ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, a U.S. network that enables direct bank-to-bank transfers. It’s widely used for payroll, bill pay, recurring subscriptions, and vendor payments. ACH transactions typically settle within one to three business days and are considered a cost-effective alternative to card payments — especially for high-value or recurring charges. It also reduces exposure to card-related chargebacks and gives customers more flexible payment options.
If you operate a subscription model or want to reduce payment fees, ACH can be a strategic addition to your payment stack. AltoPay supports ACH for eligible merchants and can help you integrate it into your payment flows with minimal friction.

For more than a decade, Jessica Velasco has been a thought leader in the payments industry. She aims to provide readers with valuable, easy-to-understand resources.