How to Set Up a Shopify Bank Deposit Payment Method

Introduction

Accepting bank deposits is a strategic move for Shopify merchants who want to reduce transaction fees, eliminate chargebacks, and accommodate high-ticket B2B transactions. While digital wallets and credit cards dominate the retail landscape, many customers—particularly in the wholesale or international sectors—prefer the security and familiarity of a direct bank transfer. This manual payment method bypasses traditional gateways, keeping more profit in your pocket while providing a professional alternative for specific buyer segments.

Configuring this option requires more than just toggling a switch in your settings. To make it work effectively, you need to provide clear instructions and manage how the option appears to different types of customers. Using a tool like get HidePay for your store allows you to control exactly when this payment method shows up, ensuring it only appears for relevant orders or specific regions.

This guide explores the technical setup of bank deposits on Shopify, how to manage the manual fulfillment workflow, and the best practices for optimizing your checkout to maintain high conversion rates. Whether you are a high-volume dropshipper or a specialized B2B supplier, mastering manual payments is essential for a flexible checkout strategy.

Understanding Manual Payments on Shopify

Shopify categorizes bank deposits as "manual payment methods." Unlike automated gateways like Shopify Payments or PayPal, manual methods do not process funds instantly at the moment of checkout. Instead, the customer completes the checkout process with the understanding that they must send the funds separately via their banking portal or mobile app.

When a customer selects a bank deposit, the order status in your admin is marked as "Pending." This signals that you should not fulfill the order or ship any products until you have manually verified the arrival of funds in your business bank account. Once the money is confirmed, you manually mark the order as paid within the Shopify admin to trigger your standard fulfillment workflow.

This approach is highly beneficial for several reasons:

• Zero Processing Fees: Since the transaction happens outside of Shopify’s payment ecosystem, you do not pay credit card processing fees (though Shopify may still charge a small transaction fee depending on your plan).
• Chargeback Protection: Bank transfers are generally pushed by the customer, making them significantly harder to dispute or reverse compared to credit card payments.
• High-Value Orders: Customers purchasing expensive equipment or bulk wholesale lots often prefer bank transfers to avoid hitting daily credit card limits.

How to Set Up the Native Bank Deposit Method

Shopify provides a pre-configured "Bank Deposit" option that you can activate with a few clicks. This is the simplest way to get started without needing third-party apps for the basic connection.

Step 1: Access Payment Settings

Navigate to your Shopify admin and click on Settings, then select Payments. Scroll down past the primary providers and digital wallets until you reach the section titled Manual payment methods.

Step 2: Choose the Bank Deposit Option

Click the Add manual payment method button. A dropdown menu will appear. Select Bank Deposit from the list. It is important to use this specific option if you want the default Shopify "Bank Deposit" label. If you want a custom name like "Wire Transfer" or "SEPA Transfer," you would choose "Create custom payment method" instead, though Shopify reserves the name "Bank Deposit" for this specific tool.

Step 3: Enter Additional Details

The Additional details field is what the customer sees during the checkout process when they select the bank deposit option. This should be a brief summary of why they might choose this method. For example: "Transfer funds directly from your bank account. Orders are processed once the transfer is confirmed."

Step 4: Provide Payment Instructions

The Payment instructions field is critical. This information appears on the order confirmation page and in the order confirmation email. You must include:

• Your Bank Name
• Account Holder Name
• Account Number or IBAN
• Routing Number, SWIFT/BIC code, or Sort Code
• Instructions to include the Order Number as a reference (this is vital for matching payments to orders)

Step 5: Activate

Click the Activate Bank Deposit button. The method is now live and will appear to every customer at checkout by default.

Refining Your Bank Deposit Instructions

The success of a manual payment method depends entirely on the clarity of your instructions. If a customer feels confused about where to send the money or how to reference their order, they will likely abandon the purchase or contact your support team, increasing your administrative burden.

When writing your instructions, use clear, bold headers if your theme supports it, or simple bullet points. Specify the expected timeframe for the transfer. For instance, tell customers that funds must be received within three business days or the order will be canceled. This creates a sense of urgency and helps keep your inventory from being tied up by unpaid "Pending" orders.

