What is an EFT Payment? A Guide to Digital Transactions

You can use the debit card to move money from your business bank account. what is an eft Use your debit card to make purchases or pay bills online, in person, or over the phone. An electronic fund transfer refers to transferring funds from one bank to another through electronic mode. Credit card payments, internet payments, and automatic bill payments are all examples of electronic fund transfers (EFTs), which are among the most popular payment methods.
Discretionary Spending and Expense Examples for Businesses
Many business owners get confused between EFTs and ACH transfers. The key distinction is that ACH transfers are a type of EFT, specifically moving funds between banks through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. The ACH network connects various financial institutions to enable efficient electronic fund transfers (EFTs). An ACH payment is typically used for direct transactions such as payroll and recurring monthly payments, highlighting their batch processing nature compared to real-time EFT transactions.
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Thanks to electronic payments, also known as electronic funds transfer or EFT payments, you can skip the check-writing process altogether. You need to provide your bank account and routing number when making an online payment and check number or other information from your checkbook for phone payments. In-person EFT payments can be made using a debit card or credit card. Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps enable senders to transfer money to a receiver with just their address or phone number in many cases. Many of these EFTs happen in real time but may not offer the same level of protection as debit and credit card payments. EFTs are also used as a general term covering the modern payment processing method.
Cons of EFT payments

This debits your company account and credits the restaurant account, but the charge may take a few days to appear. They’re also typically cheaper than paper checks, which is one reason paperless payment methods are popular with financial institutions, corporations, and governments. Wire transfer is an umbrella term for domestic or international electronic cross-border payments. International EFT payments are known as wire transfers and are used for large, cross-border transactions. They’re usually done through the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) network, and most countries have their own methods of processing international payments. Card-based electronic payments refer to payments made from a credit or debit card to a bank account.

The process allows the person sending money to initiate a transfer from an originating account. In most cases, the Automated Clearing House channels the transaction through the Federal Reserve system before the money up in the receiver’s account. Once Suspense Account an electronic funds transfer is initiated, it authorizes a bank or credit union to either debit or credit a consumer’s account for a specified amount of money. From a business perspective, using electronic fund transfers for vendors and payroll makes bookkeeping and accounting much simpler. It creates an electronic record of all transactions, and the accounting department doesn’t have to hold funds while waiting for checks to clear.
- The fund transfers are processed by verifying payment details, funds availability, and authorization for the accounts sending and receiving the money.
- For example, it will require a sender and a receiver to transfer funds through the appropriate payment network, typically the ACH network in the United States.
- An MSP’s revenue and profitability rely significantly on how fast and smoothly they collect payments.
- With Peakflo’s all-in-one customer portal, get paid in your sleep while providing versatility in payment methods for your customers.
However, for EFT purchases, the card used will be a debit card that requires PIN entry or some other form of verification to process the transaction. Start your free quote today to see how our online solutions can help you keep the cash flowing and your business growing. CardConnect is here to give you the streamlined, robust online merchant services you need. We help you process your transactions efficiently, securely, and affordably with low transaction fees, robust, security measures, and around-the-clock support. Plus, our systems are a breeze to integrate with your existing setups so your transition to better payment processing is smooth and stress-free. EFT payments are end-to-end encrypted and follow stringent security.

EFT payment meaning: What is an electronic funds transfer?
What’s the income statement difference between an EFT and an ACH (automated clearing house) payment? The EFTA states that consumers may dispute an electronic funds transfer if they believe the transaction was fraudulent. Under the Act, you must report this transfer within 60 days of the transaction date. You may be asked to provide additional documentation regarding the issue; these need to be supplied within ten business days of the request. Bankful’s EFT payment processing is ideal for a business looking to increase their profits by accepting EFT payments. Bankful offers secure payment processing in a variety of formats, including credit cards, e-checks, cryptocurrency and more.
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If you’ve ever used a debit card or set up a direct deposit transaction, then you’ve made or received an electronic funds transfer (EFT). These transactions move money between bank accounts without paperwork or a bank employee’s help. When performing an electronic funds transfer, you can send money to a different account within the same bank or credit union. You can also transfer money to one or several accounts outside the originating financial institution. On top of that, transactions that occur during business day hours, such as cash deposits, are typically cleared and available the same day.