ACH Direct Debit

ACH Direct Debit allows US buyers to pay directly from a US bank account using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network operated by NACHA.

FastSpring supports ACH Direct Debit for one-time and recurring transactions. Unlike card payments, ACH does not provide real-time authorization. Bank responses may take 3–5 business days, and payments are not guaranteed. Chargebacks are possible. If you are interested in enabling ACH Direct Debit, please contact our Support team.

The sections below explain how ACH Direct Debit works in FastSpring, show the buyer flow, outline invoice changes, and describe ACH-specific webhook and email behavior. Select a section or use the TOC on the right to jump ahead.

Prerequisites

ACH Direct Debit has the following requirements:

• The buyer must be located in the United States.
• The buyer must provide a US bank account that supports ACH debits.
• The buyer must select USD as the checkout currency.
• The buyer must accept the ACH Direct Debit Authorization terms during checkout. Without this authorization, FastSpring cannot initiate the debit.

Customer experience

ACH checkout includes two NACHA-driven customer steps:

NACHA-compliant authorization

Buyers must accept the ACH Direct Debit Authorization terms to consent to FastSpring collecting funds either a single time or at regular intervals from the buyer's bank account. Without accepting these terms, we will be unable to initiate payment.

Additional confirmation page

After entering account details, buyers reconfirm the information on a dedicated confirmation page. This follows industry standards for securely handling banking information.

Invoices and forms

FastSpring invoices for ACH Direct Debit include both debtor and creditor details, along with the Direct Debit Authorization Consent form.

Invoice example

Additional ACH Direct Debit Authorization Form

This form provides buyers with a record of their authorization for FastSpring to debit their account.

Note: Buyers may cancel an authorization within 7 days by contacting their bank.

Payment flow

Review the end-to-end ACH payment lifecycle from initiation through completion or cancellation.

Timing from initiation to completion or cancellation

The timeline below shows when ACH payments are initiated and when FastSpring receives bank responses.

• T+0: Payment initiated
• T+1–T+4: Funds debited from the buyer's account and order completion

ACH responses are not real-time. Banks process ACH requests in daily batches, and each step requires clearing through the ACH network. As a result, FastSpring may not receive confirmation or failure until several business days after the buyer submits their payment.

Failures and notifications

ACH Direct Debit transactions may fail after the buyer submits their information. Common reasons include:

• Insufficient funds
• Invalid account number
• Customer blocking debits from their bank account

When a transaction fails, FastSpring cancels the order and triggers seller notifications.

Webhooks

Webhook Type	Trigger	Additional Details
order.completed	Successful ACH payment	FastSpring successfully collects funds and completes the order.
order.canceled	Incomplete ACH payment	FastSpring did not receive a valid response from the bank within 3 to 5 business days.
order.failed	Failed ACH payment	FastSpring receives a failure response from the buyer’s bank.

Email notifications

Email Type	Trigger	Additional Details
Order Completed	Successful ACH payment	FastSpring successfully collects funds and completes the order.
Order Canceled	Incomplete ACH payment	FastSpring did not receive a valid response from the bank within 3 to 5 business days.
Order Failed	Failed ACH payment	FastSpring receives a failure response from the buyer’s bank.

FAQs

Why does ACH take several days to complete?

ACH transactions are processed in daily batches through the banking system, not in real time. Banks may take several business days to confirm whether funds were successfully debited or if the payment failed.

Can an ACH payment fail after the buyer submits their information?

Yes. ACH payments can fail days after initiation due to insufficient funds, incorrect account details, or the buyer blocking debits through their bank. FastSpring will cancel the order and notify you through webhooks and email.

Are ACH payments guaranteed once the buyer confirms their account details?

No. ACH payments are not guaranteed. Banks may reverse or reject the debit anytime during the processing window, and chargebacks are possible.

Can buyers use ACH for recurring subscriptions?

Yes. ACH Direct Debit supports both one-time and recurring transactions.