If you operate internationally, provide specific instructions for different regions. A customer in the Eurozone will look for an IBAN, while a customer in the United Kingdom will look for a Sort Code and Account Number. Providing all relevant global banking details ensures that no matter where the customer is, they have the information they need to complete the transaction.

Why You Should Not Show Bank Deposits to Everyone

While bank deposits are useful, showing them to every single customer can actually hurt your store's performance. For a retail customer buying a $20 t-shirt, a bank deposit is an unnecessarily slow and high-friction way to pay. If they select it by mistake, you are left with an unpaid order and a customer who might never complete the transfer.

This is where the app from Nextools becomes a vital part of your strategy — see how to create a payment customization.

For example, you might only want to show bank deposits if:

• The Cart Total is High: Only show the option for orders over $1,000 to save on high credit card fees. See a guided example for hiding risky methods by cart total in the HidePay tutorial.
• The Customer is a Wholesaler: Use hide payment options by customer tag to ensure only your "B2B" or "Wholesale" tagged customers see the bank deposit option.
• Specific Geography: Only show bank transfers to customers in countries where credit card penetration is low or where specific transfer types (like SEPA) are the norm.

By filtering who sees the manual payment method, you keep your checkout clean for the average retail shopper while providing the necessary flexibility for your high-value clients. For a broader look at why HidePay exists and common use cases, read Introducing HidePay for Shopify.

Managing the Post-Purchase Workflow

Once a customer completes a checkout using a bank deposit, the work moves from the storefront to your back-office operations. You need a consistent system for monitoring your bank account and matching incoming wires to Shopify orders.

When you see a matching payment in your bank statement, navigate to the Orders section of your Shopify admin. Find the order (the reference number the customer included in the transfer should match the Shopify order number). Open the order details and click Mark as paid. This action transitions the order from "Pending" to "Paid," allowing you to purchase shipping labels and fulfill the items.

It is a best practice to send a quick manual email or use a Shopify notification to let the customer know their payment has been received. This builds trust, especially in high-ticket transactions where the customer might be anxious after sending a large sum of money into a bank account.

Dealing with Unpaid Orders

Inevitably, some customers will select bank deposit and never send the money. To manage this:

1. Set a Deadline: Clearly state in your instructions that orders are held for a specific number of days.
2. Follow Up: If payment isn't received within 48 hours, send a polite reminder email.
3. Restock Inventory: If the deadline passes, cancel the order and restock the items so they are available for other customers.

Strategic Sorting of Payment Methods

The order in which payment methods appear at checkout significantly influences customer behavior. Most merchants want to prioritize "instant" payments like Shopify Payments or Shop Pay because they result in immediate revenue and lower administrative overhead.

If you offer bank deposits, they often default to the bottom of the list. However, if your business model relies heavily on transfers—such as a specialized parts supplier or a luxury goods dealer—you may want to move this option higher up. Our tool allows you to reorder these methods easily; learn how to sort and rename payment methods in the HidePay docs. By sorting your payment options, you can guide customers toward the method that is most beneficial for your margins. For instance, you could place "Bank Transfer" as the first option for B2B customers while keeping it hidden or at the bottom for standard retail shoppers.

Using HidePay to Enhance Your Checkout

We designed our app to give merchants granular control over the checkout experience without needing to write a single line of code. Because we built the app on native Shopify Functions, it runs directly within the Shopify infrastructure — for more advanced functions tooling see SupaEasy on the Shopify App Store.

Beyond just hiding methods, the app allows you to rename them. You might find that "Bank Deposit" sounds too formal or confusing for your audience. You can rename it to "Direct Wire Transfer" or "Secure Bank Pay" to better align with your brand voice.

One of the most effective ways to use HidePay is to block express checkout buttons for certain orders. If a customer is placing a massive wholesale order where you only want to accept bank deposits, you can create a rule that hides the Express Checkout buttons or disables PayPal Express for that order type. This ensures the customer follows your preferred payment protocol, protecting your margins from the high percentage fees associated with express gateways on large totals.

