How can a tenant pay rent by bank transfer?
A tenant signs in to their own bank, adds your account number and routing number as a payee or sends a transfer to them, and enters the amount. The money moves over the banking network, usually in one to three business days for a standard transfer, and often costs the tenant nothing. Give tenants the details in writing, ask them to put their unit and last name in the memo, and match each deposit to the rent owed.
What the tenant does
- Open their bank's app or website and choose the option to send a transfer or pay a bill to a new payee.
- Enter your name or LLC name, your routing number and your account number.
- Enter the exact rent amount and put the unit and last name in the memo, for example 12B SMITH.
- Choose a date. A standard transfer takes time, so schedule it early enough to land by the due date.
- Save the payee, then set a recurring transfer if the bank offers one.
Banks name this differently: bank transfer, ACH transfer, external transfer, send money or add a payee. If a tenant cannot find it, their bank's help page will say what it calls the option. Nacha, the group that manages the ACH network's rules, publishes plain explanations of how those payments work.
How long a bank transfer takes
A standard ACH transfer is not instant. It is processed in batches on business days, and the time depends on both banks and when the tenant starts it. Faster options exist at some banks, usually with a fee. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days. For a longer look at timing, see how long an ACH rent payment takes.
Example a made-up tenant starts a transfer on Thursday the 29th for rent due on the 1st, which is a Monday. Friday is a business day, but the weekend is not. The transfer might post Friday, Monday or Tuesday depending on the banks. The tenant should start it earlier, around Tuesday the 27th, to land by the 1st with room to spare.
Tell tenants plainly that the rent is on time when it reaches your account, or when they started it, whichever your lease says. Write that rule in the lease so there is no argument later.
What to give tenants in writing
- The exact name on the account, the routing number and the account number.
- The memo to use, such as unit plus last name.
- The due date and what counts as on time.
- The amount, including any recurring pet rent or parking, in one number.
- A warning to check any change of details with you by phone, because scammers send fake emails that change bank details.
Send the details in a way you can prove, such as the lease or a portal, and never change them without a phone call or a signed notice. A fake "we changed banks" email is a common fraud against both landlords and tenants.
Costs and tradeoffs
| Method | Cost to tenant | Speed | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to your account | Often $0, depends on the tenant bank | About one to three business days | Memo may be skipped, so deposits are hard to match |
| Zelle | Often $0, depends on the tenant bank | Often fast | Works only where your bank participates; limits apply |
| Card through a processor | Often a fee, set by the processor | Fast | Fees may be capped or banned in your state |
Check each bank's current fees and limits. They change, and what one tenant pays at their bank may differ from another's.
How DoorKeeping handles it
Tenants pay your own bank account, free from DoorKeeping. Each tenant is shown your account and routing number with copy buttons, a memo like 12B SMITH, and an exact amount with its own cents so payments are easy to tell apart. DoorKeeping reads your bank feed, matches each deposit to the rent owed, and asks for your one-tap confirmation when a match is unclear. DoorKeeping never holds your money, and rent stays in your own bank account. It costs $2 per unit per month with $0 in other fees.
Sources
- Nacha, ACH Network (how ACH payments work), read Oct 30, 2026
- Zelle, how it works and participating banks, read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- Is it safe to give tenants my account and routing number?
- Those numbers let someone send money in, and with enough other information they could be misused to pull money out, so many owners give them only to tenants and keep them off public pages. Ask your bank about ACH debit blocks and filters on the account.
- What if a tenant forgets the memo?
- Match the deposit by amount, date and sender name, then ask the tenant to use the memo next time. A unique amount for each tenant helps when memos are missing.
- Can I charge tenants a fee for paying by bank transfer?
- Fee rules on rent payments vary by state and lease. Check your state's rules and do not add one unless you are sure it is allowed.