To receive an eCheck, you typically need to either provide your bank account details to the sender beforehand or follow a notification link sent to your email after the payment is issued. The exact process depends on how the sender initiated the payment, but in most cases you’ll need your checking account number, your bank’s routing number, and a way to deposit or accept the funds.
What Happens When Someone Sends You an eCheck
An eCheck is a digital version of a paper check. Instead of handing you a physical slip of paper, the sender authorizes a transfer from their bank account to yours using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which is the system banks use to move money electronically between accounts.
There are two main ways you might receive one. In the first scenario, the sender already has your banking details and submits the payment directly. The money moves from their account to yours without you needing to do anything beyond confirming the deposit when it arrives. This is common with employer payroll, insurance reimbursements, and government payments.
In the second scenario, you receive an email notification telling you a payment is waiting. This is typical when a business uses a payment platform like Deluxe, QuickBooks, or a similar service to issue the check. You’ll need to click a secure link in the email and follow the steps to claim your funds.
Information You Need to Provide
If the sender is setting up the eCheck on their end, they’ll ask you for a few pieces of information: your full name, your email address, your bank’s routing number (the nine-digit code that identifies your bank), and your checking account number. Both of these numbers are printed at the bottom of any paper check, and you can also find them in your bank’s online portal or mobile app.
If you’re claiming an eCheck through an email notification, the platform may ask you to verify your identity and then choose how you’d like to receive the funds. Some platforms let you enter your bank account details for a direct deposit, link a debit card for faster payment, or even route the money to a PayPal account.
Claiming an eCheck From an Email Notification
When a business sends you an eCheck through a payment platform, you’ll get an email with a link. Clicking that link takes you to a secure website where you have a couple of options.
The simplest option on many platforms is to proceed as a guest. You agree to the terms, and the system generates a printable PDF of the check. You print it on plain white paper, cut along the marked lines, sign the back, and deposit it just like you would a regular paper check. You can use your bank’s mobile deposit feature (snapping a photo with your phone) or take it to an ATM. On platforms like Deluxe, you have 90 days from the date you receive the notification to print the check.
If you’d rather skip the printing step, most platforms let you create an account and choose an electronic deposit method instead. You can enter your bank account and routing number for a direct deposit, or in some cases provide a debit card number to receive funds within minutes. The direct deposit option is usually free, while instant transfers to a debit card typically carry a small fee paid by you as the recipient.
How Long It Takes to Get Your Money
eChecks don’t clear instantly. Because they travel through the ACH network, processing generally takes three to five business days from the time the sender initiates the payment. Some payments qualify for same-day or next-day availability depending on when the deposit is submitted and your bank’s policies. Deposits made later in the business day, particularly after 4:00 PM ET, typically post at the first available time the following business day.
If you print the eCheck and deposit it through your bank’s mobile app or at an ATM, the clearing timeline works like any other check deposit. Your bank may make a portion of the funds available within one business day, with the full amount available after the check clears, which can take a few additional days. Choosing a debit card deposit through the payment platform is the fastest route, often delivering funds in minutes.
Keeping Your Information Safe
Sharing your bank account and routing numbers with a trusted sender is no riskier than handing someone a paper check, since those same numbers are printed on the front of every check you write. That said, only share this information with people or businesses you know and trust.
If you receive an unexpected email claiming you have an eCheck waiting, verify it before clicking any links. Check the sender’s email address carefully, and if the payment supposedly comes from a company you do business with, go directly to that company’s website or call them to confirm. Legitimate eCheck notifications will never ask for your Social Security number, online banking password, or login credentials.
Once you deposit an eCheck, whether printed or electronic, keep a record of the transaction until it fully clears. If you printed the check and deposited it via mobile capture, hold onto the paper copy until the funds are confirmed in your account, then destroy it to prevent an accidental duplicate deposit.