Payment Radar
ACH Gains Ground in B2B Payments, Leaving Checks Behind
The article details the steady shift from paper checks to ACH in B2B payments, driven by cost, automation, and risk reduction.
Payment RadarOriginal source: Payments Journal · linked publisher media; native reuse rights require confirmation 
What changed
The landscape for B2B payments is shifting away from paper checks toward electronic transfers. Data from the Cleveland Fed and Javelin Strategy & Research shows that Automated Clearing House, the US bank-to-bank electronic transfer network run by Nacha for payroll, direct deposit, and business payments (ACH) has become the most-used B2B payment method since 2020. Over the past decade, ACH volume has more than doubled, rising from 3.6 billion payments in 2015 to 8.7 billion in 2024. Conversely, check payments have fallen from 4.6 billion to 2.7 billion in the same period, with their market share dropping from 32% to 13%. Despite this decline, nearly 90% of businesses still used checks in 2025. ACH transactions also tend to be larger, averaging $8,084 compared to $5,577 for checks. The shift is driven by cost advantages, automation, and reduced risk of mishandling or counterfeiting. ACH median fees range from 25 to 50 cents per transaction, while checks average around $1. Other methods like credit cards, debit cards, and wires have remained relatively steady in their market shares.
Why a business should care
This shift represents a significant operational and financial opportunity for merchants. Accepting ACH can lower transaction costs, speed up processing times, and reduce the administrative burden and risks associated with paper checks, such as fraud, alterations, and physical mishandling. As ACH becomes the dominant B2B payment method, merchants who fail to adapt may face inefficiencies and higher costs compared to competitors who embrace electronic transfers. The larger average transaction size for ACH also means that even small fee differences can add up to substantial savings over time.
Who it affects
This trend primarily impacts B2B merchants, particularly those handling mid-sized transactions, and financial institutions processing these payments. Businesses that still rely heavily on checks for receiving payments may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage if they do not offer ACH as an option.
What to consider doing
Pull your current B2B payment acceptance policy and vendor contract to verify whether ACH is enabled and compare the per-transaction fees against your current check processing costs.
Uncertainty and risks
None identified.
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