In the world of online shopping, consumers are increasingly seeking secure and convenient payment options.
One method gaining popularity is the use of routing and account numbers for online purchases.
By leveraging this payment option, shoppers can make direct payments from their bank accounts, bypassing the need for cards.
This offers advantages such as reduced fraud risk, enhanced privacy, and accessibility for non-credit card holders.
But finding stores that accept routing and account numbers could be tricky. This blog post will explore this payment option and show you platforms and retailers that support this payment method.
We will provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions when shopping online, empowering you to adopt alternative online payment methods for a seamless and secure shopping experience.
How Can You Find Your Routing And Account Number?
If you want to pay using your routing and account number, you have to know these numbers to make that happen.
Finding these numbers is the first step to utilizing this alternative payment method for online shopping.
It might seem complicated at first, but it’s actually quite easy. Here are some of the ways you can find these numbers.
- Check the most recent bank statements or your checks: Both with your most recent bank statements and checks, you can find the routing and account numbers at the bottom. The routing number, typically a nine-digit code, identifies your bank, while the account number uniquely identifies your specific account. From left to right, the first is the routing number, and the second is your account number.
- Online banking: In the digitalized world, online banking is more frequent than bank statements or checkbooks. Log in to your bank’s website or mobile app and navigate to your account details. Look for a section labeled “Account Information” or “Account Details,” where you’ll find your routing and account numbers.
- Contact your bank: As a last resort, you can reach out to your bank’s customer service or go to the branch to get the assistance you need. They will be able to guide you through the process and provide you with the necessary information.
- After you receive your numbers through any of these methods, you need to keep them secure and only share them with trusted online retailers. Don’t share it with websites that you don’t know much about.
How Hard Is It To Fund Your Account?
When you use routing and account number to pay for something, you essentially use your bank account, just like with cards.
Only the technical methods are different to spend the money as it comes from the same place.
That’s why there are no extra steps to funding your account when you are paying with a routing or account number.
All you have to do is fund the bank account you want to pay with during your online shopping.
If there is enough money in your bank account balance, you will be able to make the purchase seamlessly.
To fund your account, you can either use an ATM, use the desks at your local bank branch, or simply transfer money from another bank account.
Stores That Accept Routing And Account Number Payment Method
Even though paying through routing and account numbers is quite a famous payment method, not every store accepts this method.
It’s generally a little bit of extra effort for the business owners, so they mostly choose to go with the payment with card option.
However, some stores like Amazon, Walmart, and others accept this kind of payment method.
Here are some of the stores that accept routing and account number payment methods and how you can make the payment.
Amazon
Amazon is one of the biggest e-commerce websites in the world, where you can purchase anything from furniture to shoes.
They accept many different payment methods, and using routing and account number is just one of them.
It’s also fairly easy to get started on Amazon for this payment method.
- You have to first select “Add a checking account.”
- Write down the information it asks for. This information includes the account number, account holder’s name, and address.
- Once you finish that, you can start ordering with this payment method.
- You can only add bank accounts in the United States and belongs to a person, not a corporate or savings.
Walmart
With over 10,000 stores and operating in over 20 countries, Walmart is one of the world’s biggest retailers.
They also have mobile and online shopping available to all their customers.
Walmart is one of the shops where you have the option to pay with routing and account number, and it’s extremely easy.
- When you go to the checkout on the app or on the website, you click on “pay with cash” first.
- Then, you will see the “pay with checking account” option. Click on that.
- You are going to need to fill in some information like your name, account number, and so on.
- Confirm the order after you fill it in, and you will be done.
Target
Target is a retail brand similar to Walmart. They are one of the biggest, and they are also making sure that their customers can shop and pay online.
Though Target is quite popular and has online shopping and payment options, they do not take account numbers directly as the payment method.
You can still use it but must do it through PayPal.
- Start by linking your account and routing number to PayPal first.
- Then, connect your PayPal to Target’s payment system.
- When you are making a purchase, choose the payment option with PayPal and make the payment.
- That way, when you make a purchase through PayPal on Target’s website, PayPal will use your account number to fund the payment.
eBay
eBay is one of the other biggest e-commerce websites in the world that offers the option to pay with routing and account numbers.
In addition to this, they also give you an additional payment option using direct debit service via a third-party service called Plaid.
All you have to do for both methods is enter your banking account credentials or account number.
Google Express
Google is one of the biggest companies in the world and offers a variety of solutions. They also help customers to pay easily and securely, acting as the middleman.
Google Express is a tool that helps you place orders from various stores by using the payment options available to Google, including routing and account number.
- Go to Google Wallet and add a payment method.
- Choose a checking account and enter your bank account information, like your name, account number, address, and routing number.
- Once you have finished it, connect your Google Wallet to Google Express and start your shopping.
Microsoft Store
Different from other stores in this list, Microsoft Store is a digital distribution platform, an app store, for Windows. They also allow you to pay with your routing and account number.
- Go to your Microsoft account and hover over to Payment & Billing part and choose “payment choices.”
- Select “add a payment option” and then select “bank account.”
- Provide your name, address, account, and routing number, and connect your account.
Conclusion
Shopping online is taking up way more space in our lives than actually visiting a shop and paying on the spot.
This creates the need for different payment options just so that you can be more secure or just choose a method that fits your needs the best.
Apart from paying directly with a card’s information, you can also use the routing and account number of your bank account.
This allows you to directly send the money to the receiver’s bank account, eliminating some of the risks of using a card.
Not all stores accept this payment method, but there are some, like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Microsoft, and Google.
Always make sure to trust the website you are making payment to because fraud chances are much higher with this method than with a card.
FAQ
What is the main difference between paying with a card and using routing and account number?
Payment with a card is simply using your card and its information to pay for something. It’s faster and more efficient.
When you use routing and account number, you essentially transfer money to another bank account.
Is using routing and account number safer?
When you pay with a card, you use the information that is directly connected to your bank account.
Though they are secure nowadays, they could still create some security breaches, especially if you register the card details to the website’s database.
By using routing and account numbers, you make it a little bit more secure as you need more details.
Is there a fraud chance when I make a payment using routing and account number?
If you don’t know the store you are paying to, you might find yourself in a fraud situation where you don’t get the product you paid for.
The best way to deal with this is to only use reputable websites.
Amit Gupta is an experienced expert in digital marketing and co-founder of DrFranchises. With more than 11 years of knowledge in franchise digital marketing, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing, Amit has helped many brands achieve incredible success online. As a passionate entrepreneur and owner of 7 franchises, he continues to study franchise models, looking at costs, revenue, and profitability to guide brands toward profitable growth. When he’s not working on digital marketing, Amit enjoys spending time playing with his beloved dog.