Just when I think that I can't write about payday early enough, I get a bump in questions about when the next military payday is coming around. The next regular, active duty military payday is Tuesday, 15 September 2015. The day and time of your pay deposit will depend on the bank with whom you have your pay directed deposited, and sometimes the type of account which you use, because some banks and credit unions offer early direct deposit as a benefit to their customers (and to encourage people to move their direct deposit to a new financial institution.)
Tuesday Payday
If your bank or credit union does not offer early direct deposit, your pay will be deposited into your bank account sometime on Tuesday, 15 September 2015.
Getting Paid On Monday
The most common early direct deposit schedule is to post military pay one business day prior to the regular payday. For this payday, one business day early will be Monday, 14 September 2015. The two biggest financial institutions that offer to deposit military pay one business day early are USAA and Pacific Marine Credit Union.
Probably On Saturday
Navy Federal Credit Union members who use an Active Duty checking account for their military pay deposits will have their funds available for use on the morning of Saturday, 12 September 2015. Navy Federal members with any other type of checking should expect to have their pay deposited on the regular payday of Tuesday, 15 September 2015.
Likely on Friday
Service Credit Union offers direct deposit of active duty military pay two business days early, pending the receipt of the deposit information from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Last Tuesday payday, Service Credit Union credited deposits on the preceding Friday. It is likely that this Tuesday will follow the same pattern.
While early direct deposit is a nice perk of certain banking institutions, please don't make any financial moves based on that early pay. Even for banks and credit unions that guarantee early direct deposit, there are a million and one things that could go wrong. Safer to plan to be paid on the actual payday so that you won't find yourself in any unfortunate situations.
