When a client in the United States tells you "send me your banking details," they most likely want to pay you via ACH. Here, we tell you what that network is, what exact information you need to share, and what to do if the payment is delayed or bounces.

Download the belo app and check how to receive ACH payments according to your account and current conditions.

What is ACH and why your client is asking you for it

When a client in the United States tells you "send me your banking details to pay you," they most likely want to send you money via ACH. 

If you are not clear on what that means, the risk is real: you provide incomplete details, the payment bounces, and it takes you a week longer to get paid.

ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, an electronic payment network that operates within the United States to move money between accounts. 

It is the system that US companies use to pay vendors, deposit payroll, and settle invoices. 

For someone who needs to receive ACH payments in Colombia, understanding this network is the first step to getting paid smoothly, because most corporate clients in the US use it as their default method.

There is another option called a wire transfer, which also allows you to receive transfers from the United States but works differently.

Wire is a direct and faster bank transfer, while ACH is a standard electronic transfer that travels through the domestic US network.

A detail that frequently causes confusion is SWIFT, the system for international bank transfers. 

Accounts prepared to receive ACH or Wire from the US generally do not accept SWIFT, and if your client tries to send via that route, the payment will be rejected.

Exact details to receive ACH payments

To get paid via ACH in Colombia, you need to share specific information with your client that identifies your receiving US dollar account within the US system. If even one detail is missing, the payment may be put on hold or returned.

Details your client needs to send you the payment

• The account holder's name must match exactly with the one registered in the receiving account

• The receiving bank name and address identify the institution within the US system

• The routing number identifies the financial institution and is essential for the system to know where to direct the money

• The account number identifies your specific account within that institution

• The account type completes the information needed to process the payment correctly

A practical way to obtain all this information is through belo, which allows you to activate a receiving US dollar account in your name in the United States.

That account accepts ACH or Wire transfers from US bank accounts and also from platforms such as PayPal, Wise, Upwork, Deel, Ontop, and Airbnb.

When you activate it from the app, all the details appear ready to copy and share. ACH collections are available for residents in Colombia, though not for all countries in the region.

Once you have the details, it is best to send them in a clear message in English, which is what your client expects to receive. Something like this works well:

Hi, here are my payment details:
Account holder name: your full name
Bank name: bank name
Bank address: bank address
Routing number: the number visible in your app
Account number: the number visible in your app
Account type: account type
Please let me know if you need anything else.

Double-check that every piece of information is written exactly as it appears in the app. A single-digit error in the routing number or account number can cause the payment to get lost or take weeks to resolve.

Accreditation times and reasons for bounces

ACH and Wire transfers are credited within 2 to 4 business days. This range applies to most transfers from US bank accounts, although there are exceptions worth knowing.

If your client pays from PayPal, credit can take up his to 3 weeks, a timeframe that surprises many freelancers the first time around.

Costs by transfer type

Most frequent reasons for rejection and how to avoid them

• Typographical errors are the most common reason for rejection, whether it's a changed digit in the routing number or an extra space in the account number

• When your client tries to send via SWIFT instead of wire transfer or ACH, the payment is automatically rejected

• An account holder name that does not match the one registered in the receiving account causes rejection, which happens when you use a nickname or a variation of your legal name

If the payment has already been sent and you want to track it, ask your client for the Trace ID or the IMAD code, which are the receipts that allow tracking the transfer within the system.

What happens to your dollars when you receive them

Once the funds are credited, they are automatically converted to USDC and become available in your account.

From there, you can convert them to local currency, transfer them to a bank account in Colombia, pay with Pix if you travel to Brazil, or buy gift cards through Bitrefill.

The complete flow, from the moment your client sends the payment to when you have the balance available, takes between 2 and 4 business days in most cases.

If you invoice on a Friday, the funds will probably be available between Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week, helping you plan your cash flow without relying on vague estimates.

What defines a good experience when receiving a transfer from the United States is not just the method you choose, but the clarity with which you share your details and your ability to anticipate where things might go wrong.

With the correct details, the proper method, and a well-crafted message for your client, getting paid from Colombia becomes a predictable process.

Download the belo app and check how to receive ACH payments according to your account and current conditions.

Frequently asked questions about receiving an ACH payment from the United States while living in Colombia

Can I receive ACH payments if I have a standard Colombian bank account?

A traditional Colombian bank account does not accept ACH transfers directly, because that network operates within the US financial system. To receive them, you need to activate a receiving US dollar account linked to the US system, such as the one offered by belo.

At belo, we designed that account so you can activate it from the app in minutes, without extra paperwork, and receive payments from US bank accounts or platforms like Wise, Upwork, or Deel.

What is the difference between ACH and wire transfer for someone getting paid from Colombia?

ACH is more affordable and works well for regular amounts, with a cost of 0.5% and a minimum of 0.5 USD. Wire has the same 0.5% but with a minimum of 20 USD, and is a direct transfer that some clients prefer for larger amounts or when they need greater speed.

The choice depends on the amount and what your client prefers to send. For frequent, medium-amount payments, ACH is usually the most convenient option.

What do I do if my client says they already sent the payment but I haven't received anything?

Ask them for the Trace ID or the IMAD code, which are the identifiers generated by the US banking system when processing the transfer. With that information, you can track exactly where the payment is and whether it was rejected or is in transit.

If the payment was rejected, it is most likely due to an error in the shared banking details. Double-check them in the app and resend them to your client before starting any formal claim.

How long does it take for a payment sent from PayPal to clear?

Payments sent from PayPal can take up to 3 weeks to clear, unlike those coming from US bank accounts, which arrive in 2 to 4 business days. It is advisable to let your client know this from the start to avoid misunderstandings about times.

If you need more predictable times, it is most convenient to ask your client to send the payment directly from their bank account instead of using PayPal as an intermediary.

What happens if I mistype the routing number when sharing my details?

A single-digit error can cause the payment to be rejected or held for weeks until the issue is resolved. Always copy the numbers directly from the app, without transcribing them by hand, to eliminate this risk.

Once you share the details, also save them in an easily accessible place. That way, the next time a client asks for them, you can resend them quickly without having to open them from scratch in the app.