Yes — at most major banks you can get a voided check online by logging into online banking or the mobile app and downloading either a voided check image or a pre-filled direct deposit form. If your bank doesn’t offer that download, a bank verification letter, micro-deposit verification, or an instant account verification service will give an employer or biller the same information.
Where to Look in Your Online Banking
Log in to your bank’s website or mobile app and look inside your checking account dashboard for a section called something like Account Services, Document Center, or Direct Deposit. Bank of America, for example, lets you log in and download a pre-filled direct deposit form that contains your routing number, account number, and the bank’s name — the same information a voided check carries.1Bank of America. Direct Deposit — Access Your Money Faster Other large banks label the tool “View/Print Voided Check” or “Generate Direct Deposit Form.”
The exact menu location varies. Some banks tuck it under account settings, others group it with tax documents and statement preferences. If you can’t find it, search your bank’s help section for “voided check” or “direct deposit form.” Most banks produce the document as a PDF so the layout stays intact when you save, print, or upload it.
What the Recipient Actually Needs
A voided check exists so an employer, biller, or agency can set up electronic payments to your account. It gives them three things:
- Routing number. The nine-digit number that identifies your bank within the U.S. payment system. On a paper check it’s the left-most number along the bottom edge.2American Bankers Association. ABA Routing Number
- Account number. The number that identifies your specific checking account, printed next to the routing number.
- Your name and the bank’s name. These confirm the account is yours and help payroll or billing systems match the payment to the right person.
The word VOID across the face of the check tells anyone who sees it that the paper itself can’t be cashed or used for payment. It’s a reference document, nothing more. Any alternative that delivers the same three pieces of data does the same job.
If Your Bank Doesn’t Offer a Download
Many checking accounts, especially at online-only banks, never come with a physical checkbook. If your bank also doesn’t post a downloadable check image, you still have several ways to hand over the same information.
Pre-Filled Direct Deposit Form
Some banks generate a downloadable direct deposit authorization form containing your routing and account numbers, formatted for payroll enrollment. Bank of America customers can pull this form through online banking or request it through the mobile app’s virtual assistant.1Bank of America. Direct Deposit — Access Your Money Faster Most employers and government agencies accept it in place of a voided check.
Bank Verification Letter
You can ask your bank for a letter on official letterhead confirming your name, account number, and routing number. Some banks call this a counter letter or account verification letter. Requesting one at a branch may involve a small fee, often in the $5 to $15 range, but many banks will generate the same document through secure messaging at no charge.
Look Up the Numbers Yourself
If the recipient just needs the numbers, not a document, you can usually find your routing and account numbers on your bank’s website or app under account details. The American Bankers Association maintains a directory of active nine-digit routing numbers, and your bank often publishes its routing number on its site.2American Bankers Association. ABA Routing Number Cross-check what you find against a recent statement before submitting.
Micro-Deposit Verification
Instead of a voided check, the receiving organization may verify your account by sending one or two small test deposits, each under $1.00, to your bank. You log in, see the exact amounts, and report them back to prove you own the account.3Nacha. Micro-Entries (Phase 1)
The test deposits usually land within one to two business days. Once you confirm the amounts, verification is complete and regular payments can start. Nacha rules require that the micro-deposits cannot result in a net debit to your account, so you don’t lose money in the process.3Nacha. Micro-Entries (Phase 1) You do have to actively check the deposits and report back — nothing happens until you confirm.
Instant Account Verification
A growing number of employers, billers, and financial apps skip the voided check entirely. Services like Plaid and Finicity let you log in to your bank directly through the requester’s portal using your existing online banking credentials. The service confirms your routing and account numbers in seconds, with no image to upload and no micro-deposits to wait for.
These services carry a security advantage over sharing a static check image. Verification runs through an encrypted connection between your bank and the requesting party; the service confirms the account is valid and belongs to you, but your banking credentials aren’t shared with or stored by the employer or biller. If you see a “Link Your Bank Account” option during enrollment, it likely uses one of these services.
Sending a Voided Check Image Safely
A voided check, digital or paper, contains enough information for someone to set up unauthorized withdrawals from your account. Your routing and account numbers can be used to initiate fraudulent ACH transfers, create counterfeit checks, or make unauthorized online purchases at retailers that accept bank account payments. Share these numbers only with trusted employers, billers, and financial institutions.
When you do send a check image digitally:
- Upload the document through your employer’s HR portal or the biller’s secure website rather than sending it as an email attachment. Standard email is not encrypted and can be intercepted.
- If you must send by email, save the file as a password-protected PDF and share the password through a separate channel like a phone call.
- Store any downloaded check images in a password-protected folder on your personal device, not on a shared or public computer.
- Once the recipient confirms they’ve processed your information, delete the image from your email sent folder and your downloads folder.
What to Expect After You Submit It
After you send a voided check or direct deposit form to your employer, setup generally takes one to two pay cycles before electronic deposits begin. Many employers run a prenote during that window — a zero-dollar test transaction sent through the ACH network to confirm your routing and account numbers are correct and the account can receive deposits. Your first paycheck or two may still arrive as a paper check while this verification finishes. Double-checking the numbers before you submit is the simplest way to avoid a longer delay.