Save time and reduce costs
Process secure eChecks and save fees
eChecks are the perfect digital payment method for regular transactions, bill settlements, and touch-free processing. By offering different payment methods—including wire transfers, debit card transactions, and the ability to accept eChecks directly from checking accounts—you can lower your transaction costs. This will help improve cash flow and get you paid faster.
Questions? Speak to a human.
Questions? Speak to a human.
What is an eCheck?
An electronic check, or eCheck, is a secure, digital form of payment processed via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. It functions similarly to a traditional paper check, but with higher speed and security.
Customers can skip writing a physical check. Instead, they provide their bank account number, routing number, and payment authorization. They do this through a secure online form for quick electronic processing.
Why use it?
For many businesses, standard credit card payments can eat into profit margins—especially on high-ticket items or B2B wholesale orders.
An ACH payment is significantly faster and cheaper than waiting for paper checks to arrive in the mail, and it costs a fraction of standard processing fees. It allows SMBs and enterprises alike to streamline their accounts receivable and modernize their payment infrastructure.
Start processing credit cards + eCheck
We can quickly set you up with a robust payment processor and gateway functionality. This hybrid approach ensures you never miss a sale, regardless of your customer's preferred payment options.
Monthly gateway
$25
$25
Sign-up fee
$0
$0
eCheck transaction fee
0.75%
0.75%
Credit card transaction fee
10¢ + daily batch fee 10¢
10¢ + daily batch fee 10¢
The benefits of eCheck processing
Incorporating electronic funds transfer (EFT) into your business model isn't just about saving a few cents—it's about operational efficiency.
Benefits for your business
- Drastically lower fees. Credit card fees often range from 2% to 4%, while eCheck transactions are capped at just 0.75%. On a $1,000 payment amount, you might pay $29 with a credit card but only $7.50 with an eCheck.
- Less effort: With a one-time approval to withdraw funds, you can automate recurring payments and eliminate the need to manually collect or chase down invoices each month.
- Minimize mistakes: Handling a paper check involves several steps—receiving, opening, endorsing, and depositing—each prone to human error. Electronic processing removes manual data entry from your side.
- Accelerated cash flow: Don’t wait for the mail carrier. eChecks typically process faster than paper checks because transferring funds electronically removes physical delays.
- Limited dispute period: Customers have a 60-day timeframe from the purchase date to initiate a chargeback for an eCheck, providing greater stability compared to the extended dispute periods typically associated with credit card transactions.
Benefits for your customers
Convenience and inclusivity
- Convenience and inclusivity: Not all clients utilize corporate credit cards. Offering payment options that include direct bank transfers ensures you can do business with customers who prefer (or are required) to pay directly from a business bank account.
- Easy payments: Customers can “set it and forget it” by arranging recurring payments for subscriptions or retainers.
- No paper: Eliminates the hassle of writing, enveloping, and mailing paper checks, which reduces postage costs and environmental waste.
- Predictable cash flow: Payments made by eCheck draw directly from a bank account, reducing the risk of declined transactions due to expired or maxed‑out cards—making recurring billing more reliable for both parties.
- Enhanced security: Bank‑to‑bank transfers processed through the clearing house ACH network provide a secure way for customers to pay without sharing sensitive card details, lowering the risk of fraud or unauthorized use.
How do eChecks work with Authorize.net?
Understanding how eChecks work can help you explain the value to your customers. It is a step-by-step process designed for security and speed.
Unlike paper checks, which pass through many hands and can be lost or stolen in the mail, online payments via eCheck are encrypted from the moment of entry.
Authorize.net utilizes advanced tokenization, meaning we store the sensitive banking data on our secure servers, not yours. This simplifies your PCI compliance and ensures that your customers' banking details remain safe from prying eyes.
1. Authorization
The customer authorizes the transaction. This can be done via a recorded phone call, a signed order form, or most commonly, a secure online checkout page.
2. Input
The necessary banking information (routing number and account number) is entered into the Authorize.net secure payment gateway.
3. Processing
We encrypt the data and submit it to the ACH network. This is the same trusted network used by banks for direct deposit payroll and tax refunds.
4. Settlement
The funds are withdrawn from the customer's bank account and transferred via EFT directly into your business merchant account. While not instant, funds typically clear within 3 to 5 business days.
5. Security
Trusting the ACH network
Security is paramount when you accept eCheck payments and handle bank data. When you utilize the ACH network, you are leveraging one of the most secure financial infrastructures in the world.
Ideal use cases for eCheck
While eChecks are versatile, they shine in specific business scenarios.
Property management
Perfect for collecting monthly rent without high credit card overhead.
SaaS and subscriptions
Ideal for "set it and forget it" monthly billing where credit card expiration dates often cause churn (involuntary cancellation). Bank accounts rarely expire.
Wholesale and B2B
For high-volume or high-value orders where a 3% credit card fee would significantly impact the bottom line.
Non-profits
Donors often prefer ACH payment methods to ensure 100% of their donation goes to the cause rather than processing fees.
Services included in all plans
When you sign up, you get more than just a processing capability. You get a full suite of financial tools.
Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS)
Identify, manage, and prevent suspicious and potentially costly fraudulent card transactions with our Advanced Fraud Detection Suite.
Automated Recurring Billing
Automated Recurring Billing (ARB) is a convenient and easy-to-use tool for submitting and managing recurring, or subscription-based, transactions.
Customer Information Manager
Tokenize and store your customers' sensitive payment information on our secure servers, simplifying your PCI DSS compliance and the payments process.
Digital Invoicing
Send an invoice to anyone with an email address. Invoicing is perfect for businesses that need to send simple, no-hassle invoices.
Why businesses love eCheck
Hear from a business just like yours on why eCheck has been so instrumental for them.
Read more about eChecks and how they can help transform digital payments
Download our eCheck guide
Learn how eChecks reduce costs, speed up processing, and make bank payments easier for your business. Get clear steps, best practices, and everything needed to get started quickly.
Read what Payments Journal says about eCheck with Authorize.net
Get an expert look at how eChecks are transforming digital payments and why Authorize.net is helping businesses adopt them with ease. See key insights, trends, and what it means for your payment strategy.
1 ACH Costs are a Fraction of Check Costs for Businesses, AFP Survey Shows, NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association), 2022.
Not sure where to start?
Learn the basics of eCheck and ACH and find what you need, or call us.