You need their bank account number and routing number, and you send the payment through your own bank or an ACH service
To send an ACH payment to someone, you provide their bank account number and routing number to your bank, or you use a third-party ACH service like PayPal, Venmo, or your employer's payroll system. Your bank then sends the money electronically to their bank. The payment takes one to three business days to arrive, and the money moves directly from your account to theirs—no check, no card, no middleman.
The person receiving the money does not have to do anything on their end. They do not need to sign up for a service or approve the payment. Once their bank receives it, the money appears in their account automatically.
Key Takeaways
- You need the recipient's full name, bank account number, and routing number before you can send an ACH payment through your bank.
- ACH payments take one to three business days to clear, so plan ahead if the money needs to arrive by a specific date.
- Your bank may charge a fee for sending ACH payments, though many banks offer free outgoing transfers to other accounts.
- Third-party services like PayPal and Venmo can send ACH payments, but they may charge fees or have daily or monthly limits on how much you can transfer.
- Once you send an ACH payment, you cannot cancel it if the recipient's bank has already received it, so verify the account details before you submit.
Getting the information you need from the recipient
Ask the person you are sending money to for four pieces of information: their full name (as it appears on their bank account), their bank account number, their routing number, and the name of their bank. Write these down exactly as they give them to you—even a single digit wrong will send the money to the wrong account or cause the transfer to fail.
The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies the bank. The account number is usually between eight and seventeen digits. If the person is not sure where to find these, they can log into their online banking, call their bank's customer service line, or look at a check—the routing number is printed at the bottom left, and the account number is printed next to it.
Do not ask for or send a photo of a check or bank card. You only need the numbers, and sharing images of financial documents creates unnecessary security risk.
Sending through your own bank
Log into your bank's online banking portal or mobile app and look for a link that says "Send Money," "Transfer Funds," "Pay Someone," or "ACH Transfer." The exact wording varies by bank. Click it and select the option to send money to someone outside your bank (sometimes called "external transfer" or "send to another bank").
Enter the recipient's name, account number, routing number, and bank name. Most banks will ask you to verify this information before you proceed—read it back carefully. Then enter the amount you want to send and choose the date you want the transfer to go out. Many banks let you schedule transfers for a future date, which is useful if you want the money to arrive on a specific day.
Review the details one more time, then submit. Your bank will show you a confirmation number. Write it down or take a screenshot. The transfer will appear in your account history, and you can check the status there as it processes.
Sending through a third-party service
Services like PayPal, Venmo, Square Cash, and Wise also send ACH payments, but they work differently than your bank. You create an account, link your bank account to the service, and then send money to the recipient's email address or phone number. The service then pulls the money from your bank account and deposits it into theirs.
These services often charge fees—some charge a flat fee per transfer, others charge a percentage of the amount you send, and some offer free transfers if you wait longer for the money to arrive. Check the fee structure before you send. Many services also have daily or monthly limits on how much you can transfer, especially if your account is new.
The advantage of using a third-party service is convenience: you do not need the recipient's routing number or account number, just their email or phone. The disadvantage is that you are trusting a third party with your bank login information, and you may pay a fee for the service.
How long the payment takes and what can go wrong
ACH payments take one to three business days to arrive. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you send a payment on a Friday after 5 p.m., it will not start processing until Monday, and it may not arrive until Wednesday or Thursday.
If you entered the account number or routing number incorrectly, the payment will fail and bounce back to your account within one to three business days. Your bank will notify you, and you can try again with the correct information. If the account number is wrong but the routing number is correct, the money may go to the wrong person's account at the right bank—this is why verifying the details is critical.
Once the recipient's bank has received the payment, you cannot cancel it or reverse it. If you need to stop a payment before it arrives, contact your bank immediately—you have a small window to cancel, usually before the end of the business day you sent it. After that, the money is gone, and your only option is to ask the recipient to send it back.
Fees and limits
Many banks offer free outgoing ACH transfers, but some charge a fee per transfer—typically between $0.50 and $3. Check your bank's fee schedule or ask customer service whether they charge for ACH transfers. Some banks waive the fee if you maintain a minimum balance or have a premium account.
Your bank may also set a daily or monthly limit on how much you can transfer via ACH. This limit protects you from fraud if your account is compromised. If you need to send more than your limit allows, contact your bank to request a temporary increase or to send the money in multiple transfers.
Third-party services have their own fee structures and limits. PayPal charges a fee for transfers to bank accounts, Venmo charges a fee for instant transfers but offers free standard transfers that take one to three days, and Wise charges a small percentage based on the exchange rate if you are sending money internationally. Read the terms before you send.
When to use ACH instead of other payment methods
ACH is best when you need to send money to someone's bank account and you do not need it to arrive instantly. It is cheaper than wire transfers, more secure than sending a check, and it works for any amount. Use ACH for paying rent, splitting bills, sending money to family, or paying a contractor or freelancer.
Do not use ACH if the money needs to arrive the same day—use a wire transfer instead, though wire transfers cost more and cannot be reversed. Do not use ACH if you do not have the recipient's bank details—use a third-party service like Venmo or PayPal instead, which only need an email or phone number.
ACH is also not the right choice if you are sending money internationally. International ACH transfers exist but are slow and expensive. Use a service like Wise, OFX, or your bank's international transfer service instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send an ACH payment to someone without their routing number?
No, your bank needs both the account number and the routing number to send an ACH payment. If you only have the account number, use a third-party service like PayPal or Venmo instead, which only need an email address or phone number.
What happens if I send money to the wrong account number?
If the routing number is correct but the account number is wrong, the money goes to the wrong person's account at the right bank. You cannot reverse it once the receiving bank has accepted it. Contact your bank immediately to report the error and ask if they can recover the funds, but there is no may provide. This is why verifying the details before you send is critical.
Can I cancel an ACH payment after I send it?
You can cancel it only if you contact your bank before the end of the business day you sent it. After that, the payment has left your bank and cannot be stopped. If the receiving bank has already accepted it, you cannot reverse it—your only option is to ask the recipient to send the money back.
Do I need to tell the person I am sending money to?
It is a good idea to let them know you are sending the payment so they expect it and can watch for it. Include the amount and the date you sent it so they can match it to their bank deposit. This also gives them a chance to confirm their account details are correct before the money arrives.
Is ACH payment safe?
ACH is reasonably safe if you send it to the correct account. The main risk is sending money to the wrong person if you enter the account number incorrectly. The other risk is if your bank account is compromised—someone with access to your login could send ACH payments without your permission. Protect yourself by using a strong password, enabling two-factor authentication, and monitoring your account regularly for unauthorized transfers.