ACH Quick Start Tool: B2B

Paying supplier invoices, bills and other business expenses via ACH, as well as getting paid via ACH for the goods and services you sell ― instead of by check ― is safe, reliable and will save your business time and money.

Payments Innovation Alliance

This tool was developed by the Payments Innovation Alliance, a 200-plus membership organization supported by Nacha that shapes the future of payments. Learn about its initiatives.

ACH Network

The ACH Network electronically moves money and data seamlessly and securely. Learn how it works.

ACH Supports Small Business

Tap into the ACH Network and use Direct Deposit and Direct Payment to free up time, money and energy to help you grow your business.

Close Quick Start Tool

ACH enables business customers to push money into your bank account or for customers to allow you to pull money from their account. Most ACH payments occur the next day or same day.

Same Day ACH is a faster payments option that enables businesses to send and receive payments and information about the payments on the same day through the ACH Network.

Confirm with your financial services provider that your bank account is a business account and can be used to make and receive ACH payments. A financial services provider could be a bank, credit union, or payment processor.

• If you do not have a business bank account, open one with your financial services provider. A business account comes with additional services and features that enhance and improve business processes and efficiencies.
• If your business account is not ACH-enabled, tell your financial services provider you want to make and receive ACH payments.

Businesses must have an agreement with their customers to send and receive ACH payments.

• The agreement specifies the terms and conditions of payment.
• The agreement could be oral, included on an invoice, or it could take the form of a written contract.

Facts And Tips

• ACH payments are sometimes referred to as EFT, E-Check, and EZ pay, among other names.
• Every financial services provider has its own policies and qualifications for its business customers to send ACH payments.
• ACH payments enable businesses to automate their payables and receivables, provide predictable cash flow, reduce administrative costs, and provide information about the invoice.
• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud and conducting business securely online.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

ACH enables businesses to pull money from your bank account or for you to push money to another business’ account. Most ACH payments occur the next day or same day.

Same Day ACH is a faster payments option that enables businesses to send and receive payments and information about the payments on the same day through the ACH Network.

Confirm with your financial services provider that your bank account is a business account and can be used to make and receive ACH payments. A financial services provider could be a bank, credit union, or payment processor.

• If you do not have a business bank account, open one with your financial services provider. A business account comes with additional services and features.
• If your business account is not ACH-enabled, tell your financial services provider you want to make and receive ACH payments.

Businesses must have an agreement with their customers to send and receive ACH payments.

• The agreement specifies the terms and conditions of payment.
• The agreement could be by oral agreement, included on an invoice, or it could take the form of a written contract.

Facts And Tips

• Every financial services provider has its own policies and qualifications for its business customers to send ACH payments.
• ACH payments enable businesses to automate their payables and receivables, provide predictable cash flow, reduce administrative costs, and provide information about the invoice.
• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud and conducting business securely online.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

As a business, you can allow business customers to visit your website and enter payment details that allow you to pull money from their bank account into yours.

Your business customer will need to enter its bank account information, both routing and account number, accurately.

Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud and conducting business securely online.

Facts And Tips

• Contact your financial services provider to explore options and tools to validate bank account information, including account and routing number.
• Make sure that your business customer’s bank account permits money to be pulled from the account.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

As a business, you can allow customers to call you with their payment details to enable you to pull money from their bank account into yours.

You will need to obtain the bank routing and account number of the business that is paying you.

Verify that the person providing the information is authorized to do so.

Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud.

Facts And Tips

• Contact your financial services provider to explore options and tools to validate bank account information, including routing and account number.
• Establish and follow procedures to handle bank account information in a safe and secure manner.
• Make sure your business customer’s bank account permits money to be pulled from the account.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

Some businesses allow you to pull money from their bank account into yours by prior agreement. This is done by instructing your financial services provider to pull the money on your behalf.

You will need to obtain the bank routing and account number of the business that is paying you.

Establish and follow procedures to handle bank account information in a safe and secure manner.

Every financial services provider has its own policies and qualifications for its business customers to send ACH payments. Depending on your financial services provider, this may be offered online, through a mobile app, or through your accounting software.

Facts And Tips

• Contact your financial services provider to explore options and tools to validate bank account information, including routing and account number.
• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud. Make sure your business customer’s bank account permits money to be pulled from the account.
• Be aware of timing and payment due dates. Check with your financial services provider regarding deadlines to submit payment instructions.
• You can offer your customer the ability to schedule recurring payments for regular business expenses.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

As a business, you can allow customers to push money from their bank account into yours.

You will need to provide your business customer your bank routing and account number.

Make sure you only share bank account information with a known party in a safe and secure manner.

You can also ask your customer to include additional information, such as an invoice number, to help you identify the payment.

Facts And Tips

• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud.
• Make arrangements with your financial services provider to receive all of the information that accompanies the payment.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

Some businesses may offer the ability for you to visit their website and enter payment details allowing them to pull money from your bank account into theirs.

You will need to provide your account information, both bank routing and account number, accurately.

If it is not a business or website you are familiar with, you will want to want to make sure the business and the website are legitimate.

Facts And Tips

• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud and conducting business securely online.
• Verify with your financial services provider that your bank account permits money to be pulled from it by other parties, and discuss services and features that enable you to decide who can pull money from your account.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

Some businesses allow you to call them with your bank account information to enable them to pull money from your account into theirs.

You will need to provide your account information, both bank routing and account number, accurately and in a safe and secure manner.

If it is not a business you are familiar with, you will want to want to make sure the business is legitimately the one you intend to pay, and the person with whom you are speaking is authorized to take your bank account information.

Facts And Tips

• Be aware of your surroundings when providing your bank account information to anyone.
• Talk to your financial services provider to verify your bank account permits money to be pulled from it by other parties, and discuss services and features that enable you to decide who can pull money from your account.
• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

As a business, you can allow another business to pull money from your bank account into theirs by prior agreement.

You will need to provide your bank routing and account number to the business you are paying.

Make sure you provide your bank account information accurately and in a safe and secure manner.

Verify the business you are paying is legitimately the one you intend to pay.

Facts And Tips

• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud.
• Verify with your financial services provider that your bank account permits money to be pulled from it by other parties, and discuss services and features that enable you to decide who can pull money from your account.
• You may be able to schedule recurring payments for regular business expenses such as utilities and insurance.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.

Some businesses allow you to push money from your bank account into theirs. This is done by instructing your financial services provider to send the money on your behalf.

You have control over when the payment moves out of your business bank account.

You will need to obtain the bank routing and account number of the business you want to pay.

You may also include additional information, such as an invoice number, to help the business identify the payment.

The invoice number and other payment-related information can be sent directly with your ACH payment, so that the business receiving your payment can post it right away.

Verify the business you are paying is legitimately the one you intend to pay. If you receive a change in payment instruction be sure to confirm with the business prior to sending money.

Every financial services provider has its own policies and qualifications for its business customers to send ACH payments. Depending on your financial services provider, this may be offered online, through a mobile app or through your accounting software.

Facts And Tips

• Talk to your financial services provider about sound business practices for preventing fraud.
• Be aware of timing and payment due dates. Check with your financial services provider regarding deadlines to submit payment instructions.
• Monitor your bank account activity daily.