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ACH Payments: A Guide to ACH Hold, Transfer, and Transaction Time

Updated  |  8 min read
Key Takeaways
  • ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments are electronic transfers and direct payment between bank accounts within the United States.
  • They facilitate various transactions like direct deposits, bill payments, and business-to-business transactions. ACH enables secure and cost-effective transfers, making it a popular choice for businesses and individuals.
  • ACH transfers are widely used for recurring ACH payments like subscriptions and payroll, for both ACH debit and credit transactions.
  • Unlike credit card payments, ACH doesn't require intermediaries, reducing processing fees. The average ACH transaction takes 1-2 business days to clear.
  • The ACH network is regulated by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) to ensure safety and efficiency.
 

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What Is an ACH Payment, and How Does It Work?

ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, which is a financial network in the United States that’s used for electronic money transfers.

ACH payments, also known as "direct payments," are a method of electronic funds transfer from one bank account to another without using paper checks, credit or debit card networks, wire transfers, or cash.

Since first being established, ACH transfers have grown in usage and popularity—according to Nacha.org, there were 7.7 billion ACH transactions within the first quarter of 2023.

ACH transfers are common and familiar to most consumers, even if they aren't aware of the lingo. If you pay your bills electronically (rather than writing a check or entering a credit card number) or get a direct deposit from your employer, the ACH network is likely at work.

ACH transfers are increasing in popularity among businesses, too. In fact, B2B ACH payment volume increased by 15.5 percent from 2021 to 2022. ACH payment transfers are faster and more dependable than checks, allowing them to be automated and streamline accounting.

In general, ACH transfers cost less to process than credit card payments or wire transfer. The savings may be significant if you accept recurring payments as a business. (If you still want to accept credit cards, find out how to avoid credit card processing fees.)

Differences Between ACH Payments, Wire Transfers, and EFT Payments

Wire transfers and ACH transfers are both ways to move money between two accounts, but they have some differences.

  • ACH transactions are between two financial institutions on the ACH Network, whereas wire transfers are direct point-to-point transfers.
  • A wire transfer is often used for higher-end purchases while ACH transactions are used for everyday things like direct deposit paychecks and bill payments.
  • ACH transactions can be disputed within five business days for credit transfers or within 60 days for debit transfers. Wire transactions, on the other hand, can be difficult or impossible to recall or cancel once the funds have gone through.
  • A wire transfer is completed in real-time (within minutes) while ACH transactions are processed four times a day in batches. Therefore, a wire transfer can be faster than an ACH payment.
  • ACH processing has more options—credit payments can be processed the same day, the next day, or in 2 days, and debit transfers can be processed same-day or next-day.
  • Some payment processors charge a small fee for same-day ACH processing. A wire transfer often charges a higher rate, and they’ll charge both sides of the transaction.
  • EFT payments (EFT is a type of Electronic Funds Transfer) and ACH transactions are both acceptable. They're both used to describe the same payment method.
ACH Payments (also called EFT)
  • Cost – Almost all electronic funds transfers (EFTs) are cheaper than wire transfers.
  • Speed – An ACH payment can be processed on the same day, the next day, or in two days from the time payment was made.
Wire Payments
  • Cost – Wire payments are relatively expensive.
  • Speed – Because they do not utilize a “batch” technique, they are usually faster.

Examples of ACH Transactions

ACH payment transfers are divided into two categories. ACH debit transactions take money from your account and make it available to you. You may use ACH credit transactions to send money to other banks (either your own or to others). Here are two real-world examples of how they work.

  • Direct Deposit Payroll – Many businesses now provide direct deposit payroll. They utilize ACH credit transactions to send money to their workers' financial institutions at set intervals using a system similar to payroll deduction.
  • Recurring Bill Payments – Customers who pay a business on a regular basis (for example, their insurance provider or mortgage lender) may choose to enroll in recurring payments. This allows businesses to start ACH debits at each billing cycle, taking money directly from the customer's account.

Who's Involved in ACH Transactions?

Apart from the Automated Clearing House network (which links all the banks in the United States), there are three additional players involved with ACH transfers:

  • ODFI, also known as the Originating Depository Financial Institution, is the financial institution that starts the transaction.
  • RDFI, also known as the Receiving Depository Financial Institution, is the banking institution that receives the ACH request.
  • Nacha (previously spelled NACHA), also known as the National Automated Clearing House Association, is a non-partisan government agency that oversees monitoring and regulating the network.
An ACH payment via ACH transfer for credit or debit card

When Do You Use ACH Payments?

