Getting paid is exciting! We totally get that you're keen to see those funds land in your account.
At Helcim, we're all about getting your money to you as smoothly and quickly as we can. This article will give you the lowdown on typical deposit times, what can sometimes cause delays, and how to keep in the loop about your deposits.
In this article
General deposit timelines at Helcim
When you process payments with Helcim, the funds from those transactions are deposited into your linked bank account. The time it takes for these deposits to arrive can vary depending on the type of transaction:
Credit Card Transactions: Typically, credit card deposits arrive in your account within 1-2 business days after the batch has been settled. However, it's important to note that your first few batches may take around 3 business days.
ACH Transactions: ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions generally take longer. You can expect ACH deposits to arrive in your account within 4-5 business days, with the first few batches taking around 7 business days.
| In Canada, "ACH transactions" may be referred to by other terms, such as Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) or pre-authorized debits. |
Factors affecting Helcim deposit timelines
Several factors can influence how long it takes for your deposits to arrive.
First few batches
To establish a baseline understanding of your business's processing patterns, Helcim reviews the first few batches for all merchants. As a result, it will take longer than usual to receive your initial deposits.
| This review process helps us ensure that your transactions are proceeding smoothly and that everything is set up correctly. We understand that this can be a bit frustrating when you're just getting started, and we appreciate your patience during this important step. |
Underwriting reviews
Helcim's underwriting process is ongoing. If we need to reach out to you for more information, it may cause a delay in your deposit. To avoid delays, please respond to our requests as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
Faster Deposits: next day funding for merchants
If your business processes credit or debit transactions, you may be eligible for Faster Deposits.
| What are Faster Deposits? Helcim utilizes real-time payment rails (RTP) and the FedNow service to expedite the funding process, so you can receive your funds faster. If your bank is on either network, this feature is enabled by default—no extra steps or fees. |
Businesses who are eligible will receive their deposits by the next business day, rather than the 1 to 3 business day timeline.
Checking bank eligibility
Banks that participate in the RTP (Real-Time Payments) or FedNow networks are eligible Faster Deposits. You can check if your bank is an RTP or FedNow participant by viewing the following lists:
RTP Participating Financial Institutions | The Clearing House
FedNow Service Participants and Service Providers | Federal Reserve Financial Services
| If your bank is not on the RTP or FedNow network, consider changing your linked account to one of the listed banks so you can take advantage of faster deposits. |
| If have an account at an eligible bank, click below to link it to your Helcim account. |
Weekend and holiday deposits
Banks typically do not deposit on weekends or holidays. If a transaction is made on a Friday evening, over the weekend, or on a federal holiday, the days to deposit will start counting on the next business day.
| For example: if a batch is closed on Friday evening, the next business day would be the following Monday. |
Conclusions
In summary:
Credit card transactions take 1-2 business days to deposit, and ACH transactions take 4-5 business days to deposit.
Our team reviews your first few batches, which extends these timelines temporarily.
You may be eligible for Faster Deposits (on the next business day) if your bank supports real-time payment (RTP) rails or the FedNow service.
Type of batch | Initial batches For all merchants | Typical deposits Merchants not on RTP or FedNow networks | Faster Deposits Merchants on the RTP or FedNow networks |
Credit card | ~3 business days | 1 to 2 business days | Next business day |
ACH | ~7 business days | 4 to 5 business days | 4 to 5 business days |
Next steps
Curious about other aspects of bank deposits? Check out these articles to learn more.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
Why do my first few deposits take longer to arrive?
Helcim reviews the first few batches for all merchants to establish a baseline understanding of your business's processing patterns. This process helps us ensure that your transactions are proceeding smoothly and that everything is set up correctly.
You may receive an email from trustandsafety@helcim.com for more information about your business. The more prepared you are to respond, the sooner we can get your processing up and running!
What does "batch settled" mean, and how does it affect my deposit timeline?
When you process transactions throughout the day, those transactions are typically grouped into a "batch." At a specific time, this batch is "settled," which means the transactions are finalized and ready for processing by the banks.
The deposit timeline begins after the batch has been settled. The exact time of batch settlement can vary, and it's a key factor in determining when your funds will be deposited into your account.
To learn more about adjusting your auto-settlement times, visit this article.
How do I know if my bank supports Faster Deposits?
Faster Deposits relies on the Real-Time Payments (RTP) or FedNow networks. To check if your bank participates in either of these networks, refer to the lists below:
If your bank isn’t on any of these lists, deposits from card transactions will be processed within the standard 1-2 business days.
Which transactions are eligible for Faster Deposits?
Faster Deposits only apply to credit and debit card transactions, not ACH.
Other transaction types, including ACH payments, are not yet supported by Faster Deposits even if your bank is eligible. We're exploring ways to expand this feature in the future.
Why don't I have access to Faster Deposits?
Faster Deposits is rolling out in phases across North America and may not yet be available in your region.
We’re actively working to bring this feature to more regions, particularly in Canada, with plans to launch by summer 2025.
If you are in Canada, you can rely on our standard deposit timelines for credit card and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) transactions, as outlined in this article.