Yes, you can send monthly payments to another person's checking account

You can move money from your checking account to someone else's checking account on a recurring schedule. The person receiving the money does not need to be a family member, and you do not need their permission to set it up — you only need their account number and routing number. The payment arrives as a deposit in their account, and they can use it like any other deposit.

The method you choose depends on how often you are sending money, how much control you want over each payment, and whether the recipient's bank is in the same country. Most people use one of three routes: a standing order through your own bank, an online payment service like PayPal or Venmo, or an ACH transfer you initiate each month.

Key Takeaways

  • A standing order (also called a recurring transfer) automatically sends the same amount on the same date each month, and you set it up once through your bank's website or app.
  • You need the recipient's account number and routing number to set up a bank-to-bank transfer, but not their permission or knowledge beforehand.
  • ACH transfers (the standard for checking-to-checking payments in the US) take one to two business days to land in the recipient's account.
  • Online payment services like Venmo and PayPal work faster but may charge fees or have monthly limits on how much you can send.
  • If you miss a standing order payment or need to change the amount, you can pause or cancel it anytime through your bank.

Setting up a standing order through your bank

A standing order is the simplest method if you are sending the same amount every month. You log into your bank's website or mobile app, find the "Transfers" or "Bill Pay" section, and create a new recurring transfer. You enter the recipient's name, their account number, their routing number, the amount, and the date you want it to go out each month. After you confirm, the bank handles the rest — the payment goes out automatically on that date every month until you cancel it.

Most banks do not charge a fee for standing orders between checking accounts, though some banks charge a small fee (usually $1 to $3 per transfer) if you are sending money to an account at a different bank. The payment typically arrives within one to two business days. If the recipient's account number is wrong, the payment will bounce back to your account, and your bank will notify you — the recipient will not receive anything.

You can change or cancel a standing order anytime. Log back into your bank's app, find the transfer you set up, and either edit the amount and date or delete it entirely. Changes usually take effect within one business day.

Using ACH transfers for one-time or irregular payments

ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, the network that moves money between US checking accounts. When you set up a standing order through your bank, you are using ACH. But you can also initiate individual ACH transfers whenever you want, rather than on a fixed schedule.

To send a one-time ACH transfer, go to your bank's website, select "Send Money" or "Transfer Funds", enter the recipient's account and routing number, the amount, and confirm. The money leaves your account when ready (your bank deducts it right away), but it takes one to two business days to show up in the recipient's account. This delay happens because ACH transfers batch throughout the day and clear overnight.

ACH transfers are free or very cheap — most banks charge nothing for transfers between their own customers, and $1 to $3 for transfers to other banks. The recipient's bank cannot refuse an ACH transfer if the account number is correct, so the money will arrive even if the recipient is not expecting it.

Online payment services and their limits

Services like Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, and Wise let you send money to someone else's checking account, and some of them offer recurring payment options. The main difference from a bank transfer is speed and fees. Venmo and PayPal can move money within minutes if both people have accounts set up, but they may charge a fee (usually 1% to 3% of the amount) if you are sending to a bank account rather than to another user in the app.

Venmo and PayPal also have monthly limits on how much you can send. Venmo's limit is typically $20,000 per week for established accounts, and PayPal's varies by account age and history. If you are sending a large amount every month, you may hit these limits and need to use your bank's standing order instead.

To set up a recurring payment through these services, you usually link your checking account, add the recipient's bank details, choose the amount and frequency, and confirm. The payment then goes out on schedule. If you need to stop it, you can cancel the recurring payment in your account settings.

What information you need from the recipient

To send money to someone else's checking account, you need two pieces of information: their account number and their routing number. The account number is unique to that person's account at that bank. The routing number identifies the bank itself and is the same for all customers at that bank.

The recipient can find both numbers on the bottom left of any check they have from that account — the routing number comes first (nine digits), then the account number (usually 10 to 12 digits). They can also log into their bank's app or website and find these numbers in the account details section. You do not need their name, PIN, password, or permission to set up the transfer — the account and routing numbers are all that is required.

If you have the wrong account number, the transfer will fail and bounce back to you within one to two business days. If you have the wrong routing number, the transfer may go to a different bank, and the recipient will not receive it. Always double-check both numbers before you confirm a transfer.

Timing and when the money actually arrives

Bank-to-bank transfers (ACH) take one to two business days from the time you send them. If you initiate a transfer on a Friday afternoon, it will not arrive until Monday or Tuesday. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a transfer sent on Friday will not clear until the following Monday at the earliest.

Online payment services are faster — Venmo and PayPal can move money to a linked bank account within a few hours or even minutes, depending on the service and whether both people have accounts. However, if you are sending to a bank account (not to another user in the app), the money still has to travel through ACH, so it may take one to two days even though the service shows it as sent right away.

Standing orders go out on the date you set them for. If you set a standing order for the 15th of each month, the payment will leave your account on the 15th and arrive in the recipient's account by the 17th. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, most banks send the payment on the next business day instead.

Fees and costs

Transfers between accounts at the same bank are almost always free. If you are sending money from your checking account to someone else's checking account at a different bank, your bank may charge $1 to $3 per transfer, though many banks waive this fee. The recipient's bank does not charge them to receive the money.

Online payment services charge differently. Venmo charges nothing if you send money to another Venmo user, but charges 1% (with a minimum of $0.25) if you send to a bank account. PayPal charges 2.2% plus $0.30 for transfers to a bank account. Wise (formerly TransferWise) charges a small percentage based on the exchange rate if you are sending internationally, but charges nothing for domestic US transfers.

Standing orders through your bank are usually free, even if they go to a different bank. Check your bank's fee schedule or ask customer service before you set one up if you want to confirm.

What happens if something goes wrong

If you send money to the wrong account number, the transfer will fail. Your bank will hold the money for a few days and then return it to your account. You will see a notification in your app or online banking that the transfer was rejected, and the money will be back within three to five business days. You can then resend it to the correct account.

If you set up a standing order and forget to cancel it, the payments will keep going out every month until you stop them. Log into your bank's app, find the standing order, and cancel it when ready. Any payments that have already left your account cannot be recalled, but you can stop future payments.

If the recipient claims they never received the money, ask them to check their account — sometimes deposits take longer than expected or go into a different account if they have multiple accounts at the same bank. If the money truly did not arrive, your bank can trace the transfer using the confirmation number from when you sent it. Keep your confirmation numbers for at least 60 days in case you need to dispute a transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the recipient's permission to send them money?

No. You only need their account number and routing number. However, if you are sending money regularly, it is a good idea to tell them so they know to expect it and can watch for it in their account. If the account number is wrong, the transfer will fail and bounce back to you.

Can I set up a standing order for a different amount each month?

Most banks' standing order systems only allow you to send the same amount on the same date each month. If you need to send different amounts, you can either set up multiple standing orders for different dates, or initiate individual transfers each month instead of using a standing order.

What if the recipient's bank is outside the US?

Domestic ACH transfers only work between US banks. To send money internationally, you need to use a service like Wise, Western Union, or your bank's international transfer service. These are slower and more expensive than domestic transfers, and they require additional information like the recipient's SWIFT code or IBAN.

How long does a standing order stay active?

A standing order continues every month until you cancel it. There is no expiration date. If you want it to stop after a certain number of payments, you need to manually cancel it on that date — your bank will not do it automatically.

Can I reverse a payment after I send it?

Once an ACH transfer has been sent and processed (usually after one business day), you cannot reverse it. You can only ask the recipient to send the money back. If you catch the error before the transfer processes, contact your bank when ready — they may be able to stop it, but this only works within a few hours of sending.