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How Do You Pay Bills With a Checking Account? It’s Easier Than Ever

There are plenty of free, convenient ways to pay your bills with your checking account. Many banks make it easy to set up automated payments and direct debits, and third-party payment apps offer even more flexibility.

person paying bills on phone
Christy Rakoczy
By Christy Rakoczy
Steve Miller
Edited by Steve Miller
Updated Sept. 11, 2025
Fact check checkmark icon Fact checked

Like many people, the last time I wrote a paper check was around 1997 (at least that feels like the right date, who can really remember?). These days, I pay my bills online.

Those payments still come from my checking account, though, as that makes the most financial sense for my situation. Paying bills from a checking account has a lot of advantages, especially once you learn about all of the different methods of doing it and find the one that's right for you.

Why you should consider paying bills with your checking account

I've made the choice to pay bills with my checking account because I prefer that to other approaches like money orders or credit cards. You may want to do the same.

Here are some of the main reasons why paying bills with your checking account could be a smart move for you.

  • More convenient: With a checking account, you can just write a check or, better yet, arrange an automatic funds transfer. You don't have to show up with cash or go to a store to get a money order to pay your bills.
  • Easier to track and manage your money: When you use a checking account, you can see a summary of all your transactions, either online or in a paper statement, so you can monitor where your money is going. I've also linked my checking account with an app that helps me see if I'm sticking to my budget and analyzes my spending.
  • Easier to automate your bill payments: You can set up automatic transfers from your checking account, so paying bills can essentially become a set-it-and-forget-it job. You're also much less likely to be late if you make automated payments since you don't have to remember to pay the bills by the deadline.
  • Avoid fees: Using a credit card to pay bills often costs money, thanks to merchants passing credit card processing fees onto you. You also have to pay for a money order if you choose to pay your bills that way. All those fees can be avoided by using your checking account.
  • Potential discounts: Some merchants actually offer a discount for cash payments instead of credit card payments, as this saves the merchant money on credit card processing fees. For example, my favorite hair salon charges less for those who write a check, pay cash, or pay with a debit card compared with those who charge their cuts.
  • Avoid debt: When you pay bills from a checking account, you are paying those bills with money you actually have. You don't borrow with the hopes of repaying the money later, as you would if you paid bills with a credit card.
  • Better security than cash: Most banks provide at least some fraud protection, so you have options if things go wrong, unlike with cash, which is just lost if there's an issue.

Ways to use your checking account for bill payments

If you want to pay your bills out of your checking account, there are many good ways to do it. Here are a few different techniques for how you can use your checking account for bill payment.

Use your bank's online bill pay service

Many banks allow you to sign up online to have payments automatically withdrawn from your checking account and sent to the appropriate person or company. You can use your computer or mobile device to set up online bill pay and arrange to have the money transferred to your service provider.

To use bill pay:

  1. Sign into your account online on your computer, phone, or other device.
  2. Navigate to your bank's online bill payment feature. This could go by different names. With my bank, Ally, there's a menu option called "Payments," but your bank may have a different menu item like "Pay Bills Online" or "Bill Pay."


  3. Select the option to Make a Payment or to set up payments, depending on what your bank calls it.
  4. Add your payee. Your bank may give you a list of different categories of payees or allow you to search for a company by name to automatically add the companies you're trying to pay. If you are paying an individual or a company not included among your bank's default payees, you can add them manually by providing their contact details and account information.


  5. Set up your payment. You can set up a one-time or recurring payment. Select the payee, the amount to pay, and the date(s) you want the payment sent.

Paying bills online this way is quick, convenient, easy to track, and you don't have to find a stamp to put checks in the mail. If you can automate bill pay through your bank, you can knock an item off your to-do list and make sure you're never late. You do have to pay attention to how much to keep in your checking account, though, so you don't accidentally schedule a payment for more money than you have available.

Make direct debit payments

If you use your bank to set up bill pay, you arrange to have the bank send your payments automatically. You can also do the reverse and arrange to have the money withdrawn from your bank by the company you are paying. This is a direct debit payment.

For example, if you're paying a credit card company or your mortgage company, the card company or mortgage lender probably gives you the option to set up an automatic withdrawal from your bank.

To set up automatic debit:

  1. Sign into the account of your service provider, such as your card company, utility company, or mortgage lender.
  2. Add your checking account as a payor. Usually, you have the option to do this under "Pay Card," "Pay Bill," or another option with a similar title. Once you've clicked the button to add a payment account, you may be able to automatically add your checking account by finding your financial institution, as the below screenshot from my Chase account shows. You'll have to either link your account or manually enter your checking account number and your routing number, both of which you can find on your checks.


