Link is used by people and businesses that need to move money between their own accounts or send it to someone else without using a card or check

Link is a payment network that connects bank accounts directly. It lets you send money from one account to another, or receive money from someone else's account into yours, without a debit card, credit card, or physical check involved. The money moves through the banking system itself rather than through a payment card network.

The people who use Link fall into a few clear categories: individuals who want to move their own money between banks, employers and payroll providers sending wages, businesses collecting payments from customers, and peer-to-peer payment apps that sit on top of the Link network. You may have used Link without knowing its name — it runs behind the scenes in many apps and bank websites.

Key Takeaways

  • Link connects bank accounts directly, so money moves through the banking system rather than through a card network.
  • Individuals use Link to move money between their own accounts at different banks, usually through their bank's website or a money transfer app.
  • Employers and payroll processors use Link to deposit paychecks directly into employee bank accounts.
  • Businesses use Link to collect payments from customers' bank accounts, which costs them less than processing card payments.
  • Peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and PayPal use Link as one option for moving money into and out of user accounts.

Individuals moving money between their own accounts

If you have a checking account at one bank and a savings account at another, or you want to move money from a brokerage account into your checking account, you use Link through your bank's website or app. You log in, select the account you want to send from, enter the other account's routing and account number, and the money moves within one to two business days.

This is the most common use case for individual consumers. You are not sending money to someone else — you are moving your own money. Link handles the routing and the settlement between the two banks so you do not have to call anyone or wait for a check to arrive.

Employers depositing paychecks

When your employer offers direct deposit, they are using Link (or a similar network) to move your paycheck from their business account into your personal bank account. The payroll processor — the company that handles the employer's payroll — uses Link to batch process thousands of deposits at once, usually on the same day each pay period.

Direct deposit is faster and more reliable than a paper check, and it costs the employer less to process. The money typically arrives the day before or the day of payday, depending on when the employer submits the batch to their bank.

Businesses collecting payments from customers

A small business that wants to collect payment directly from a customer's bank account — rather than asking for a credit card — can use Link through a payment processor. This might happen when a customer pays an invoice, sets up a subscription, or makes a purchase online and chooses "pay from bank account" instead of entering a card.

Businesses prefer this route because the transaction cost is lower than processing a credit card. A credit card transaction might cost 2.9% plus a flat fee; a bank-to-bank transfer through Link typically costs less than 1%. For a business processing high volumes or operating on thin margins, that difference adds up.

Peer-to-peer payment apps

Apps like Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, and others let you send money to friends or family. Behind the scenes, these apps use Link to move money from your bank account into the app, and from the app into someone else's bank account. When you link your bank account to Venmo and send $20 to a friend, Link is handling the actual transfer.

These apps sit on top of Link and add features like contact lists, transaction history, and the ability to split bills. But the actual movement of money between banks happens through Link. Some apps also let you keep a balance in the app itself, which means Link moves money in and out as you load and spend.

Gig economy and contractor payments

Platforms that pay independent contractors — delivery drivers, freelancers, task workers — use Link to deposit earnings into contractor bank accounts. The platform batches these payments and sends them through Link, usually on a weekly or daily schedule depending on the platform's policy.

This is faster and cheaper than issuing checks or paying by card. The contractor can see the money arrive in their account without waiting for mail or paying a fee to cash a check.

Billing and subscription services

Utilities, insurance companies, subscription services, and other recurring billing operations use Link to collect payments from customer bank accounts. When you set up autopay for your electric bill or your streaming service, the company is using Link to pull the payment from your account on the due date.

You authorize this once, and then the company can collect the payment automatically each month. This reduces the company's collection costs and reduces the chance that a customer will miss a payment because they forgot to pay or the check got lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Link the same as ACH?

Link is a brand name owned by Mastercard that operates on top of the ACH network, which is the actual system that moves money between bank accounts. When you use Link, your money is moving through ACH. Link adds a layer of standardization and speed on top of ACH, but the underlying mechanism is the same.

Do I have to use Link if I do not want to?

No. If a business or app offers Link as a payment option, you can usually choose a different method — a credit card, debit card, or check. Some services like direct deposit are Link-based by design, but you can always ask your employer for a paper check if you prefer. Most peer-to-peer apps let you choose whether to fund a transfer from your bank account or a card.

Is Link safe?

Link transfers are protected by the same fraud rules that govern ACH transfers. If someone moves money from your account without permission, you can dispute it with your bank within a certain window. You should never share your full account number and routing number with someone you do not trust, since that is all they need to initiate a Link transfer.

How long does a Link transfer take?

Most Link transfers settle within one to two business days. Some banks and apps offer faster settlement — same-day or next-day — but this depends on when the transfer is initiated and whether both banks support expedited processing. Transfers initiated on weekends or holidays may not settle until the next business day.

Can I send money to someone else using Link?

You can if you use a peer-to-peer app that supports Link, or if you use your bank's bill pay or money transfer service. You cannot initiate a Link transfer directly to someone else's account unless you are a business or service provider set up to do so. For person-to-person transfers, use an app like Venmo or your bank's transfer service.