eCheck processing
eCheck payment processing for businesses.
Accept electronic checks online and by phone. Your customer enters their routing and account number, ACHQ checks the account before the pull, and the payment clears through the ACH network. No paper, no deposit runs, and no card percentage on big payments.
Pay by eCheck
Invoice 10422$2,450.00
Routing number
•••••0248
Account number
••••••6789
Account checked before the pull
Then the eCheck clears through the ACH network.
Electronic check processing
What is an eCheck?
An eCheck, or electronic check, is a payment made with a bank routing and account number instead of a card or a paper check. It moves through the ACH network, the same system banks use for direct deposit. For your customer it feels like writing a check without the paper. For you, the money arrives without deposit runs and without a card network taking a percentage.
eCheck processing is how your business accepts them: the payment is authorized, the account is checked, and the funds are pulled and settled to your bank account.
- No paper. Nothing to mail, scan, or carry to the bank.
- Checked first. The account is verified before funds are pulled, so fewer payments come back.
- Big-payment friendly. Invoices, rent, and tuition cost less to accept than on cards.
- One account. eChecks and your other ACH payments run through the same ACH merchant account.
- Paper checks too. Convert them with mobile capture or a desktop scanner, Check 21 and RCC compliant.
How it works
How does an eCheck work?
Customer pays
They enter their routing and account number online, or give them over the phone, and authorize the payment.
Account is checked
ACHQ verifies the bank account before the pull, so typos and closed accounts get caught up front.
eCheck enters the ACH network
The payment goes out as an ACH debit: WEB for online payments, TEL for payments taken by phone.
Funds settle to you
Money lands in your business bank account. If a payment comes back, it carries a return code that says why.
See bank account verification for how accounts are checked, and the ACH return codes list for what each return means.
eCheck vs ACH
eCheck vs ACH: what's the difference?
They are the same rails. "eCheck" usually means a customer types their bank details online, or reads them over the phone, to pay once. "ACH" usually means a payment pulled from a stored, authorized bank account, often on a schedule. Both are ACH debits, both follow Nacha rules, and ACHQ processes both on one account.
New to the terms? Start with the ACH glossary, or see one-time and recurring ACH payments.
eCheck vs paper check
| eCheck | Paper check | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is paid | Bank details entered online or by phone | Written, mailed, or handed over |
| Getting it to the bank | Automatic, through the ACH network | Deposit runs or mobile deposit, one by one |
| Bad account found | Before the pull, by verification | Days later, when the check bounces |
| Cost to accept | From $0.15 per transaction | Staff time, deposits, and bank fees |
Getting started
What you need: an eCheck merchant account.
Apply once online. Every business goes through underwriting before it processes: business verification, owner checks, and a bank account match. Once you are approved, take eChecks through the web portal, the ACH API, or your own Plaid-linked flow.
Verification before the pull
Account status and owner checks catch bad accounts before they become returns.
Bank account verification →
Recurring eCheck billing
Keep the authorization on file and collect rent, dues, premiums, and payment plans on a schedule.
Recurring ACH payments →
eCheck payment gateway
Take eChecks through the web portal, with Plaid processor tokens, or through the ACH API.
ACH payment gateway →
Who uses eChecks
Businesses that get paid by check, and want the money faster.
- Property managers and landlords
- HOAs
- Private schools and daycares
- B2B invoices and distributors
- Insurance premiums
- Churches and nonprofits
- Storage facilities
- Contractors and home services
eCheck pricing
From $0.15*
per transaction
eChecks are often 50x cheaper than cards. A $2,450 invoice costs about $71.35 on a card at the typical 2.9% + 30¢.
*Final pricing is set at underwriting.
eCheck processing FAQ
What is an eCheck payment?
An eCheck payment is a payment made with a bank routing and account number instead of a card or a paper check. eCheck payment processing is how a business accepts it: the processor checks the account, sends the payment through the ACH network as an electronic debit, and settles the funds to your business.
How do customers pay with an eCheck?
They choose to pay by bank on your checkout or invoice page and enter their routing and account number, or read them to you over the phone. They authorize the payment and it goes out as an ACH debit. There is no check to write or mail.
Can I accept eChecks over the phone?
Yes. Phone payments are a standard type of eCheck under Nacha rules. You collect the bank details and the customer's spoken authorization on the call, then send the payment through the web portal or the ACH API.
Is an eCheck the same as an ACH payment?
They run on the same ACH network. "eCheck" is the name customers know for typing their bank details online or giving them over the phone to pay. A stored, scheduled pull is usually just called ACH. ACHQ processes both on one account.
Do I need an eCheck merchant account?
Yes. To accept eChecks your business needs a merchant account with an ACH processor. You apply with ACHQ online, we underwrite your business, and complete applications often get a decision within hours.
How long does an eCheck take to clear?
Settlement is as fast as same day. ACHQ offers standard ACH and Same Day ACH, and eChecks move on the same rails.
Are eChecks safe to accept?
Every eCheck needs the customer's authorization under Nacha rules, and ACHQ can verify the bank account before funds are pulled. A payment that comes back carries an ACH return code that tells you whether to retry, fix the account, or stop.
What does eCheck processing cost?
eCheck pricing from $0.15 per transaction, and eChecks are often 50x cheaper than cards. Final pricing is set at underwriting.
Move money cheaper, faster, and with fewer headaches.
Apply for an ACH merchant account online. Complete applications often get a decision within hours.