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Accepting direct ACH payments with Clio

How does accepting direct ACH payments with Clio work?

Accepting direct ACH payments with Clio is easy—no setup required. When you share a bill, clients will now have the choice to pay by ACH—in addition to credit card, debit card, and eCheck.

When they select the ACH option, clients will be able to see all of the required details to initiate the transfer, including bank name, account number and routing number. Clients must initiate the transfer from their banking portal—and with Clio, they can copy and paste your bank details in just one click. Learn more about accepting direct ACH payments here. 

How is direct ACH different from eCheck?

eChecks are a form of electronic payment where the client authenticates their bank details, and Clio authorizes the payment, pulling funds from the client’s account in a similar manner to a physical check. 

ACH, on the other hand, refers to Automated Clearing House transfers, which are initiated directly by the sender (similar to wire transfers). With this method, funds are pushed from the sender to the receiver with a set of instructions. Direct ACH payments are processed through a network that enables bank-to-bank transfers, typically with faster settlement times.

While both methods involve electronic funds transfers, the key difference lies in how the payments are initiated and processed. Some clients may prefer to pay via ACH straight from their bank, and by accepting direct ACH with Clio, you’ll offer clients more flexibility and choice in order to get paid.

How do I know when I’ve received a direct ACH payment?

You’ll receive an email notification as soon as the payment has been processed, and the transaction will automatically appear in the Online Payments page. 

Direct ACH payments are already matched to the right client, so all you need to do is link the payment to the appropriate matter. 

What are the steps clients need to take to pay by direct ACH?

To get paid by direct ACH, you won’t need to manually share your banking instructions. Clients can simply select ACH on the payment page—and your banking details will automatically populate. Clients can copy and paste these details, making it easy for them to initiate transfers.

If you were formerly sharing instructions via email or in a document, it’s worth letting customers know that they should now access your banking details right from the payment page when you send a bill or a trust request. 

Note: The account numbers displayed on the payment page will be different from your existing bank information, since Clio generates virtual account numbers to further protect your account.

Trust compliance and security

Are direct ACH payments compliant with trust accounting regulations?

Absolutely. Like all of the methods supported by Clio Payments, the ability to pay by ACH was built to ensure compliance with trust rules and regulations. This means that your IOLTA accounts are always protected from third-party debiting, and your earned and unearned fees are maintained separately.

Why are my account details on Clio different from my actual account details?

To add an additional layer of protection to your account, Clio generates virtual account numbers and routing numbers for each of your connected bank accounts. 

These account details are unique to your firm’s bank account, and are individually generated for each client. This means the account details displayed to one client will be different from the details displayed to another client. 

Using virtual bank accounts also means that your banking details are protected, and not in the public domain—reducing your exposure to potential fraud.

Frequently asked questions

How much does accepting direct ACH payments cost?

Similar to eCheck, accepting a direct ACH payment costs 1% per transaction.

Can clients make deposits into my trust account with direct ACH payments?

Yes. To do this, you can initiate a trust request. From the payment page, clients will be able to select ACH from a drop-down in order to deposit funds into your trust account.

Does Clio take fees out of my trust account?

No. Clio will only ever take fees out of your operating account.

How can I offer my clients the option to pay by direct ACH?

No additional setup is required—clients will automatically see the option to pay by ACH on the payment page for any bill or trust request. 

To complete the payment, clients can: 

  • Select ACH on the payment page
  • Copy and paste your account details to initiate the transfer online, or take those details to a bank teller in-person.

For a step-by-step guide you can share with clients, check out this help article.

I’ve already sent my clients my banking instructions. Do I need to share new instructions now?

Yes. Clients must pay from the bill payment page or from a trust request for this method. So, to start accepting direct ACH payments, make sure to share a bill or a trust request and remind customers to pay you directly from Clio. This ensures you get notified of your payments, and the payments are automatically linked to the right client—resulting in less admin work for you.

How to notify your clients

How do I notify my clients about direct ACH payments?

Use the following sample email to notify your clients about how to pay by direct ACH and provide step-by-step instructions. 

Dear [CLIENT NAME],

We are pleased to offer a secure and convenient way to pay your legal bills or make trust deposits using direct ACH. This payment method ensures fast and reliable transactions while simplifying the process of managing your legal expenses.

To complete your payment:

  1. Select ACH from the dropdown menu on the bill payment page. You can access this page directly from your bill or trust request. 
  2. Click to copy the bank account information displayed on the payment page.
  3. Log into your bank account and initiate the ACH payment using the copied details.

Thank you,

{Your Name}