How To Shop Online And Pay With A Checking Account – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Many people shop online with a credit or debit card, digital wallet or mobile payment service. But if these aren’t your preferred methods, you have other choices. You may also be able to pay for online purchases with a checking account.

Why Pay With Your Checking Account?

You might want to pay for an online purchase with your checking account if you don’t have a credit card or debit card, or if you simply prefer not to use these cards. Checking accounts generally come with debit cards for in-person and online use, but this isn’t the only way to access your balance. You can also transfer funds electronically from your account.

Spending directly from your checking account could be a good choice for you if you don’t want to borrow money or input your debit card information. Sometimes, this option is offered online.

Where Can You Shop Online and Pay With Your Checking Account?

Some merchants let you pay directly with a checking account when shopping online—Amazon is one example—while others, like eBay, may accept checks. But unfortunately, many online retailers don’t take checking account details or checks. Instead, commonly accepted payment methods include debit or credit cards, gift cards and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions such as Affirm and Klarna.

When a checking account is an accepted payment method, paying this way is easy and should take just a few minutes. And when you can’t enter your checking account details directly for payment, there are several other ways to pay for purchases online.

How To Pay With a Checking Account

To pay with a checking account when shopping online with a merchant that accepts checking account payments, you’ll generally follow these steps:

• Get your bank account information. You’ll need your checking account number and bank’s routing number to pay online with a checking account. A routing number is a nine-digit number that identifies your bank. You can find both your account and routing number by logging into your account online and opening a bank statement.

• Begin shopping. If a store accepts checking accounts as a payment method, you’ll be able to choose this at checkout. Try adding an item to your cart and following the steps to complete the purchase—without actually finalizing the transaction—to find out if this is possible.

• Add your checking account information. At checkout, look for payment options like “ACH,” “eCheck,” or “add bank account.” Then, enter your account and routing numbers.

• Complete your purchase. Always double-check your account and routing number to ensure it matches the information on your checking account before completing your purchase.

Pros and Cons of Using a Checking Account To Shop Online

Pros

• You can use a checking account if you don’t have, or prefer not to use, a credit or debit card.
• This method is less likely to result in payment processing fees.
• Paying for purchases directly from your bank balance can help you avoid overspending.

Cons

• Most online retailers don’t accept checking account details or eChecks for payment.
• Purchases may be declined if you don’t have enough funds to cover them.
• You may miss out on potential cash-back rewards you’d get with a credit or debit card.
• Purchase protection or extended warranty are not usually available with this method.

Comparing Various Ways To Pay When Shopping Online

If a retailer you’re shopping with doesn’t support direct checking account payments, you’re not out of luck. There are numerous ways to pay from your bank balance when shopping online.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most accessible solutions for paying with your checking account online. You can create a PayPal account and connect your bank account for free to spend from your bank balance. This payment method is widely accepted by major retailers such as Walmart and Target and offers security features, including fraud prevention and purchase protection.

There is no fee when you use PayPal to pay for domestic purchases online.

Prepaid Debit Cards

Prepaid debit cards work like debit cards in that you can use them to make purchases and have the necessary funds deducted immediately. But prepaid cards differ from typical debit cards because they aren’t linked directly to your checking account. To use a prepaid debit card, you need to load it with funds via a bank transfer, direct deposit or cash. You can only spend the amount you’ve loaded.

If you want to spend money from your checking account when shopping online but a retailer doesn’t accept checking payments, consider a prepaid card. The best prepaid debit cards charge low monthly and annual fees, provide a variety of low-cost funding options and may offer rewards.

Buy Now, Pay Later

Buy Now, Pay Later or BNPL solutions are similar to personal loans but generally much easier to qualify for. They split a transaction into smaller payments you make over time, and you usually sign up for a BNPL loan at checkout. Generally, BNPL loans don’t charge interest when you make full payments on time. For larger purchases, BNPL offers can be tempting because they let you split the purchase price up into multiple payments made over time.

However, some BNPL apps or loans charge late payment fees, deferred interest or monthly fees. There’s also the risk of overspending because you may be allowed to take out more money than you can afford to repay, and installments can give the illusion of a lower overall price.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are another way to use your checking balance to pay for purchases online. You can purchase digital gift cards for use at your favorite retailers as well as general gift cards from Visa or Mastercard that are accepted almost anywhere. You can also find physical gift cards that can be used for online shopping at many grocery stores, gas stations and supermarkets.

EBT and SNAP Benefits

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are provided to qualifying low-income families to be used for groceries. If you’re eligible for SNAP benefits, you receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) account to access your money. A SNAP EBT card is a little like a prepaid debit card because you can only spend up to your balance, but a SNAP account is more similar to a checking account that receives regular deposits.

Many retailers like Walmart, Instacart, Aldi, Meijer and Amazon currently accept SNAP EBT payments online as part of a pilot program with the USDA.

How To Stay Safe When Shopping Online With a Checking Account

As with anything you do online, you want to ensure your information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands when shopping with a checking account. Here are steps you can take to protect your money.

Only shop at reputable retailers you already know. In other words, think twice before entering your bank account information on a website you’ve never heard of or used. One way to determine if a website is secure is to find out if it has an SSL certificate, which encrypts sensitive user information.

You should also create strong passwords for any accounts you have with retailers. Always make unique passwords for these and change them if you notice suspicious activity, such as a sign-in that wasn’t you. In addition, avoid saving payment information, like your checking account details, to these shopping accounts in case of a data leak. Instead, enter your information each time.

Finally, check your bank statements often for transactions you didn’t authorize, especially if you’re regularly making online purchases. Contact your bank right away with any concerns.