Bank debits provide a secure way to collect payments directly from your clients' bank accounts. This guide will help you understand how bank debits work in Practice Better and understand the available payment methods for your practice.
⚠️ Bank Debits for Practice Better Payments is currently in an Early Access Program and is not yet available for all users.
In this article:
- Understanding Bank Debits
- Bank Debit Payment Methods Comparison
- Available Bank Debit Payment Methods
- Getting Started with Bank Debits
Understanding Bank Debits
Bank debits allow you to pull funds directly from your client's bank account for one-time or recurring payments. They're commonly used for recurring billing or larger transactions where lower processing fees can make a meaningful difference to your bottom line. Because bank debits can take several business days to confirm, they may not be ideal if you need to deliver services immediately after payment.
When you process bank debit payments through Practice Better Payments, your clients will automatically see the required authorization during checkout, ensuring compliance with regional banking regulations while keeping the payment experience smooth and straightforward.
Bank Debit Payment Methods Comparison
📍 Please note: Additional fees may apply for international transactions, currency conversion, instant bank verification, or two-day settlements where available. For complete pricing and details, please refer to the individual payment method articles.
Available Bank Debit Payment Methods
Practice Better Payments supports several regional bank debit options, each designed to meet the specific requirements and preferences of clients in different countries:
United States
ACH Direct Debit →
The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network enables you to collect bank debits from US clients for large or recurring charges. ACH payments can save you up to 70% in transaction costs compared to card payments, making them an excellent choice for recurring billing and high-value transactions. Funds are typically available in 4 business days.
Canada
Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) →
Practice Better practitioners located in the US and Canada can process bank debits from clients with Canadian bank accounts using the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS). PAD payments have a 98% payment success rate and are particularly effective for large or recurring charges, with funds available in 5 business days.
European Union
SEPA Direct Debit →
The Single European Payments Area (SEPA) Direct Debit enables you to collect EUR-denominated payments from clients across 34 European countries. SEPA was designed to streamline payments across Europe by standardizing banking procedures, making it the preferred method for European customers managing large or recurring payments. Funds are typically available in 6 business days.
United Kingdom
Bacs Direct Debit →
Bacs (Bankers' Automated Clearing Services) is a UK-based electronic payment system ideal for large or recurring charges. Bacs Direct Debit helps lower transaction costs and captures more revenue by offering UK clients a familiar and trusted payment method. Funds are typically available in 7 business days.
Australia
BECS Direct Debit (Australia) →
The Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) in Australia facilitates payments directly from Australian bank accounts. Administered by the Australian Payments Network, BECS Direct Debit is ideal for large or recurring charges and offers faster settlements, with funds typically available in 2 business days.
New Zealand
BECS Direct Debit (New Zealand) →
Similar to the Australian system, BECS in New Zealand enables payments directly from New Zealand bank accounts. Administered by Payments NZ, this payment method helps reduce transaction costs while offering clients a familiar payment option, with funds typically available in 2 business days.
Getting Started with Bank Debits
Practice Better Payments automatically displays the appropriate bank debit options to your clients based on their location and transaction details. Your clients will only see payment methods they're eligible to use, making checkout simple and straightforward.
When a client reaches checkout, Practice Better evaluates their geographic location, your business location, and the transaction amount to determine which bank debit methods are available.
Let your clients know about this payment method by making the following updates:
Step 1: Update Your Settings in Practice Better (Optional)
- Require billing information at booking: This ensures bank debit details are collected upfront.
- Opt to save billing information on invoices: This makes repeat payments easier for you and your clients.
Step 2: Notify Your Clients
Send a simple message letting clients know about the Bank Debits payment option.
- Team or Plus Plan users: Send a Broadcast from Practice Better to send a direct chat message, email, or both to your clients. Learn more about Sending Broadcast Messages to Clients →.
- Professional or Starter users: Send an email directly to clients outside of Practice Better.
Here's a template:
Subject: New Payment Option: Bank Debit Now Available
Hi [Client Name],
Good news! You can now pay invoices by bank debit directly through Practice Better.
Next time you receive an invoice:
Choose bank debit as your payment method, OR
Log in to your Client Portal to add your banking information to your profile.
This helps us streamline our billing process so we can spend more time focused on you.
Thanks for your support!
[Your Name/Signature]
Managing Your Payment Settings
While bank debit options display automatically, you can control which payment methods you accept through your Stripe Dashboard. Each payment method article includes instructions for disabling that specific option if needed.
💡 Our support team is here to help. If you have questions about which bank debit payment method is right for your practice, or need assistance with setup, don't hesitate to reach out to payments@practicebetter.io. We're committed to ensuring you have the payment tools that work best for your business and your clients.