Collecting payments

• Direct debiting via BACS
• Cash and cheque deposits
• Card payments

Making payments

• Direct crediting
• Cash and cheque payments

Card options

• Our cards
• Online card management

Managing payments

• Bankline internet banking
• Cheque verification service
• Data transfer service
• Electronic invoicing

Payment initiatives

• Faster Payments
• Cheque clearing
• Single Euro Payment Area
• Payment Services Directive
• Cheque Guarantee Scheme Closure
• Cheque Replacement

The Payments Council closed the Cheque Guarantee Scheme on 30 June 2011. Whilst your business will still be able to accept and issue cheques, it will no longer be possible to guarantee cheques under the scheme.

Receiving Payments

Rather than continuing to accept cheques that are no longer guaranteed, you can ask your customers to make payments by debit or credit card. Alternatively, you can ask to be paid electronically, receiving payments directly into your account. Thanks to Faster Payments, you can now receive online payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week giving you access to the funds even outside of traditional banking hours.

If you do still plan to accept cheques without a guarantee, please note that there is a risk of such cheques being returned unpaid. Normally a cheque cannot be returned unpaid by someone any later than 6 working days after the day it was paid in.

Making Payments

If you made payments face to face using a guaranteed cheque, the most appropriate alternative is to now use a debit or credit card. However, you will need to check that the recipient can accept card payments.

Next Steps

If you require further information and advice on choosing the most appropriate alternative payment methods, please contact your Relationship Manager.