How to Accept Modern ACH Payments at Your Business

Today, more businesses accept ACH payment methods than ever before.

Total ACH Network payment volume rose 7.4% in the third quarter of 2024 while Same Day ACH volume soared 67.5%.

But what's causing this increase in adoption? While ACH is one of the oldest digital payment solutions, it’s being revitalized — and business owners realize this modernization translates to real-time value.  

This article explains how businesses can accept modern ACH payments to increase revenue, reduce processing costs, and improve customer adoption. 

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What are traditional ACH payments? 

ACH payments are electronic funds transfers from one bank account to another. 

“ACH” stands for Automated Clearing House, a network operated by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). Businesses, third-party providers, banks and credit unions send and receive electronic payments through this ACH network.

Traditional ACH payments require customers to enter their account number and routing number to send funds. But this manual process exposes both consumers and merchants to risks and limitations. 

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What are modern ACH payments? 

Modern, or revitalized ACH payments include enhancements layered onto the ACH network for a seamless, secure experience. 

The improved ACH transfer process is called account-to-account (A2A) payments. It means instead of requiring bank information, a customer’s bank account is securely linked by a single login to their online banking.

Here are the three main components to enable ACH payments: 

1. Authentication (for first-time transactions)

Before an ACH transaction is initiated between a customer and new merchant, the customer’s savings or checking account must be authenticated and “linked” to verify its ability to send funds. 

This onboarding process is easily completed using an aggregator with open banking APIs, like Aerosync, which verifies accounts by enabling the user to log in to their bank directly. 

2. Authorization

To mitigate fraud, ACH bank transfer processors perform real-time fraud and risk detection checks during the authorization process. This ensures only legitimate transactions are processed — minimizing returned payments. 

3. Money movement and settlement

Once the transaction is approved, funds are moved from the customer’s bank to the merchant’s account using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network.

Unlike wire transfers, ACH payments are processed in batches, typically within 1 to 3 days depending on the processing window (First Same Day ACH, Second Same Day ACH, Third Same Day ACH, Next Day ACH).

‍Aeropay specializes in advanced ACH payments and works with over 12,000 financial institutions nationwide. We send funds along the fastest, most affordable route and instantly default to the next-best option depending on real-time availability.

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The benefits of accepting ACH payments

Advanced ACH payments are catching on because they offer a simple, cost-effective solution to complex payment issues that have existed in the U.S. for decades.

Here are the benefits of ACH for your business:

ACH payments save you money

ACH payments do not rely on debit or credit card networks to move funds, meaning there are no interchange fees to accept these payments from customers. 

While the exact pricing varies by provider, Aeropay consistently sees businesses save up to 72% on payment processing fees with ACH (compared to credit card payments). 

ACH payments are transparent

The direct connection ACH payments establish with your customers’ banks means you'll see greater transparency and accessibility.

This transparency unlocks tools like real-time fraud detection, multi-factor authentication, and verifiable account info (like customer account balance).

ACH payments can be guaranteed 

Payments providers like Aeropay allow businesses to enable guaranteed ACH for payments, eliminating the risk of chargebacks or declines, and guaranteeing funds will be delivered.

Guaranteed ACH means your payments are delivered on time, every time — with no risk of returned or unprocessed payments.

ACH can be fast (or even instant)

In 2024, the ACH network offers increasingly fast fund settlement options, like same-day or next-day. In fact, NACHA found 80% of ACH Network volume settles in one business day or less.  

You can even access ACH payments in real-time with guaranteed providers like Aeropay. We’ll deliver funds immediately and handle collecting the customer’s payment once it settles in a couple days. 

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How to accept ACH payments at your business

It’s easier than ever to onboard and utilize ACH for use cases like: 

• Online payments 
• Recurring payments (auto-pay)
• In-store transactions
• Large-sum payments 

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To accept ACH payments, follow these three steps: 

1. Select your ACH provider. You’ll need a reliable partner that’s able to onboard customers, verify their bank accounts, and process ACH payments. ACH payment processors like Aeropay provide flexible payment options to get your business up and running quickly.

2. Choose your ACH collection method(s). Depending on your business, there are a few ways to collect ACH payments, such as: 

• Payment links: Generate a custom URL to request ACH payments from customers.
• Embedded on your website: Quickly accept ACH payments with a pre-built widget that’s easily added to your checkout page.   
• Custom payment flow: Build a deeply embedded payment experience with custom branding, one-click checkouts, integrations, and more — all on your own website or app.

‍3. Start processing ACH payments. You’re ready to accept and collect reliable ACH payments. Funds will transfer directly to your business bank account.

