Background
Banking regulations require that before a person can pay online using an ACH transfer (aka an eCheck) from a bank account, the online platform must first verify that person's ownership of the bank account. ShulCloud provides two ways to verify.
One way is through "micro deposition verification." This process is has been around for a while and it involves the user providing the online platform with bank routing and account number, the temporary deposit of small amounts into the user's bank account, and the user providing those amounts to the online platform to prove ownership and control of said bank account. It takes a few business days to complete this process so it needs to be done in advance of you making a payment.
A more modern way is to log into your online banking account from the online platform and choosing the bank account you want to use. Unlike the micro deposit method, this path allows for immediate verification. ShulCloud integrates a well-regarded service called Plaid to make verification quick and easy. Usually. Verify via Plaid is not alway successful. Why and what to do about it is the subject of this article.
Reasons Why Plaid Verification Sometimes Fails to Succeed
As with fashion, not everything goes well with Plaid. Here are a few ways why a user might not succeed in verifying a bank account using Plaid:
- The user has not set up online banking with their bank
- The user does not know their online banking login credentials
- Plaid is experiencing a behind the scenes communication issue with the user's bank
- Plaid is not yet working with the user's bank
So long as the issue is not the bank working with the Plaid, trying again later (with a valid online banking account and credentials) may be the answer. If not, micro deposit verification is the way to go.
Getting To and Using Micro Deposit Verifcation Instead of Plaid
For shuls using Plaid, micro deposit verification appears as an option only after an attempt to use Plaid fails. Here is a walk-through that shows how to perform micro deposit verification where Plaid is not sucessful. The SIP Dual Mode gateway is fictional. The actual name or names vary by shul.
1. When you choose to add an eCheck (ACH) payment method, you will see a large white button Choose Account with Plaid, as shown here:
2. Next you see the Plaid welcome screen, where you choose Continue to proceed:
3. On the next screen, you search for your bank. If you don't find your bank, you choose EXIT:
NOTE that if you DID find your bank, after you select it, you are asked to log in. But you are not necessarily out of the woods yet. With PNC Bank, for example and as of this writing, you can log in, receive a code by text, enter the code, and still not connect any bank accounts with Plaid:
If that happens, you follow the same process you would have followed had you not found your bank. That process continues below.
4. After you exit the Plaid screen above or othewise fail to connect a bank account, you are returned to the "Add Payment Method" screen only now with a new button: Didn't see your bank in Plaid? Choose it.
5. Two new fields appear: ABA Routing Number and Bank Account Number. Enter that information, complete the remainder of the screen, and save your method.
6. After you save your payment method, it will appear on your ShulCloud account with a link to enter your micro deposit amounts:
7. After you see the small deposits have been made to your bank account, you can return to the Payment Methods screen, click that Verify Micro Deposits link, enter your amounts, and click verify:
Congrats! You can now use your micro-deposit-verified bank account to make payments on ShulCloud.