As more businesses adopt digital payment options, many merchants are asking the same question: do checks still make sense, or should everything move to ACH?
The reality is that both payment methods continue to play an important role. While ACH and other bank-based payments offer speed and convenience, checks remain widely used across industries where transaction sizes are larger or where customers prefer traditional payment methods. Instead of replacing one with the other, many businesses are finding that a balanced approach works best.
Why ACH Payments Are Growing
ACH payments have gained momentum because they simplify how funds move between accounts. Bank-based options allow customers to authorize payments electronically, which can reduce manual handling and help merchants receive funds faster.
For businesses that invoice remotely or manage recurring transactions, ACH can streamline workflows. Secure bank-based payment links and digital authorization methods make it easier for customers to pay without visiting a physical location, improving efficiency and flexibility.
At the same time, it’s important to understand that traditional ACH transactions are not always final. Depending on the situation, payments may still be subject to return windows or disputes after processing. That’s why some merchants look for ACH solutions that include a guarantee component, adding an extra layer of protection so they can benefit from digital payments while reducing uncertainty.
Why Checks Are Still Common
Despite the growth of electronic payments, checks continue to play a meaningful role in many industries. Businesses such as auto dealerships, auto aftermarket providers, furniture retailers, heavy equipment vendors, veterinary practices, and similar service-based merchants still receive checks tied to larger purchases or services.
For many customers, writing a check remains familiar, straightforward, and safe. The challenge isn’t whether to accept checks. It’s how to manage the potential risk of returned payments.
Services like check guarantee add payment certainty by protecting merchants if an approved check is returned. This added protection allows businesses to continue accepting checks with confidence, even as payment technology evolves.
Checks vs. ACH: It’s Not an Either-Or Decision
One of the biggest misconceptions is that ACH and checks compete with each other. In reality, they serve different purposes within a modern payment strategy.
ACH focuses on convenience, digital access, and remote payments. Checks offer flexibility, especially when customers prefer traditional payment methods or when large transactions are involved. Adding guarantee protection to either method can help reduce exposure and create more predictable cash flow.
Many merchants find success by offering both options:
- ACH for customers who want a fast, bank-based payment experience
- Check guarantee to help reduce risk when accepting larger paper check payments
Many merchants today are not choosing between checks or ACH at all. Instead, they are offering both, pairing bank-based payments with guarantee protection depending on the transaction type and risk level. Across industries, CrossCheck continues to see businesses adopt this blended approach as a way to give customers flexibility while maintaining greater confidence in how funds are received.
How Merchants Can Decide What Makes Sense
Choosing between checks and ACH often comes down to workflow, customer behavior, and risk tolerance. Businesses that rely heavily on remote payments may lean more toward ACH, while those handling large in-person transactions may continue to see strong check usage.
Instead of asking whether checks still make sense, a better question is how your customers prefer to pay and what level of payment certainty your business needs.
The Bottom Line
Checks are still relevant, and ACH continues to grow. The most effective payment strategies recognize that both methods have value depending on the situation.
By offering multiple payment options and pairing them with the right protection tools, merchants can support customer choice while reducing risk. Whether your business leans toward traditional checks, modern ACH solutions, or a combination of both, the goal remains the same: accept payments with confidence and keep operations moving forward.
CrossCheck supports merchants who want to offer both traditional and bank-based payment options without taking on unnecessary risk. From guaranteed ACH solutions that help protect funds when customers authorize payments electronically, to Remote Deposit Capture that allows businesses to process and deposit guaranteed checks directly from their location, the goal is simple: help merchants accept payments with confidence while keeping workflows efficient.
Ready to explore your options? Schedule a consultation with a payment specialist.