Payment Links vs Bank Transfers vs Card Payments: Which Is Best for Small Businesses?
Getting paid should be simple. Yet the way you ask for payment can affect your fees, how soon the money arrives and how much admin follows.
There is no single best way to get paid. Bank transfers can be inexpensive, cards are familiar, and payment links make it easier to pay from a message. A link can lead either to a card checkout or to Pay by Bank. Check the payment method behind the link before comparing fees, payout times and disputes.
Three Ways to Get Paid
If a customer needs to pay you, you can give them your bank details, take a card payment or send a payment link. Each feels different for the customer and the business.
Manual bank transfer
You give the customer your sort code, account number and reference. They enter the details in their banking app.
Card payment
The customer pays by card at a terminal or through an online checkout. The payment uses a card network.
Payment link
You send a link by message or show a QR code. It opens a card checkout or a Pay by Bank flow, depending on the provider.
A payment link is how you send the request. It is not a payment method on its own. One link might open a card checkout. Another might let the customer pick their bank and approve the payment in their banking app. That difference changes your fees, when you get the money, and how disputes are handled.
Manual Bank Transfer
A manual bank transfer is straightforward. You share your account details, and the customer sends the money from their bank. It is often free for a business to receive, although account charges vary. Faster Payments usually arrive quickly, but can sometimes take up to two hours.
The work is in getting the details right. The customer has to type your sort code, account number and reference correctly.
If they miss the reference or get it wrong, it is harder to tell which job the money was for. With a few invoices that is a small job. With a lot of them, it adds up.
Bank details sent by email or text can be copied, and a scammer can send a fake message with their own account details instead. Tell customers to call you on a number they already have if your payment details ever seem to change.
Manual transfers work well for a few regular customers who already have your details.
Card Payments
Cards are familiar. For a customer paying at a counter, tapping a card can be the easiest option.
Card fees depend on your provider, the card type and how you take the payment. Online payments often cost more than in-person ones. Some providers also charge for the terminal or the account.
A card payment is approved straight away, but the money usually lands in your account later. Every provider pays out on its own schedule, and some are faster than others. Check when you can actually spend it.
A customer can dispute a card payment through the card scheme’s chargeback process. If that happens, you have to find the evidence and reply by a deadline, even when you win. We explain what that costs in a separate article.
Cards are still the easy choice when customers expect to tap and go. But for invoices and anything you request remotely, it is worth comparing a card checkout link with a Pay by Bank link before you settle on one.
Payment Links: Card Checkout or Pay by Bank
A payment link lets the customer pay straight from your message. They do not have to open their banking app and set up a transfer themselves. You can send a link by text, WhatsApp, email or on an invoice, and some providers give you a QR code too.
A good link already has the amount and the reference filled in. That means less typing for the customer, and it is easier for you to match the payment to the right invoice.
What happens after the customer opens the link matters:
A link to a card checkout
The customer enters card details on a checkout page. This is convenient, but card processing fees, payout schedules and card chargeback rules still apply.
A Pay by Bank link
The customer opens the link, chooses their bank and approves the payment in their own banking app. The money is sent account to account, generally using Faster Payments. No card details are needed for that payment.
A Pay by Bank link uses a bank transfer instead of a card network. That means no card-scheme chargebacks, and the money often reaches your account quickly. Check your provider’s fees and how long the bank takes.
No card-scheme chargeback does not mean no responsibility. You still have to handle refunds and complaints properly. Bank transfers can also be hit by authorised push payment scams, where someone is tricked into approving a payment themselves.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is how the three compare. If your link opens a card checkout, read the card payment column.
| Manual bank transfer | Card payment | Pay by Bank link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to receive | Often free, but check your account terms | Processing fee per transaction, varies by provider and card type | Per-transaction cost, no card scheme fees |
| Speed of funds | A few seconds (sometimes up to 2 hours) | Approved at once, but payout timing varies | A few seconds (sometimes up to 2 hours) |
| Hardware needed | None | Terminal in person, none for an online checkout | None |
| Customer effort | Types your sort code, account number and reference | Enters card details, or taps a card in person | Taps link, approves in own banking app |
| Reference errors | Possible if the reference is missing or wrong | Usually matched by your provider | Less typing when the link carries the reference |
| Card details handled | None | Yes | None |
| Card-scheme chargebacks | Not applicable | Applies | No card-scheme chargebacks, but refunds and complaints still apply |
| Works remotely | Yes | Yes, with an online checkout | Yes |
| Best suited to | A few regular business customers | Counter service and walk-in trade | Invoicing, deposits, on-site and mobile work |
Fees and payout times depend on your provider, bank and account. Use the table as a rough guide and check your own terms.
Which Option Fits Your Business?
You can offer more than one. Pick the one that fits how your customers pay and how you work.
For invoices, a link is easier than asking customers to type in your bank details, and it is simpler to match the payment to the invoice. The money often arrives quickly, though the timing can vary.
For work on site or on the move, a link or QR code means you do not need a card terminal at all. The customer pays from their phone as soon as the job is done. Read more about tradespeople getting paid on site.
