If you already accept credit cards, adding electronic checks is the cheapest revenue you are currently leaving on the table. For most business types, offering a check option captures an extra 3–36% of transactions — customers who don’t have a card, won’t use one online, or simply prefer paying from their bank account. The question is which rail to use: ACH or Check21. Here is the plain-English comparison.
ACH / bank draft, explained
ACH (Automated Clearing House) drafts funds directly from your customer’s checking account. It is the rail behind payroll and most bill payments in the United States — enormously widespread and inexpensive.
- Works everywhere: on your website, by phone, fax or mail;
- Low cost: typically the cheapest way to collect payment;
- Settlement: funds usually arrive in 3–5 business days;
- The catch: approval criteria are stricter — not every merchant category qualifies.
Check21, explained
Check21 is effectively an electronic deposit of a paper check: your authorisation number (recorded or on paper) serves as the signature, you enter the sale into the virtual terminal we provide, and the funds are deposited into your bank account shortly after.
- Faster settlement than ACH — no 3–5 day wait;
- Broader approval: available to merchants who do not fit ACH criteria, including all legal high-risk types;
- Simple workflow: enter the sale, done — nothing else to operate.
Side-by-side comparison
| ACH | Check21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest | Low |
| Settlement | 3–5 business days | Faster — typically next deposit cycle |
| Approval criteria | Stricter | Broader — fits most high-risk profiles |
| Channels | Web, phone, fax, mail | Virtual terminal |
| Best for | Lowest-cost recurring collection | Coverage when ACH declines, faster cash flow |
Which one should you choose?
For most merchants the practical answer is both:
- ACH as the workhorse — route everything that qualifies through the cheapest rail;
- Check21 as coverage — for the customers and categories ACH won’t take, and when faster settlement matters.
Run alongside your card processing, the two rails mean you never turn a paying customer away — and never depend on a single account to keep revenue flowing. That redundancy is the same principle that keeps high-risk merchant accounts stable.
Frequently asked questions
Do my customers need anything special to pay by eCheck?
No — just their routing and account number, the same details they use for any bill payment.
Are electronic checks safe?
Yes. Authorisation capture protects you from disputes, and the networks involved are the same ones that move payroll for most of the country.
Can a high-risk business get approved for checks?
Yes — we accept any type of legal business for Check21, including all high-risk types, and our ACH approval rates are among the best in the industry.
Not sure which you qualify for? Tell us about your business and we will tell you straight — usually within the hour.