Invoices.
Offer eligible customers a bank-payment option for amounts they owe.
What are ACH payments?
ACH payments move money electronically between U.S. bank accounts through the Automated Clearing House network. Businesses can use supported ACH services to collect authorized payments without processing a card transaction.
ACH has its own setup, authorization and return requirements. The right fit depends on your customers, payment amounts and how your business collects money.
Where ACH may fit your business
Pricing and timing vary. ACH is not automatically the cheapest or fastest option for every payment.
Ongoing services.
Collect supported repeat payments for an established service relationship.
Memberships.
Explore scheduled bank payments where recurring ACH is available.
Business purchases.
Consider ACH alongside cards for eligible business-to-business transactions.
One payment or an ongoing schedule
One-time ACH.
Collect a specific payment through a supported flow and obtain the authorization required for that transaction.
Recurring ACH.
Where supported, establish an authorized billing schedule and explain how customers can make changes or cancel future payments.
Explore recurring billing · Explore payment links.
Not every payment-link or recurring-billing configuration supports ACH. Confirm availability for your selected solution.
Know what happens after a payment is submitted
Authorization comes first.
Use your provider's required process to obtain and retain the customer's permission to debit their account.
Processing takes place through the ACH network.
Your provider's service, submission schedule and banking calendar affect when a payment is processed and when funds are available.
Status still matters after submission.
Payments can be returned, including for account or authorization issues. Understand how your provider reports returns and what actions your business should take.
Cards and ACH can serve different needs
Some customers prefer a card. Others may want to pay from a bank account. Review the payment methods your customers need, then compare the costs, operating requirements and tools available for each.
ACH questions, answered
It is the processing of electronic payments between U.S. bank accounts through the ACH network. It follows different operating rules from card payments.
A business needs an eligible ACH service and an approved way to collect customer authorization and payment information. Your provider will specify setup, documentation and operating requirements.
ACH uses bank-account information and the ACH network; card payments use card-network infrastructure. Costs, authorization, settlement and dispute or return processes differ.
Yes, ACH can support recurring payments when the selected service offers that feature and the required authorization is in place. Confirm scheduling and cancellation procedures with the provider.
Timing varies by service, submission time, banking schedule and account terms. Confirm both processing timing and when your business can use the funds.
ACH payments can be returned, and limited reversal procedures also exist. Returns and reversals have specific rules; do not treat an ACH payment as irrevocable simply because it was submitted.
Fees depend on the provider, service and account agreement. Ask about transaction fees, account fees, returns and any other applicable charges.
Find out whether ACH fits your payment workflow
Tell us what you collect, how often customers pay and which tools you use today.
Offering payment options to merchants? Explore our agent and ISO program.