Paying by bank transfer (ACH/PAD) - how it works

When making a donation or purchase on Zeffy, you may have the option to pay by bank transfer instead of a credit or debit card. In the US this is called ACH (Automated Clearing House); in Canada it's called PAD (Pre-Authorized Debit).

Bank transfer is a convenient, card-free way to give, but unlike a card payment which is confirmed instantly, bank transfer payments take 5–10 business days to process. This has important implications for when you will receive your confirmation email, e-ticket, or receipt.

Two ways to pay by bank transfer

When you select bank transfer at checkout, you'll be offered two options:

Option 1: Log in to your online banking (recommended)

You can securely log in to your online banking directly through Stripe, our payment processor. This allows Stripe to verify your account ownership instantly, no additional verification steps needed.

Once authorized, your payment starts processing immediately and will clear within 5–10 business days. Your confirmation email and e-ticket are sent as soon as the payment is initiated.

Option 2 : Enter your account details manually

If you don't see your bank in the list or prefer not to log in through Stripe, you can enter your account number and routing number manually.

In this case, your bank cannot verify your account ownership instantly, so an additional verification step is required before your payment can be processed. See the section below for how this works.

The micro-deposit verification process (manual entry only)

When you enter your bank details manually, Zeffy uses a micro-deposit verification process to confirm that you own the account.

Here's what happens:

1. After entering your account and routing number at checkout, Zeffy sends a small test deposit (typically a few cents) to your bank account

2. That deposit will appear on your bank statement with a description starting with "SM", followed by a 6-digit verification code

3. You'll receive an email from Stripe asking you to enter that 6-digit code to confirm your account

   This verification step must be completed within 10 days of the payment being initiated. If the link expires before you finalize the verification, you'll need to restart the payment. Check your bank statement (online banking is the fastest way) for the small deposit starting with "SM" to find your code.

4. Once verified, your payment is processed and your order is confirmed

Your confirmation email and e-ticket are sent only after the payment goes through

Unlike card payments, which are confirmed instantly, ACH / PAD payments take 5-10 business days to finalized. Your confirmation email and e-ticket are only sent once your payment has been finalized. This means:

• You will receive an email confirming that your payment has been initiated

• Your confirmation email (with your tax receipt / e-ticket / membership card as applicable) will only be sent when the payment goes through.

The pre-authorized debit (PAD) agreement

When you pay via bank transfer in Canada, you agree to a Pre-Authorized Debit agreement. This is a standard financial authorization that allows Zeffy to initiate the transfer from your account on behalf of the nonprofit. The agreement specifies:

• The amount being debited

• The date the debit will occur

• The organization receiving the funds

You will receive a copy of this agreement by email. Keep it for your records.

Canceling a bank transfer payment

Unlike a credit card payment, a bank transfer that has already been initiated cannot be canceled directly through your Zeffy donor account. If you need to stop a payment that is in progress, you will need to contact your bank directly and ask them to block or reverse the transfer.

If the payment has already fully cleared and you need a refund, contact the organization that received the payment.