"When will I receive my deposit?" is one of the most common questions Biller Genie merchants ask, and the answer depends almost entirely on which payment method the customer used — not on Biller Genie itself. Biller Genie hands the transaction off to a payment processor or network the moment your customer pays; from there, the funding clock is controlled by the gateway, the card networks, NACHA, or PayPal, depending on the payment type.
This article walks through each of the four payment types Biller Genie supports today, what controls the funding timeline for each, and where to look up the authoritative timing for your specific situation. The short version: Biller Genie's role ends at the gateway hand-off; everything after that is the processor's funding policy.
The four payment types Biller Genie supports today
- Credit cards and debit cards — processed through your configured credit card gateway.
- ACH (electronic bank transfer) — processed through your configured ACH gateway and the NACHA-governed ACH network.
- Check — processed via Biller Genie's check provider over the ACH rails.
- PayPal — processed through PayPal's own settlement system.
Each has its own funding timeline. None of them are controlled by Biller Genie. We process the transaction immediately and then it's in the processor's hands.
Credit and debit cards
Most credit card transactions today fund within 24-48 hours. Many merchants are on next-day funding, but the exact timing depends on:
- Your gateway's batch cutoff time. Card transactions don't fund individually — they fund in batches. Your gateway has a daily cutoff (typically late evening Eastern Time, but varies). Transactions captured before the cutoff fund on the next funding cycle; transactions captured after roll into the following day's batch.
- Your processor's funding policy. Most processors offer next-day funding for transactions captured before the cutoff. Some offer same-day funding (for an additional fee). A few offer "high-risk" or new-merchant terms with longer holds.
- Holidays and weekends. Funding generally pauses on bank holidays and weekends. A Friday-evening batch may not show in your bank account until Monday or Tuesday.
- Card network settlement. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover each have slightly different settlement schedules. The gateway and processor abstract this from you, but it's part of why your batch shows in your bank "around" the next business day rather than at an exact time.
Biller Genie can't see the funding cycle, only the authorization
Biller Genie's connection is to your payment gateway. We know when a transaction was authorized and captured. We don't see the actual deposit landing in your bank — that's between your processor and your bank. If you need to confirm a specific deposit date, check your processor's portal or your bank account directly.
ACH (electronic bank transfer)
ACH transactions move through the ACH network operated by NACHA (the National Automated Clearing House Association). NACHA defines settlement windows — fixed times each business day when ACH transactions are processed and funded between banks. There are multiple windows per day, and your funding timing depends on which window your transaction catches.
Biller Genie's ACH gateway connects to an ODFI (Originating Depository Financial Institution — basically, the bank that originates the ACH transaction on your behalf). Each ODFI has its own rules for when it submits transactions to NACHA's settlement windows. Some ODFIs hit all of NACHA's settlement windows in a day; others batch transactions and submit only once per day.
NACHA settlement windows
NACHA publishes detailed operating rules covering settlement timing, return codes, and bank obligations. For the authoritative source on ACH timing, see NACHA's ACH Network overview and the NACHA Operating Rules. The high-level pattern:
- Multiple settlement windows per business day. NACHA processes ACH transactions in defined batches throughout the day; same-day ACH adds additional faster windows.
- Standard ACH typically settles in 1-2 business days. Same-day ACH (if your ODFI supports it and your gateway is configured for it) can settle the same business day.
- Returns and reversals follow different timelines. A return for insufficient funds or account-not-found typically comes back within 1-3 business days; some return codes can take longer.
Status updates vs actual funding
When Biller Genie queries your ACH gateway for an update on a transaction, the gateway reports the transaction status — accepted, settled, returned, etc. Status updates are not the same as funding. A transaction can be reported as "settled" (cleared NACHA) before the funds actually land in your bank account, depending on your ODFI's posting schedule.
This is why "Biller Genie shows the payment as settled but my bank account doesn't have the funds yet" is a normal state, not a bug. The NACHA settlement and your bank posting are two separate events; the gap between them is set by your bank.
Check payments
Check payments deposited through Biller Genie settle on standard ACH timelines (see the ACH section above) — checks ride the same ACH rails behind the scenes. Our check processing provider is working toward faster funding cycles; until that's live, expect check funding to follow standard ACH timing.
PayPal
PayPal handles its own settlement entirely outside the ACH and card networks. PayPal payments arrive in your PayPal balance generally within minutes of the customer's payment, but the timing of when those funds become available to withdraw to your bank account depends on PayPal's own seller-protection and risk policies.
For PayPal's current rules on when received funds become available — including hold periods for new accounts, dispute reserves, and the standard withdrawal-to-bank timing — see PayPal's: When will the money I received be available?. PayPal updates these policies periodically; their docs are the authoritative source for your account's current state.
Summary table
| Payment type | Typical funding timeline | Controlled by |
|---|---|---|
| Credit / debit card | 24-48 hours (next-day funding common); depends on gateway batch cutoff | Your gateway + processor + card network |
| ACH | 1-2 business days (same-day available with some ODFIs) | NACHA settlement windows + your ODFI |
| Check | Same as ACH (rides ACH rails) | NACHA settlement + check processor |
| PayPal | Available in PayPal balance immediately; bank withdrawal per PayPal policy | PayPal's seller-protection and risk policies |
Why Biller Genie can't tell you the exact deposit date
Biller Genie sits at the front of the payment chain. We authorize the transaction with the gateway, capture funds when the invoice is paid, and post the transaction to your accounting software. From the moment we hand off to the gateway, we lose visibility into the funding side. The gateway, processor, NACHA, and your bank each have their own systems and timelines that operate independently of Biller Genie.
- For the most accurate deposit timing, check your gateway's or processor's merchant portal. They have real-time visibility into the batch cutoff, settlement schedule, and bank funding.
- For NACHA-governed settlement details, refer to NACHA's published operating rules.
- For PayPal-specific timing, refer to your PayPal account settings and PayPal's help center.
- For "where is this specific transaction right now", look up the transaction by reference number in your gateway's portal.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Friday deposit not show up until Tuesday?
Bank holidays and weekends. Card and ACH funding both pause on non-banking days. A Friday-evening batch typically doesn't post until the next business day; if Monday is a holiday, you may not see funds until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Biller Genie says the payment settled, but my bank account is empty. What's going on?
The payment cleared NACHA (or the card network), but your bank hasn't posted the deposit to your account yet. The gap between settlement and posting depends on your bank's policies — typically same day for next-day funded card batches, 1-2 business days for ACH. Contact your bank if a posting takes longer than they've quoted you.
Can I get faster funding?
Maybe. Talk to your card processor about next-day or same-day funding programs. For ACH, ask your ODFI whether they support same-day ACH (additional fees apply). For PayPal, follow their guidance on linking and verifying a bank account, which typically speeds up withdrawals.
How do I see which specific transactions are in a deposit?
Use your gateway's or processor's batch report. They show which authorized transactions roll into which settlement batch and which bank deposit. Biller Genie's Bulk Autopay report also shows which invoices were processed together — useful for cross-referencing against the deposit you see in your bank.
What if a customer reports a payment never landed?
Two-step check: (1) confirm the transaction shows as captured/settled in Biller Genie's invoice activity, and (2) look it up in your gateway's portal to confirm settlement. If both show settled but the bank hasn't posted, the issue is between the gateway and the bank — contact your processor's support. Biller Genie can confirm what we passed to the gateway and when; we can't reach into your bank.