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How to accept instant ACH payments

By pairing the reliability and low-cost of the ACH network with seamless customer bank linking, real-time fraud detection, and security measures like bank-level and multi-factor authentication — Aeropay ensures merchants access the highest top-line revenue possible.

Aeropay also offers Guaranteed ACH services to provide your business with instant access to customer funds, with zero risk of returned payment.

Our advanced model adapts to the complexities of ACH payments, dealing with over 50 return codes, predicting user funds at the time of the transaction, and managing dispute patterns.

The result: 95% of Aeropay transactions are approved, boosting customer satisfaction and merchant revenue.  

See why business owners across the country choose Aeropay for ACH payments. Book a demo to get started.

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How to reduce risk when you accept ACH payments

ACH, like any other payment method, comes with risks. However, advanced ACH solutions have built-in fraud and risk measures that actually make the method safer and more reliable than traditional cash, checks, or cards. 

Here are four key risks and how your ACH solution should address them:

Returned payments 

When an ACH transaction cannot be processed. 

Risk: When a customer has insufficient funds, incorrect account details, or a closed account, you won’t receive your payment, even if goods/services have been rendered.

Solution: Advanced ACH providers have built-in tools to verify account details and balance availability in real-time, reducing the likelihood of returns. Additionally, systems like Aeropay provide alerts for potential issues early on, allowing for proactive resolution.

Disputes 

When a customer claims a transaction was unauthorized or incorrect. 

Risk: Disputes lead to chargebacks, fees, and a lengthy resolution process.

Solution: Unlike credit card processing, ACH solutions can include built-in dispute management systems that track transaction histories and provide clear, timestamped records to help resolve disputes quickly. The process is often streamlined through automation, ensuring faster resolution and fewer disruptions.

Fraud 

ACH debits were most susceptible to fraud according to a 2023 study.  

Risk: ACH payments can be targeted by fraudsters attempting to gain unauthorized access to accounts or initiate fraudulent transactions, leading to financial losses.

Solution: Providers should offer multi-layered fraud detection and prevention mechanisms. This includes encryption, tokenization, anomaly detection, and monitoring tools that track suspicious activities, flagging potentially fraudulent transactions before they occur.

Unauthorized payments 

When a transaction is initiated without proper consent.

Risk: ACH transactions that require manual entry of bank account information expose customers to the risk of unauthorized payments. 

Solution: Your ACH payment processing provider can eliminate this risk by enabling onboarding with bank-level authentication that includes multi-factor authentication and secure bank API integrations. 

How to encourage customers to pay with ACH 

When you’re set up and ready to accept ACH payments, you’ll want to take full advantage of the benefits. 

Unlocking the advantages of ACH means ensuring your customers choose to pay by bank account. 

Here are some tips to nudge them toward adoption: 

Offer discounts

Incentivize customers to choose ACH by offering a small discount for payments made by bank account. You’ll save money on transaction fees by motivating customers to choose the lower-cost option. 

Example: Rent payments incur a 3% fee when paid by debit card, but zero fee when paid by bank. See the benefits of ACH rent payments.  

Enable 1-click checkouts

Simplify the payment process by offering a seamless, one-click checkout option for returning customers. After their first payment, users are saved and ACH payments can be sent in a single click, removing friction and boosting customer satisfaction.

Example: iGaming players top-up their balance in a single click, without any manual data entry. 

Add auto-pay

For recurring ACH payments, offer an auto-pay feature that automatically deducts funds from the customer’s bank account. This reduces the likelihood of missed payments while providing convenience for both parties.

Example: Bill payments are set and forgotten — automatically deducting the specified amount each month. 

Set up rewards

Implement a rewards program for customers who opt to pay via ACH. Whether it’s points, cashback, or exclusive offers, these incentives can help drive higher adoption rates for ACH payments.

Example: Retailers offer cash back on ACH purchases, depositing funds directly into the payer’s account. 

Try payment links

Send customers a link to collect ACH debit transactions from anyone, anywhere. If you typically accept funds via cash, check, or physical cards, payment links remove the overhead and complication of traditional payment processing.

Example: Professional services or small businesses requesting payment send a simple link that includes the total amount requested, direct to the customer’s inbox. 

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Ready? Accept ACH payments today

Modern businesses need a solution that’s built for the future. Aeropay’s account-to-account platform provides enhanced ACH payments that help you: 

• Reduce processing costs
• Guarantee revenue
• Eliminate risks
• Prevent fraud

And most importantly, we’ll get you started quickly, with a team of specialists ready to assist you along the way. 

Now’s the time to accept ACH payments. Get started by chatting with one of Aeropay’s experts. 

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More ACH resources: 

• ACH Credit vs. ACH Debit
• How to Accept ACH Payments Online