Advanced Scenarios: Geography and Currency

Bank deposits are highly regional. In the Netherlands, iDEAL is a form of bank transfer that is automated, but in other regions, a manual SEPA transfer is still the standard. If you sell globally, you should tailor your manual payment methods to the local market.

If you have customers in a country where credit card fraud is exceptionally high, you might choose to disable credit card payments for that specific country and only offer bank deposits. This forces a higher level of verification and ensures you aren't hit with fraudulent chargebacks. This level of geographical control is a core feature of the rules engine in our app.

Furthermore, if you use Shopify Markets to sell in multiple currencies, your manual payment instructions need to be clear about which currency you accept. If a customer in the UK is paying in GBP, but your bank account only accepts USD, the conversion fees could lead to a short payment. Always specify that the customer is responsible for any intermediary bank fees or conversion costs to ensure you receive the full order total.

When shipping and payments interact (for example, shipping-based rules or region-specific carriers), using a shipping-focused tool in combination with HidePay can give you a complete checkout control stack — consider HideShip on the Shopify App Store if you need similar rules for shipping options.

Action Summary: Optimizing Your Bank Deposit Strategy

To get the most out of your Shopify bank deposit setup, follow these steps:

• Audit Your Instructions: Ensure your bank details are 100% accurate and include a "Reference Order #" instruction.
• Set Visibility Rules: Use a tool to hide bank deposits for low-value orders where the manual labor of verification isn't worth the fee savings — see how to create a payment customization.
• Segment by Customer: Only show manual payments to trusted customer groups or wholesale accounts using tags.
• Monitor and Reconcile: Check your bank account daily and mark orders as paid immediately to keep your fulfillment speed high.

Conclusion

The Shopify bank deposit payment method is a powerful tool for merchants looking to diversify their checkout and cater to professional buyers. By moving high-value transactions away from traditional credit card gateways, you reduce your risk and increase your net profit. However, the key to success lies in the execution—clear instructions, proactive order management, and smart visibility rules.

Using a dedicated tool to manage your checkout allows you to provide a tailored experience for every customer. Whether you need to hide, sort, or rename your payment options, having total control over your checkout ensures that you never lose a sale to confusion or unnecessary friction.

Ready to take control of your checkout? Install HidePay from the Shopify App Store and start building a smarter, more profitable payment strategy today.

FAQ

Does Shopify charge a fee for bank deposit payments?

Shopify does not charge a credit card processing fee for manual payments like bank deposits. However, depending on your Shopify plan, you may still be subject to a standard transaction fee for orders that do not go through Shopify Payments. Check your specific plan details in the Shopify admin to confirm.

Can I automate the "Mark as Paid" process for bank deposits?

Native Shopify bank deposits are manual, meaning you must verify the funds in your bank account and manually update the order status. If you want an automated "pay by bank" experience, you would need to integrate a third-party "Open Banking" provider, though these typically come with their own processing fees.

How do I change the name of the "Bank Deposit" option?

If you use the suggested manual payment method, the name is fixed as "Bank Deposit." To use a different name like "Direct Wire Transfer," you should create a "Custom Manual Payment Method" in your Shopify settings. Alternatively, you can use our app to rename the existing payment method — see the HidePay guide to sort and rename payment methods.

Is it safe to give out my bank details on the checkout page?

Yes, providing your business bank account number and routing information is a standard practice for B2B and wholesale transactions. These details allow customers to send you money but do not give them the ability to withdraw funds from your account. Always ensure you are providing your business account details rather than personal ones for professional security.

What happens if a customer doesn't pay for a bank deposit order?

The order will remain in "Pending" status indefinitely unless you take action. You should set a clear policy (e.g., payment must be received within 5 days) and manually cancel the order if the deadline passes. This releases the inventory back to your store so it can be purchased by other customers.

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Further reading and resources:

• Introducing HidePay for Shopify — Nextools blog post with common use cases and benefits.
• HideSuite: the bundle for smart Shopify merchants — when you want both payment and shipping rules together.