Resource
An eCheck (electronic check) is a digital version of a paper check that pulls money straight from a bank account through the ACH network. You give a payee your routing and account numbers, they request the funds, and the money moves bank-to-bank. eChecks are slower than cards (usually 3–5 business days) but cost less—often under $1 per transaction. Use them for rent, taxes, tuition, large invoices, recurring bills, and any payment where speed matters less than cost.
How do eChecks work?
Three things happen when you pay by eCheck:
- You authorize the payment by giving the payee your routing number, account number, and the amount.
- The payee submits a debit request to the ACH (Automated Clearing House) network, run by NACHA.
- Funds clear from your bank to theirs in 3–5 business days; faster with same-day ACH.
For the difference between an eCheck and plain ACH, see eCheck vs ACH. Source: PaySimple — how eChecks work.
How long does an eCheck take to clear?
Standard ACH transfers take 3–5 business days. Same-day ACH—available since 2016—settles within hours, but only for transactions under $1,000,000 submitted before the daily cutoff. Holds, weekends, and federal holidays add time. More detail: how long an eCheck takes.
Source: PaymentCloud — eCheck processing time.
How do you deposit an eCheck without printing it?
Most banks let you deposit an eCheck as an image through their mobile app’s remote deposit feature. Open the email containing the eCheck, save the check image, then upload it via the app. If your bank doesn’t support image deposit, ask the payer to send funds via direct ACH instead.
Source: LinkedIn — eCheckPlan deposit guide.
How can a business accept eCheck payments online?
You need an ACH-enabled payment processor (Stripe, Square, Plooto, PaySimple, PayPal, Authorize.Net) and a written authorization from each customer. The setup:
- Apply to a processor with an ACH/eCheck plan.
- Add eCheck as a payment option on your checkout or invoice form.
- Collect bank details and signed authorization (online click-through is valid under NACHA WEB rules).
- Submit transactions through the processor’s API or dashboard.
Fees usually run 0.5–1.0% per transaction or a flat $0.20–$1.50, well below the 2.9%+ that cards charge.
Where can you pay with an eCheck?
We verify every list on this site against each company’s own payment pages. Below is the full directory, grouped by what you’re paying for. Each guide names who accepts eCheck—and, just as honestly, who doesn’t.
Pay a bill, rent, tuition, or recurring payment
- Banks — send, receive, and deposit eChecks (nearly all banks do)
- Credit card companies — pay your card bill free from a bank account
- Utility companies — electric, gas, and water by bank draft
- Phone & internet providers — bill pay by bank ACH
- Insurance companies — premiums by EFT from checking
- Mortgage lenders — pay your mortgage by ACH
- Medical bills — pay via MyChart and patient portals
- University tuition — free eCheck through bursar portals
- Gyms & fitness centers — monthly dues by EFT bank draft
- Property managers — pay rent by eCheck online
- Rent & real estate fees — how tenants pay by eCheck
- Law firms — fees and retainers by eCheck (LawPay/Clio)
- Nonprofit donations — how to donate from your bank
- Government taxes & fees — free ACH via IRS, EFTPS, and Pay.gov
Buy or book something
- Online retailers — which stores take eCheck at checkout
- Jewelry stores — the few that take a real bank payment
- Buying a car — why you can’t, and what does work
- Airlines — American is the only major U.S. carrier
- Travel — pay through platforms and cruise lines
- Online casinos — regulated sites that take eCheck
Learn how eChecks work
- eCheck vs ACH — how the two terms relate
- How long does an eCheck take? — clearing times explained
- How to accept eCheck payments — setup guide for business owners
- Best eCheck payment services — nine providers compared on published fees
- Can you pay by personal check online? — what works when a store takes no eCheck