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Can You Make an ACH Payment With a Credit Card?
September 27, 2026
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Can You Make an ACH Payment With a Credit Card?
Not directly. ACH transfers move money between bank accounts using routing and account numbers, while credit cards run on separate card networks. A card cannot start an ACH transfer on its own.
You can get a similar result with a third-party payment service that charges your card and then sends an ACH transfer or check to the recipient. That service charges a fee, so the real question is whether your rewards are worth more than the fee.
What Is an ACH Payment and How Does It Work?
ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, the U.S. network for electronic bank-to-bank payments such as direct deposit, bill payments, and business transfers. It is governed by Nacha, which reported 35.2 billion ACH Network payments worth $93 trillion in 2025.
The sender's bank batches the payment and submits it to the network, which routes it to the recipient's bank. Standard ACH payments usually settle within a few business days, and Same Day ACH is available for faster delivery. Nacha counted 1.4 billion Same Day ACH payments in 2025.
Should You Use a Credit Card for an ACH Payment?
Potential Benefits
- Rewards on a payment you would make anyway
- Timing: you pay the card at your next statement due date instead of today
- Card protections such as fraud protection and dispute rights through your issuer
Costs and Risks
- Processing fees: Plastiq, for example, lists a 2.99% fee on card payments plus a delivery fee.
- Cash advance risk: Your issuer may treat some payments as a cash advance, which usually means an extra fee, a higher APR, and no grace period. Check your card agreement first.
- Interest: If you carry the balance, your card's variable APR will likely cost more than any rewards earned.
How Do You Make an ACH Payment With a Credit Card?
- Choose a payment service. Plastiq lets individuals and businesses pay bills such as rent, utilities, and contractors by card, then delivers the payment by ACH, wire, or check.
- Create an account and add your card. You may need to verify your identity before larger payments.
- Add the payee. Enter the recipient's routing and account number for ACH delivery, or a mailing address for a check.
- Review the total cost. Check the card fee and the delivery fee before you confirm.
- Schedule the payment. Your card is charged right away, and the recipient gets a standard ACH deposit or check.
Paying rent this way? Our guide on how to pay rent with a credit card covers landlord-specific options.
Does the Math Work in Your Favor?
The test is simple: your rewards on the payment need to be worth more than the total fee.
- Rewards rate below the fee: On a $2,000 payment with a 2.99% card fee and a $0.99 ACH delivery fee, you pay about $60.79 in fees. A card earning 1.5% back returns $30, so you lose about $30.79.
- Rewards rate close to the fee: A card earning 3% on that payment returns $60, which roughly breaks even after fees.
- Welcome offer spending: If the payment helps you reach a large welcome offer that you would otherwise miss, the bonus can outweigh a one-time fee.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on a $2,000 payment, Plastiq's listed 2.99% card fee and $0.99 ACH delivery fee, and hypothetical rewards rates of 1.5% and 3%.
Most flat-rate cards will not clear a fee near 3% on rewards alone. If the payment is coded as a cash advance, you earn no rewards and pay more, so the math only gets worse.
How Does It Affect Your Credit Score?
A large payment raises your card balance and your credit utilization ratio, which can lower your score until you pay it down. The effect is temporary once the balance drops.
The bigger risk is carrying the balance. If interest builds and you miss a card payment, the late payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.
What Are the Alternatives?
Pay directly from your bank account. Giving the payee your routing and account number is usually the cheapest way to send an ACH payment. Many personal checking accounts do not charge for standard ACH transfers, but check your bank's fee schedule.
Use your bank's bill pay. Most banks let you schedule one-time or recurring payments to companies and individuals at no extra cost.
Use business payment software. Accounting and accounts payable tools can send ACH payments from a bank account without a card processing fee.
Which Card Should You Use If You Pay by Card?
Look for a card whose rewards rate on the payment service's purchase category is at least as high as the fee, and confirm the issuer treats these payments as purchases, not cash advances. Our guide to cash back credit cards explains how flat-rate and category cards compare.
Kudos can show you which card in your wallet earns the most on a given purchase, which makes it easier to check the math before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make an ACH Payment Directly From a Credit Card?
No. ACH transfers need a bank routing and account number. A third-party service has to charge your card and send the ACH payment for you.
What Does It Cost to Fund an ACH Payment With a Credit Card?
It depends on the service. Plastiq lists a 2.99% fee on card payments, plus a delivery fee such as $0.99 for ACH or $1.49 for a paper check.
Will It Be Treated as a Cash Advance?
It can be, depending on your issuer and how the transaction is coded. Check your card agreement or call your issuer before you pay.
Does It Affect My Credit Score?
Not directly, but the higher card balance raises your utilization until you pay it off. Paying the card in full quickly limits the impact.
Are ACH Payments From a Bank Account Free?
Many personal accounts do not charge for standard ACH transfers, while some business accounts and Same Day ACH can carry fees. Check your bank's fee schedule.
The Bottom Line
You can fund an ACH payment with a credit card only through a third-party service, and that service will charge a fee. It is worth doing only when your rewards, or a welcome offer you are working toward, clearly beat that fee and you can pay the card in full.
For most rent, utility, and personal bills, a direct bank transfer is simpler and cheaper. Save the card for purchases where it earns the most, and let Kudos point you to the best card at checkout.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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