When should you consider ACH payments?
Invoices and recurring billing
Bank payments may be worth evaluating when customers pay larger invoices or authorize repeat payments. Compare the proposed fee schedule with your actual card costs. ACH is not automatically cheaper for every transaction, especially after minimums, returns, or additional services.
Available account options
We offer ACH payment reviews through our processing relationship. Confirm the provider, eligible business activity, account approval, supported payment flow, and integration before promising a bank payment option to customers.
What belongs in an ACH proposal?
Authorization and records
Confirm the authorization process for the type of payment you plan to collect, how consent is recorded, and how customers change or revoke an arrangement. Your provider should specify the requirements and the records you need to retain.
Funding, returns, and limits
Ask when payments are submitted and funded, what limits apply, and what happens if a payment is returned. A submitted payment is not a guarantee of final funds. Review return handling, customer notices, and reconciliation.
Complete pricing
Compare percentage or fixed transaction charges, minimums or caps, monthly access, returned payment fees, and any software charges. Keep card and ACH estimates based on the same invoice activity.
Check your billing workflow
Match payments with invoices
Identify who creates the invoice, sends the payment request, monitors payment status, and handles exceptions. Verify whether accounting entries are automatic or manual for your software.
Protect account information
Use the approved payment flow to collect bank details. Do not send customer bank account numbers or credentials in routine email or booking forms. Ask about permissions and the process for resolving unauthorized or incorrect entries.
Published bank payment options
Where the provider describes ACH
Blackstone publicly describes check and ACH processing through its payment tools. Its check processing page covers browser, invoice, and mobile use cases. Your account still needs approval and the appropriate bank payment setup.
Do not confuse verification with final funds
Account verification or an initial payment result does not guarantee that a bank payment will not be returned. Confirm the authorization, verification service, timing, limits, and return obligations in your agreement. ACH is a bank payment method and should not be described as simply another credit card interchange category.