---
updatedAt: 2025-10-12T20:16:31.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.checkhq.com/llms.txt
---

# Fund By Wire

## Overview

Payrolls can be funded either by ACH or by wire. Payrolls funded by ACH must be approved anywhere from 1 to 3 days before their payday (depending on the processing period of the payroll), and the payment to fund the payroll is initiated *by Check* via an ACH debit on the employer's bank account.

On the other hand, funding a payroll by wire allows employers to approve payrolls much later (up to **4pm ET on payday**), but the wire payment to fund the payroll must be initiated *by the employer*.

This guide will cover how to fund payrolls by wire via API; however, payrolls can also be set to be funded by wire in Console from the payroll details page.

## Funding payrolls by wire via API

When creating the payroll with the `POST /payrolls` [endpoint](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/create-payroll) or updating a payroll with the `PATCH /payrolls` [endpoint](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/update-payroll), set the `funding_payment_method` field on the payroll to `wire`.

Once this is done, you should see the approval deadline for the payroll be set to 4pm ET on the payroll's payday. This is the latest date that a wire must be *received by Check* in order for the payroll to be paid on time.

After approving you should fetch and surface the [wire details](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/the-payments-object#:~:text=The%20wire_details%20object) object from the Payments API. The wire details object will contain all the information needed to complete the transfer, including account number, routing number, bank name, account name, account address, and amount. This can be done by using the [List payments endpoint](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/list-payments) and filtering to the payroll's cash requirement debit. For example:

```
GET /payments?payroll=pay_IzojrxIc21FCL2FUoXGY&type=company_cash_requirement
```

## Important Considerations

* Updating a payroll from `ach` to `wire` and back from `wire` to `ach` can be done at any point in time, but the payroll cannot be modified once it is approved.

* The approval deadline will change when switching between funding payment methods.

* Wires must be received by **4pm ET on payday**. Payroll credits (contractor or employee payments) will only be sent out on receipt of the wire. We cannot guarantee how much time is required between the employer initiating the wire payment with their bank and the wire being received by Check.

* Wires must be initiated with **exactly** the amount shown in the wire details object.