Overview
Stessa offers two powerful verification options to help you screen applicants with confidence. These reports. provided by Argyle, give you direct access to verified income (and employment, if selected) so you can make faster, smarter leasing decisions:
Income Verification – Validates income streams using connected bank accounts.
Income Verification + Employment Verification – Confirms both income and employment directly from employer/payroll and bank data.
Both products are designed to reduce fraud, speed up decision-making, and give you reliable data you can trust.
Option 1: Income Verification
This option uses banking connections to verify income based on bank transaction history.
What’s included:
Total Asset Summary – Current, two-month average, and six-month average balances
Account Details – Institution, account type, balances, and transaction history (up to 24 months)
Income Streams – Identified recurring deposits with employer/payee name, cadence, and amounts
Confidence Scores – High, moderate, or low indicators of whether deposits represent true income
NSF Tracking – Days since last insufficient funds (NSF) and total NSFs in report period
Best for: Landlords who only need to confirm that applicants receive recurring income and can afford rent.
Option 2: Income Verification + Employment Verification
This option uses banking connections to verify income based on bank transaction history PLUS employer/payroll provider connections to verify employment.
This report includes everything in Option 1 PLUS:
Employer Details – Name and address of the employer
Employment Status – Active, terminated, on leave, etc.
Job Information – Title, role, original hire date, most recent start date, and length of employment
Best for: Landlords who want the highest level of confidence—verifying not just income deposits but also that the applicant is actively employed.
Sample Reports
Income Verification (Bank Connection)
Employment Verification (Payroll/Employer Connection)
What’s the Difference?
Feature | Income Verification | Income + Employment |
Verified income deposits | ✅ | ✅ |
Transaction history & asset balances | ✅ | ✅ |
Income stream analysis & confidence scores | ✅ | ✅ |
Employer details | ❌ | ✅ |
Employment status | ❌ | ✅ |
Job title, hire date, length of employment | ❌ | ✅ |
Recommendation:
Choose Income Verification if you only need to confirm income history and ability to pay.
Choose Income + Employment for the full picture and maximum confidence in your decision making
How It Works
Applicant Consent
Through the Stessa Resident Portal, the applicant is prompted to securely log in to their payroll provider or financial institution.Secure Data Collection
Verified income and employment details are retrieved directly from the provider in real time.Report Delivery
A professional, easy-to-read report is delivered to you, giving you verified details you can trust.
Why Upgrade to Income & Employment Verification?
Fraud Prevention – Stop falsified pay stubs and inflated income claims.
Accuracy – Data comes directly from payroll and banking systems, not self-reported paperwork.
Speed – Instant results mean no waiting for callbacks
Professional Screening – Demonstrates a consistent, fair, and modern process to applicants.
Smarter Decisions – Quickly confirm whether applicants can afford the rent, reducing costly turnover or eviction risks.
For just a small additional cost, you gain peace of mind and protect your rental investment. One missed rent payment can cost thousands—this report helps prevent that loss.
Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns
Some applicants are understandably cautious about entering their banking or payroll credentials during the verification process. Here’s how privacy and security are protected:
The system employs encryption measures similar to those used by financial institutions, ensuring information remains secure during and after the process.
Argyle has industry-leading security measures in place to ensure your private data stays private—including SOC 2 Type II certification and RSA 4096 data encryption.
You can visit Argyle’s Trust Center to learn more about their security program, track compliance with the latest regulatory standards, and review consumer terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if my applicant is self-employed?
A: Self-employed applicants may not have a payroll provider connection but the income verification pulls data directly from their bank account.
Q: What if my applicant works for somewhere like Uber or if they are retired?
A: These applicants can still complete the income verification by connecting their bank account. The employment verification also supports gig and benefits providers. They will simply connect to their gig or benefits account so you can receive the verified information.
Q: Do I still need to contact the employer?
A: No. This verification automates the process, pulling data directly from payroll systems—no phone calls required.
Q: How long does it take?
A: Most applicants complete the connection within minutes, and reports are delivered to you instantly once completed by the applicant.
Q: What is the applicant's process?
A: Screenings that include a Credit Report require the applicant to complete an identity verification through Stessa's Resident Portal. Once the applicant completes the identity verification, they will immediately be directed to connect their payroll or banking provider. Everything is done right through their Resident Portal! Note: If the screening does not include a credit report, the applicant will still receive an email invitation for the Resident Portal to complete the employment and income verification.
Q: Is the extra cost worth it?
A: Yes. The small additional fee is far less than the cost of a single missed rent payment. This verification helps protect your investment and ensures you’re selecting qualified applicants.
Q: Can I order just the employment verification?
A: At this time the employment verification can only be ordered with an income verification report. There is not a stand alone employment verification option.
Next Step: Add Income & Employment Verification to your screening package today to improve accuracy, reduce fraud, and make faster, more confident leasing decisions.