For bookings or deposits, a link lets customers pay the moment they get your message. Be clear about the amount and your cancellation terms.
At a counter, cards are familiar and quick. You can still use Pay by Bank for invoices and other payments you request remotely.
For a handful of regular business customers, a manual bank transfer may be all you need. If it already works, there is no need to change it.
Match the method to the moment. Give customers a clear, safe way to pay in as few steps as possible.
How you ask matters too. A good payment request makes it obvious what the customer owes and when it is due. See our guide to sending a payment request that actually gets paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to request payment from a customer?
It depends on the customer and the payment. A link is usually the easiest way to get paid remotely, because the customer can pay straight from your message. Just check whether your link opens a card checkout or Pay by Bank, because the fees, payout times and dispute rules are different.
Is it better to send a payment link or bank details?
A link saves the customer from typing your account details and reference, and it helps you match the payment to the right invoice. If you only deal with a few regular customers, a manual bank transfer may work just as well.
Are payment links safe for small businesses to use?
Use a provider you trust, and check the payment page before you pay. With Pay by Bank, the customer picks their bank and approves the payment using their bank’s own security. Fake links and people pretending to be your business are still a risk, so send links from the same recognisable name every time.
How much does it cost to request payment by card versus bank transfer?
Receiving a bank transfer is often free, though it depends on your account. Card payments come with processing fees. Pay by Bank providers charge a fee as well, so compare your own pricing terms.
Can I take a payment without a card reader?
Yes. A payment link or QR code lets the customer pay from their phone, so you do not need a card reader at all. Check whether your link uses a card checkout or Pay by Bank.
Which payment method gets me paid fastest?
Bank transfers and Pay by Bank payments go through Faster Payments, so they usually arrive quickly, though the timing is not guaranteed. Card payments are approved straight away, but the money reaches your account on your provider’s payout schedule.
Continue exploring SSV SmartPay
References
Important information
Scope of this article. This is a general comparison of methods for requesting payment from customers in the UK. Costs, settlement times, fee structures and account terms vary by provider and by individual merchant agreement. The descriptions here reflect typical market arrangements and are not a statement of any particular provider’s terms, including our own.
Card-scheme chargebacks. Pay by Bank payments are not subject to the card-scheme chargeback process because no card network is involved. This does not remove a business’s obligations to handle refunds, complaints and other payment-related issues appropriately, and it does not mean account-to-account payments are free of all risk.
APP fraud. A customer can be tricked into approving a bank transfer. The PSR reimbursement rules apply to eligible Faster Payments APP scam claims made by individuals, microenterprises and charities; they do not cover every payment dispute.APP fraud. Account-to-account payments, including bank transfers and Pay by Bank, can be exposed to authorised push payment fraud, where a customer is deceived into approving a genuine payment. The PSR’s mandatory reimbursement rules for APP fraud, effective October 2024, cover Faster Payments transactions. Always verify who you are paying before authorising a transfer.
Not financial or legal advice. This article is general information for UK businesses and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. For guidance on your specific circumstances, speak to your payment provider or a qualified adviser.
SSV SmartPay terms. Full pricing, terms and conditions are available at ssvsmartpay.co/our-pricing. SSV SmartPay Limited is registered in England and Wales (CRN 15424021). SSV SmartPay is not directly FCA-regulated; payment initiation services are provided by FCA-authorised Payment Institution partners.
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Send a Pay by Bank link by text, WhatsApp or email. Your customer chooses their bank and approves the payment in their banking app. Check our current pricing and account terms before signing up.
Start free trial Book a demo Or get in touch with the team →Author: Liliia Liehkova, Digital Marketing and Social Media Executive at SSV SmartPay
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to request payment from a customer?
It depends on the customer and the payment. A link is usually the easiest way to get paid remotely, because the customer can pay straight from your message. Just check whether your link opens a card checkout or Pay by Bank, because the fees, payout times and dispute rules are different.
Is it better to send a payment link or bank details?
A link saves the customer from typing your account details and reference, and it helps you match the payment to the right invoice. If you only deal with a few regular customers, a manual bank transfer may work just as well.
Are payment links safe for small businesses to use?
Use a provider you trust, and check the payment page before you pay. With Pay by Bank, the customer picks their bank and approves the payment using their bank's own security. Fake links and people pretending to be your business are still a risk, so send links from the same recognisable name every time.
How much does it cost to request payment by card versus bank transfer?
Receiving a bank transfer is often free, though it depends on your account. Card payments come with processing fees. Pay by Bank providers charge a fee as well, so compare your own pricing terms.
Can I take a payment without a card reader?
Yes. A payment link or QR code lets the customer pay from their phone, so you do not need a card reader at all. Check whether your link uses a card checkout or Pay by Bank.
Which payment method gets me paid fastest?
Bank transfers and Pay by Bank payments go through Faster Payments, so they usually arrive quickly, though the timing is not guaranteed. Card payments are approved straight away, but the money reaches your account on your provider's payout schedule.
