Same-day ACH, explained for people who run payroll
What the cut-off times mean, when money really arrives and when a wire is still worth it.
Payments
Marco Ruiz, Payments
5 min read
ACH is the network most US business payments run on. Standard ACH settles in one to two business days. Same-day ACH settles the day you send it, as long as you beat the cut-off.
Cut-offs, in plain terms
On Merrow, payments approved before 5 pm Eastern on a business day arrive that day. Approve at 5:10 pm and it goes out the next morning.
When a wire still makes sense
Wires settle within hours and cannot be reversed by the sender. Use them for closings, large one-off purchases and anything where the recipient needs certainty the same afternoon.
Apply in about 10 minutes with your EIN and a photo ID. Most companies are approved within one business day, and Essential has no monthly fee.