Let’s use your monthly automated phone bill payments as an example. You provide your checking account information (routing and account number) and sign a recurring payment authorization when you join up for autopay with your phone company.

After that, when it comes time to pay your bill, the money owed is transferred from your bank account at the ODFI to the RDFI by way of the ODFI's bank (the ODFI).

The two banks then talk to one another to ensure there are adequate funds in your bank account to complete the transaction. If the payment is approved, it is sent to your phone company's bank account and the money is transferred.

What Are Typical ACH Payment Processing Times?

ACH credits can be processed as same-day, next-day, or 2-day payments, while ACH debits can be processed as same-day or next-day payments.

Payments are processed in batches using the ACH network. The receiving bank can hold the transferred funds for a holding period after they’ve been received. In addition, payments are only settled when the Federal Reserve’s settlement service is open.

Depending on the timeline selected for the payment processing, the procedures of the receiving bank, and the Federal Reserve settlement office hours, your ACH transfer may be available for withdrawal within a few hours or a few days.

How Much Do ACH Payments Cost to Process?

The processing fees for ACH transfers for payments are usually less expensive for businesses to execute than personal transfers are. Direct deposits, in fact, usually have no fees at all since they go directly into your account from a financial institution  and don’t go through a third-party payment processor.

Payment processors, or merchant account providers, are the entities that determine processing fee amounts for other types of ACH transfers. Some ACH processors charge a fixed rate, which is generally between $0.25 and $0.75 per ACH transaction. Others may charge a percentage fee for every transaction, which ranges between 0.5 percent to 1 percent per ACH transfer.

Providers may also charge an additional monthly fee for ACH transactions, which can vary significantly depending on the provider's demands.

Direct deposits may be made with ACH transfers without incurring any costs associated with that functionality in our Payment Portal.

Why Are Some ACH Transfers Rejected?

ach payment rejection codes for an ACH transfer

If an ACH payment is denied, your bank or financial institution will issue a reject code that explains what went wrong. These refusal codes are essential for letting consumers know why their money was rejected.

The following are the four most frequently used refusal codes:

  • R01 Insufficient Funds — The customer's account funds were insufficient to cover the debit entry. When you see this code, it's very probable that you'll have to repeat the transaction process after the consumer transfers money into their account or uses a different payment method.
  • R02 Bank Account Closed — Customers often must call their bank and resubmit deposits. This occurs when a customer's previous account had been closed. It's probable they forgot to notify you of the modification. To process the transaction, they must provide you with a new bank account for the ACH transfer to go through.
  • R03 No Bank Account / Unable to Locate Account — When an ACH transaction is processed, this code is triggered if the data supplied (the account number and name on the account) does not match bank records or if a nonexistent account number was input. The consumer will need to verify and resend their banking information.
  • R29 Reject — If a bank refuses to allow a company to withdraw funds from a specific account, you'll receive this rejection code. In this situation, the customer must give their bank their ACH Originator ID so that your business can make ACH withdrawals. Then the ACH transaction must be rerun.

Are There Any Penalty Fees with ACH Rejections?

Unfortunately, a penalty fee may be incurred if an ACH payment is rejected. As a result, if you receive a reject code, it's critical to correct the problem as soon as possible to avoid paying extra for each billing cycle.

It may be worth limiting your business's acceptance of ACH payments to only those from trusted clients in order to avoid the hassles of unwinding ACH rejects.

What Is ACH Security?

The ACH network is regulated by the federal government and Nacha. ACH payments do not need to adhere to the same PCI compliance standards as credit card processing. Instead, ACH transactions have their own regulations.

To comply with Nacha regulations, all parties involved in ACH payments (including businesses making the payments and third-party processors) must put procedures, processes, and controls in place to safeguard sensitive data.

Nacha rules also state that any banking information (such as a customer's account and routing number) must be transmitted using “commercially reasonable” encryption technology.

This includes sending or receiving bank data via email or website forms—these must be encrypted, and websites need secure (https) pages. If you want to use a third party for ACH payment processing, make sure it has implemented technologies with state-of-the-art encryption technologies, like Clarity Payment Hub.

An ACH transfer for an ACH payment.

Under Nacha standards, originators of ACH payments are required to use “commercially reasonable” methods to verify the validity of client ID and routing numbers and to detect fraudulent activity.

The majority of third-party ACH processors should have these capabilities but double check before committing with anyone. It's also a good idea to work with an IT or security expert to make sure your company is sending ACH payments securely.

Benefits of ACH Payment Processing

There are a number of reasons why ACH payments are becoming increasingly popular for companies.

