The latter (on the vendors website) is more reliable. If you set up auto pay on their website, and they fail to pull the money, it’s on them. If you set it up with your bank and the bank fails to pay it, it’s on you. Answer from ktappe on reddit.com
Iowa Legal Aid
iowalegalaid.org › home › risks of paying bills online
Risks of Paying Bills Online - Iowa Legal Aid
August 4, 2025 - When paying bills online, the web page should always start with “https”, as this shows that it is a secure connection. Also, look for the padlock icon on the company or bank’s website. Clicking on the padlock icon will allow you to review the website’s security certificate.
Bankrate
bankrate.com › checking
Online Bill Pay: What Is It And Why It's A Good Idea | Bankrate
August 5, 2025 - Online bill pay is included with an online bank account, and online bank accounts are generally very safe.
Experian
experian.com › home › personal finance › is online bill pay safe?
Is Online Bill Pay Safe? - Experian
October 28, 2022 - It can be more secure than paying bills with a check, as your information is typically encrypted when you enter it online. You might be charged a fee by your bank or the company you're paying to use this service.
What are the risks of paying bills with a debit card on vacation?
Using a debit card while on vacation exposes you to higher risks of fraud and limited recovery options if your card information is compromised. Try to use a safer payment method, such as a credit card—and if you’re paying online, use a VPN to protect your information and money from cybercriminals.
us.norton.com
us.norton.com › blog home › wi-fi & networking › is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
Is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
What is the most secure payment method?
Credit cards are generally considered the most secure due to their robust fraud protection measures. Most issuers offer zero fraud liability, adding a second layer of protection. Also, it’s usually easier to flag fraudulent transactions and manage your card in comparison with other payment methods.
us.norton.com
us.norton.com › blog home › wi-fi & networking › is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
Is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
Is it harder to pay bills while overseas?
It can be, especially if you rely on payment methods that are not widely accepted abroad. Using digital wallets or credit cards can simplify the process where you can. If you need to use cash, be careful of ATM skimmers.
us.norton.com
us.norton.com › blog home › wi-fi & networking › is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
Is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
InCharge
incharge.org › home › credit card debt relief › credit counseling › how to increase credit score › personal checks vs. electronic bill payment: which one is safer?
Are Paper Checks Safer Than Electronic Bill Payment?
April 23, 2025 - They enter how much money they want to pay, and that amount is transferred to the company’s account. They are relatively safe considering the amount that are written, but they don’t offer the safety of electronic checks.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/banking › which is more secure for paying monthly bills?
r/Banking on Reddit: Which is more secure for paying monthly bills?
May 12, 2025 -
Setting up autopay with your various utilities/vendors (i.e. electric bill, garbage bill, home insurance, cable bill, etc.) thru the bill pay portal on your online banking app - OR - setting up autopay on the vendor’s website where you enter your checking account info into their system?
By “more secure” I mean which better protects your account from being hacked or getting fraud against it. I would guess doing it thru your online banking app directly from your account would be safer, but perhaps that safety is an illusion?
Top answer 1 of 7
7
The latter (on the vendors website) is more reliable. If you set up auto pay on their website, and they fail to pull the money, it’s on them. If you set it up with your bank and the bank fails to pay it, it’s on you.
2 of 7
3
I would say that a push payment is slightly more secure since you only have to give the bank your account number for the utility/vendor, while with a pull payment you have to give each company your bank account/routing number. However, I would say the difference is negligible. Both are considered to be very secure. Pick the option that is most convenient, which will usually be pull payments because they can be fully automated.
FSB
fsb1879.com › blog › using-online-bill-pay-to-avoid-check-fraud
Using Online Bill Pay to Avoid Check Fraud | FSB Blog
Using online bill pay is a great way to protect yourself from check fraud. It's convenient, secure, and gives you more control over your finances. This blog is intended to be an informational resource for readers.
Bogleheads.org
bogleheads.org › board index › us investors › personal finance (not investing)
Safest way to pay bills electronically - Bogleheads.org
In my experience, online bill pay ... company site instead. Some bills you can pay with credit card. Others require a checking account. Credit card should be the safer option....
