How to send an ACH payment
To send an ACH payment, you log into your bank's website or app, select "Send Money" or "Pay Bills," enter the recipient's name and routing and account numbers, choose the amount and date, and submit. Your bank then batches your payment with others and sends it through the ACH network, which takes one to two business days to reach the recipient's account. You do not need special software or a separate service—your own bank handles the entire process.
The speed and simplicity depend on whether you are paying a business (like a utility company) or a person. Payments to businesses often route through their bill-pay system and may arrive faster. Payments to individuals require you to enter their bank details manually, and you should verify the account number before sending because ACH transfers cannot be recalled once they leave your bank.
Key Takeaways
- You initiate ACH payments through your bank's online portal or mobile app by entering the recipient's routing number, account number, and amount.
- ACH payments take one to two business days to clear, so plan ahead if you have a specific due date in mind.
- Once an ACH payment leaves your bank, you cannot cancel it, so double-check the recipient's account details before submitting.
- Most banks do not charge a fee for ACH payments sent from a checking or savings account, though some online banks may charge for expedited processing.
- If a payment fails or the recipient's account is closed, your bank will return the funds to your account, usually within two to three business days.
Finding the ACH payment option in your bank's system
Log into your bank's website or open the mobile app and look for a section labeled "Send Money," "Pay Bills," "Transfers," or "Payments." Most banks place this option prominently on the dashboard or in a main menu. If you cannot find it, search the app or website for "ACH" or "bank transfer"—your bank's help section will direct you to the right page.
Some banks separate bill payments from person-to-person transfers. If you are paying a known business (a utility, insurance company, or loan servicer), use the bill-pay section. If you are sending money to another person's bank account, look for "Send Money to Another Bank" or "External Transfer." Both use the ACH network, but the interface and timing may differ slightly.
What information you need before you start
Gather the recipient's routing number and account number before you open the payment screen. The routing number identifies the bank; the account number identifies the specific account within that bank. For businesses, this information is often printed on an invoice or bill, or you can find it on their website under "Payment Information" or "How to Pay."
For payments to individuals, ask them directly for their routing and account numbers. Do not guess or use a number you think is correct. Entering a wrong account number will send the money to someone else's account, and recovering it is difficult and slow. If the person is unsure of their routing number, they can find it on a check, call their bank, or look it up on their bank's website.
You will also need the recipient's name exactly as it appears on their account. Some banks require the full legal name; others accept a business name. Mismatched names can cause the payment to be rejected or delayed.
Entering the payment details and choosing a date
Enter the recipient's name, routing number, and account number into the fields your bank provides. Then enter the amount you want to send. Most banks let you choose whether the payment should go out today, tomorrow, or on a specific future date. If you select a future date, the payment will not leave your account until that day, which is useful if you want to ensure funds are available or if you are paying a bill before its due date.
If you choose "today" or "send now," the payment typically leaves your bank the same business day (if submitted before the bank's cutoff time, usually 5 p.m. or later). Weekend and holiday submissions are usually processed the next business day. After the payment leaves your bank, it enters the ACH network and takes one to two business days to arrive at the recipient's bank.
Reviewing and confirming your payment
Before you submit, review every detail: the recipient's name, routing number, account number, and amount. Most banks show you a confirmation screen that lists all this information. Read it carefully. This is your last chance to catch a typo or wrong account number.
Once you submit, your bank will send you a confirmation number and usually a receipt via email or within the app. Save this confirmation number. If the recipient later says they did not receive the money, you can use this number to trace the payment through the ACH network. Do not assume the payment is complete just because you received a confirmation—the confirmation means your bank accepted it, not that it has arrived at the recipient's bank yet.
What happens after you submit
Your bank holds the payment for the time you selected (today, tomorrow, or a future date). On that date, your bank batches your payment with thousands of others and sends them through the Federal Reserve's ACH network. The network processes batches several times per day, and the recipient's bank receives the batch and credits the account within one to two business days.
During this time, the money is in transit—it has left your account but has not yet arrived in the recipient's account. You can usually see the payment listed as "pending" or "processing" in your bank's transaction history. Once it arrives at the recipient's bank, it will show as a completed deposit in their account, and you will see it as a completed withdrawal in yours.
If something goes wrong—the recipient's account is closed, the routing number was incorrect, or the account holder rejects the payment—the recipient's bank will send the payment back through the ACH network to your bank. This reversal usually takes two to three business days. Your bank will credit your account and may notify you by email or in-app message.
Fees and limits on ACH payments
Most banks do not charge a fee for standard ACH payments sent from a checking or savings account. However, some online banks or credit unions may charge a small fee (typically $1 to $3) for expedited ACH processing, which speeds up the delivery by one day. Check your bank's fee schedule or the payment screen itself to see if a fee applies.
Banks also set limits on how much you can send via ACH in a single day or month. These limits vary widely—some banks allow $10,000 per day, others allow $25,000 or more. If you need to send more than your limit, you can either split the payment across multiple days or contact your bank to request a higher limit. Requesting a limit increase usually takes one to three business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel an ACH payment after I submit it?
If you catch the error before your bank processes the batch (usually within a few hours of submission), you may be able to cancel it by contacting your bank immediately. Once the payment enters the ACH network, it cannot be stopped. If it has already arrived at the recipient's bank, you would need to ask the recipient to return the funds or contact your bank to dispute the transaction.
What if I enter the wrong account number?
The payment will go to the account number you entered, even if it belongs to someone else. The recipient's bank will not reject it based on the name alone. If this happens, contact your bank right away and explain the error. Your bank can attempt to recover the funds, but this process is slow and not always successful. It is why verifying the account number before sending is critical.
How do I know if the payment arrived?
Check the recipient's bank account or ask them to confirm they received it. You can also check your own bank's transaction history—once the payment shows as "completed" or "posted" (not "pending"), it has been delivered. If more than two business days have passed and the recipient has not received it, contact your bank with your confirmation number to trace it.
Can I send an ACH payment to a credit card?
No. ACH payments go to bank accounts (checking or savings), not credit cards. If you need to pay a credit card bill, use your card issuer's bill-pay system or make a payment through their website. Some credit card companies allow ACH transfers from your bank account, but you initiate it through their portal, not your bank's.
What is the difference between ACH and wire transfer?
ACH is slower (one to two days) and cheaper (usually free). Wire transfer is faster (same day or next day) but costs money (typically $15 to $30). Use ACH for routine bills and payments where timing is not urgent. Use wire transfer when you need money to arrive the same day or when the amount is large enough to justify the fee.