  • Lower Processing Costs – ACH payments have some of the lowest processing costs of any payment type. If you use a flat-rate provider, ACH payments will cost your company far less out-of-pocket than credit card transactions.
  • Fewer Declines Due to Expiration – Checking accounts don't have the same "expiring" features as credit and debit cards. As a result, you encounter far fewer rejections when processing ACH payments.
  • More Convenient for You – Time-consuming trips to the bank are no longer required. Paper invoices, checks, and paperwork will be a thing of the past.
  • More Convenient for Your Customers – The more payment options available, the better the client experience is. Customers don't have to search for their checkbook every month with ACH payments. They may simply "set it and forget it" by signing up for recurring billing with any one of various payment methods.

Drawbacks of ACH Payment Processing

Although it is affordable and convenient, there are some limitations to ACH payment processing.

  • Speed – ACH transfers may be a little slower than some other forms of transactions, like wire transfers.
  • Caps – There are restrictions on how much money you can transfer. The maximum daily and monthly amount is $25,000 per transaction for same-day ACH.
  • U.S.-Only – The ACH system is specific to the U.S., so ACH transactions can only occur to and from U.S. bank accounts. This means ACH can’t be used for international payments.

Why ACH Payments Are Useful for Businesses

  • By spending less with direct deposit (credit) and direct payment (debit) ACH transfers, you’ll have more opportunity to grow your business.
  • You can improve employee satisfaction with direct deposit for quick payroll processing.
  • ACH payments increase security because account numbers remain confidential.
  • Customers can set up autopay with ACH payments. Clarity Payment Hub has a customer portal that makes this process easy.

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FAQ

 

ACH credit and ACH debit transactions are two types of electronic fund transfers through the National Automated Clearing House Association.

An ACH credit transaction involves a payer initiating a transaction to transfer money and deposit funds into a payee's account, including recurring ACH payments such as ACH bank transfers into bank accounts. These ACH transfers are commonly used for activities like direct deposits of salaries, tax refunds, vendor payments, and other direct payment activities. The payer authorizes the transfer, and the recipient receives the funds through the ACH network via electronic payment.

On the other hand, an ACH debit transaction works in reverse. With ACH debit transactions, a payee initiates the transaction to withdraw funds from a payer's account, typically for bill payments, loans, or subscriptions. The payee gains authorization from the payer to collect the funds, and the payer's account is debited with the help of the ACH network and the applicable financial institution.

The key distinction lies in the direction of the transaction flow. ACH credit is initiated by the payer to deposit funds, while ACH debit transactions are initiated by the payee to withdraw funds. Both methods of ACH transfers offer convenience and efficiency, but their applications differ based on the nature of the transaction and the parties involved.

 

ACH transactions typically take 1 to 2 business days to complete through the ACH network from one financial institution to another. However, there are two main types of transactions: ACH credit transfers and ACH debit transfers, each with its own processing times through the automated clearing house (ACH).

For ACH credits—where funds are transferred from the payer's account to the payee's account—the process usually takes one business day for the ACH transaction to occur. This means that if a transaction is initiated on a Monday, the recipient should receive the funds from the financial institution by Tuesday. This is often done for ACH bank transfers such as an electronic payment for direct deposits of salaries, vendor payments, and tax refunds.

In the case of an ACH debit transaction—where funds are withdrawn from the payer's account by the payee—the process may take up to two business days. For example, if a bill payment via ACH transfer is set up on a Monday, the funds may not be debited from the payer's account until Wednesday. These types of ACH transfers may require additional planning so that late fees or unexpected interest payments aren't incurred.

It's important to note that weekends and bank holidays are not considered business days in the context of ACH transfers, so transactions initiated on a Friday may not be completed until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. Despite the benefits of ACH, ACH bank transfers aren't immediate; it's important to note the difference between ACH debit and ACH credit times.

 

ACH direct payments to savings accounts operate similarly to a checking account with ACH transfers. The payer authorizes the transaction, providing their account details for ACH direct deposit. The payment originating depository financial institution electronically debits the specified amount from the payer's account and transfers it to the payee's account as a direct payment.

This process leverages the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network for secure, electronic fund transfers. While savings accounts are primarily designed for saving, they can still be used for ACH transactions for electronic payment.

It's worth noting that some financial institutions might have specific policies or restrictions regarding ACH transactions from accounts, so it's advisable to check with the bank for any applicable terms or fees regarding with ACH credit, ACH debit, or other ACH transfers.

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Author
 
Autumn Spriggle is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures who stays up to date on the latest trends in eCommerce, software development, and related topics to provide readers with the latest and greatest. She strives to help people like you realize the full potential for their eCommerce business.