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Automated Clearing House

What is an automated clearing house?

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Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic payment network that processes financial transactions between banks and financial institutions, enabling secure and efficient money transfers.

This involves:

  • Facilitating direct deposit and bill payments
  • Processing payroll, tax refunds, and government benefits
  • Supporting business-to-business and consumer-to-business transactions

In practice, ACH is widely used for tasks such as paying employees via direct deposit or automating recurring payments like utility bills. It offers a cost-effective and reliable alternative to paper checks and wire transfers, simplifying the exchange of funds.

ACH is critical to the modern financial system as it increases transaction convenience, streamlines payment processing, and reduces operational costs. By enhancing the speed and accuracy of financial transfers, the ACH network plays a key role in improving cash flow management for both individuals and businesses.