposits
- AmericCU
- Andrews FCU
- Broadway Bank
- First Citizens Banks
- Fort Hood National Bank
- Kinetic Credit Union
- Langley FCU
- Point Breeze Credit Union
This is a partial list. More banks and credit unions offer early pay so if you don’t see your bank on this list be sure to inquire. Access to these banks is typically applicable to all branches of the military, including the Air Force, Air Force Reserves, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserves, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserves, Navy, Navy Reserves, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserves, Space Force and the Public Health Service.
Another Reason to Bank at Military-Friendly Banks
Government shutdowns can impact payments to active duty, Guard, Reserve and military retirees. Military friendly banks will often offer a no-interest, 0 percent annual percentage rate (APR) payroll advance to military personnel with existing direct deposits. Banks can provide a one-time payroll advance loan to cover pay or benefits to the following groups, as long as those payments are directly deposited at the bank. This is at the discretion of each bank, but historically many of the banks on this list have provided this benefit during a shutdown.
Finding the Best Bank for You
Many service members choose USAA, Navy Federal or PenFed (no early pay deposit offer) as the best choice for military banking. However, which bank to choose will often depend on your individual situation. Many service members end up opening accounts at one or more banks in order to take advantage of different benefits.
For example, you might find that you prefer to keep your checking account at USAA for the early pay benefit, but apply for a car loan at PenFed or a home loan at Navy FCU.
Additional Advantages of Military Banks
- Low-interest rates
- Reduced or waived fees
- No fee for counter checks, money orders, wire transfers, gift cards, foreign transactions or cashier’s checks
- Free safety deposit boxes
- No ATM Fees
- Special VA home loan and SBA loan options
- Savings on closing costs
- No monthly fees are charged on checking accounts
- Considerably higher percentage yields on savings accounts
- Free financial training programs
- Dedicated military customer service
When Will I Receive My Military Paycheck?
Military paychecks will normally be available on your payday. Deposits may be available a day to three days earlier, depending on the financial institution. Since early pay varies by bank this most likely explains why it appears some people are getting paid earlier than others.
Plan Ahead
While getting paid early can be great, it can also result in a long period of time until the next payday. Make sure you are prepared for any gaps in income.