  3. Set a one-time or recurrent payment. Depending on your service provider, you may be able to arrange to auto-debit the minimum due, a set amount, or the full statement balance due.

This option is great because the company you're paying can debit the correct amount. Say you have a credit card or utilities bill that you owe different amounts on each month. Your bank won't know what you owe, so if you set up autopay from your checking account, you'd likely have to manually enter the correct amount each month.

If you set up auto debit from the servicer's account, though, you can tell the servicer to take the full amount due each month from checking. For example, my Chase bill is paid in full automatically each month because I set it up to auto-withdraw the amount of the statement balance.

Again, you must make sure you have enough money in your checking account on the day the funds are being debited to avoid checking account fees charged for overdrafts.

Use third-party payment apps

There are also many third-party payment apps that allow you to pay individuals or companies. Examples include:

  • PayPal
  • Venmo
  • Zelle

If you're sending money to individuals or companies using these services, and the money is coming from your checking account or you are using your debit card to pay, there is typically no fee, unlike if you use your credit card.

The process of using these apps can vary depending which one you choose.

  • If you use Zelle, you'll need to do so through your bank's app or online account. Many banks have partnered with Zelle, so you just need to sign up within your existing bank app and add the contact details of whomever you are sending money to.


  • Venmo and PayPal both have standalone apps and websites you can use to send money. You'll create an account with either or both, add your bank information by contacting your account or inputting your bank account and routing number, and then add the contact details of the provider you're paying.

This option introduces a third party into the mix, so there's an added step in the process of linking both your checking account to pay and the provider you're paying.

Still, these services can be convenient for paying individuals who can't easily auto-debit your accounts or accept bank transfers. You can pay just about anyone through these services, as long as they have an account with the payment platform.

Write traditional checks

Finally, you have the option to write paper checks. Some of the best checking accounts, including my Ally account, offer free checks. You can also pay to order them if your account doesn't provide them for free.

Writing checks is pretty simple. You can also mail a check or hand it to the payee directly, which is convenient for those who don't accept digital payments. One problem with checks, though, is that you need to wait for someone to cash them before the money is withdrawn from your account.

If the provider you paid is slow in cashing your check, you could have the check sitting out there, forget about it, and end up spending more money than you have in your account before the check finally clears.

If you don't have enough money in the account to cash the check, you could accidentally "bounce" the check and thus get hit with returned check fees. You can avoid this by keeping track of what checks you have written and which have been cashed.

Tips for using your checking account for bills

As you can see, there are lots of ways to use your checking account for bill payments. When you do, there are a few key tips to keep in mind to maximize your chances of using this method of payment successfully.

  • Understanding bill payment schedules, including due dates and amounts: If you don't set up automatic payments for the full amount due, be sure to keep track of due dates and arrange to pay your bill before the deadline to avoid charges.
  • Keeping biller and account information updated to avoid missed payments: If your bank account info changes or your account changes with your service provider, be sure to update your payment method.
  • Budgeting and keeping extra cash in the account to avoid insufficient funds: Living on a budget and making sure you don't spend more than you can pay back can help you to avoid problems like insufficient funds.
  • Using bank alerts to know when bills are being paid or your balance is low: You can arrange to have an alert sent to you if your bank account balance drops below a certain dollar amount or when a bill payment is made. This can help you track where your money is going and when.
  • Setting up overdraft protection as a safety net: Many banks offer overdraft protection so you aren't hit with fees if you accidentally overdraw your account.
  • Regularly reviewing transactions to improve financial management: You still need to keep tabs on spending even if you are paying bills automatically, so you should review bank, credit card, and other statements regularly to understand where your money is going.
  • Ensuring security: Make sure you are not providing checking account details directly to too many merchants as you risk that info falling into the wrong hands. Consider using a third-party service like Venmo to add a layer of security if you feel suspicious of a company.

FAQs

Does it cost anything to pay bills with my checking account?

Usually, there are no fees to pay bills with your checking account. This is true whether you arrange for automatic transfers from your account, arrange for automatic debits, or write checks. Even third-party payment services like Venmo are usually free as long as you're using your checking account and not your credit card.

Is paying bills with your checking account safe?

Paying bills with your checking account is safe. Banks use encryption and other security tools to protect your information.

What happens if my checking account bill payment bounces?

The consequences of a bill payment not clearing can vary depending on your bank and depending on the bill. The bank may charge you returned check fees and/or insufficient funds or overdraft fees.

Your service provider may also charge you a fee for bouncing a check, or you could be hit with late payment fees if the bounced payment meant your payment didn't meet the deadline.

Bottom line

The best banks make it easy to pay bills with your checking account. You can save money compared with other payment methods and choose options like automating your payments to save time and avoid late payment penalties.

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