Most online stores have shifted to accepting digital payment methods, which means a good number of them have stopped accepting bank payments to focus on digital trends.
Well, that makes sense.
However, shopping with routing and account numbers still comes with a few benefits and conveniences for most of us, and if that's what you're looking to do now, I've compiled the stores that will accept your bank payments even without PayPal.
What Online Stores Accept Routing and Account Numbers?
As mentioned earlier, a good number of stores no longer accept routing and account numbers as a payment method, and even if they do, you'll definitely need to use PayPal as the direct payment method with your bank account linked as a funding source.
Well, I've been able to find a few stores that won't require you to use PayPal at all, and in fact, some of them don't even work with PayPal.
So let's get started.
1. Amazon
If you love shopping online, there's a great chance that you've had to visit Amazon for your needs, and what you probably didn't notice at the checkout is that they accept bank account payments directly through a feature called Pay by Bank that lets you link your Checking account directly at the Checkout or from the "Your Payments" section of your account.
To use Pay by Bank on Amazon:
- Shop for your favorite items on Amazon and proceed to the checkout.
- At the checkout, choose "Pay by Bank", then select your bank.
- You'll be redirected to your bank app to authorise the payment. You can also use your routing and account numbers to link your bank account through the "Your Payments" section.
Once you make your payment through your bank directly, Amazon will process it through ACH to complete the payment.
Amazon is one of the leading platforms that still believes that bank payments work for most shoppers nowadays, so you can always go there in case you need to pay with your routing and account numbers.
2. Walmart
Walmart, just like Amazon, accepts routing and account numbers for payments through a program known as "Pay by Bank". You'll need to be 18 years of age and have an eligible bank account to participate in the program.
The Pay by Bank feature (or say program) lets you link up to three (3) bank accounts to Walmart and use one at the moment to make your payment at the checkout.
The basic process to link your bank to Walmart is to log in to your online banking platform with your account details, but you can still use your routing and account numbers in the process if you need to link your account manually to Walmart.
Walmart uses ACH to process bank payments as well, and the speed at which your bank will withdraw funds depends on the bank and the account type you are using.
3. Sam's Club
Sam's Club (also known as samsclub.com) is a subsidiary of Walmart and uses the same Pay by Bank feature as its parent company to accept bank account payments.
The program terms are typically the same, and if you have dealt with Walmart's Pay by Bank program before, you should easily find your way with Sam's Club.
4. Overstock.com
When it comes to payment flexibility, there's no way one can exclude Overstock, as they've been one of the best in this domain over the years.
For sure, Overstock doesn't accept bank payments directly, but if you have a checking card (or say, a debit card) directly linked to your bank account, you can use it directly as a payment method.
If you need to use your routing and account numbers for payments at Overstock, you'll have to use PayPal in this case. PayPal lets you link your bank account through its routing and account numbers, and when you use PayPal to make payments, it will pull funds directly from your bank to process the payment.
5. Newegg
Newegg is a popular electronics retailer also known for its flexibility in the payment methods it accepts. It supports PayPal payments, and as discussed earlier, you can link your bank to PayPal through its routing and account numbers and use PayPal as your preferred payment method for your Newegg orders.
6. Square.com
If you never think about Square anytime you need to make a payment with your bank account, then you're missing out on a viable option. Most Square sellers accept bank account payments through ACH, and all you'll have to do is to just follow the steps required to complete the purchase.
What Online Stores Accept Routing and Account Number Without PayPal
While most online stores only accept routing and account numbers through PayPal, there are still a few that don't require PayPal, which include:
- Amazon.
- Walmart.
- Sam's Club.
Can I Pay for Food With Routing and Account Number?
Yes, you can pay for your food with your routing and account number. Instacart, for example, makes this easy by letting you link your bank directly for direct deposits. We all know that you need routing and account numbers to set up direct deposits, so you can consider this a direct method.
Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Delivery is another good way to pay for food using your routing and account numbers. The two services use Amazon's payment infrastructure and would directly use the bank account you link to your Amazon Payments account. So if you haven't linked your bank to Amazon just yet, it is a good time to do so.
Final Thoughts
Using your routing and account numbers for making payments nowadays isn't easy, with digital and more convenient options rapidly gaining visibility at most storefronts. Only a few stores, such as Amazon, Walmart, and Sam's Club, would accept direct bank payments.
However, a good way to extend the use of your routing and account numbers for payments is by linking your bank to PayPal (through these numbers) and making payments at millions of stores accepting PayPal.
Ultimately, this guide compiles the best stores that would accept your routing and account number directly or indirectly (through PayPal) so you'll easily identify which option is best for you.