Norton
us.norton.com › blog home › wi-fi & networking › is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
Is your money safe? 8 secure ways to pay bills online
August 5, 2024 - Australia Cambodia (English) Hong ... Vietnam (English) 대한민국 中国 台灣 日本 ... Paying bills online is convenient and safe—for the most part....
Educacu
educacu.com › check-fraud-is-on-the-rise-safer-ways-to-pay-bills
Check Fraud is on the Rise: Safer Ways to Pay Bills | Educational Community Alliance CU
Online Payments – Most utility companies, credit cards, and service providers allow secure online payments. Mobile Payment Apps – Services like Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal allow direct and secure payments. Credit Card Payments – Using a credit card provides an extra layer of fraud protection ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/banking › is it safe that on some online platforms (paying utilities, credit card balances) you just need your routing number and bank account number to make payments?
r/Banking on Reddit: Is it safe that on some online platforms (paying utilities, credit card balances) you just need your Routing Number and Bank Account Number to make payments?
December 17, 2023 -
There is no 2 factor authentication even.
Everyone knows Routing Numbers, and bank account numbers can be easily found.
Top answer 1 of 2
7
It's as safe, even a bit safer, than mailing a check. I only pay a few bills this way. ACH fraud isn't very popular amongst professionals thieves. It's easy for banks to reverse which automatically makes it less attractive for thieves. I definitely see ACH fraud on a regular basis at the bank I work at but it's a lot less common than other types.
2 of 2
2
Routing numbers are public knowledge, but tying your individual bank account to your name is a bit more difficult. Knowing the bank account number, the routing number, and your name on the account is rather difficult. Also, once you give that info to the utility, they can take your money for the bill even if the are billing the wrong amount. In that case, they have your money already and you have to fight to get it back.
HowStuffWorks
money.howstuffworks.com › personal finance › online banking
Is It Safe to Pay Bills Online? | HowStuffWorks
May 16, 2023 - Google Checkout and PayPal both have limited safeguards, but include the ability to dispute a questionable charge. A comparable service from Amazon.com, known as the Amazon Flexible Payment System, is in its final stages.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/personalfinance › i've never used 'bill pay' from my bank. is it a good idea to use it? safe?
I've never used 'Bill Pay' from my bank. Is it a good idea to use it? Safe? : r/personalfinance
May 23, 2024 - Not BoA (I left them a long time ago), but almost all banks and credit unions now offer some flavor of it for their account holders. It's safe. In a lot of ways, it's safer than "auto-pay" because YOU have control over it. You're handing out the money rather than them taking it.
Geek Aid
geek-aid.com › resources › articles › is-it-safe-to-pay-bills-online-learn-how-to-do-it-securely.html
Is It Safe to Pay Bills Online? 8 Safety Rules for Online Payments
Careless online bill paying is a risk not worth taking. Making a few simple changes to protect online bill payment transactions makes good financial sense. Weighing the risks of online bill pay against the benefits, online bill paying is probably as safe as mailing a paper check.
BankSouth
banksouth.com › home › blog › the future is now: exploring the benefits and security of online bill pay services
The Benefits & Security of Online Bill Pay Services | BankSouth Blog
February 13, 2024 - Additionally, paying bills online eliminates the risk of your checks getting lost or stolen in the mail. By going digital with your bill payments, you’re also contributing to environmental conservation.
Norton LifeLock
lifelock.norton.com › learn › internet security › q&a: what's the safest way to pay a bill online while traveling?
Q&A: What's the safest way to pay a bill online while traveling?
September 2, 2022 - Paper checks are also a less secure method of payment since they contain your bank account number and other private information. ... Editor’s note: Our articles provide educational information.
Georgia's Own Credit Union
georgiasown.org › home › what’s the safest way to pay: check or debit card?
What's the safest way to pay: check or debit card? | Georgia's Own Credit Union
April 3, 2024 - And of course, you should monitor your bank account activity regularly. One last way to reduce the chance of check fraud is reducing your use of checks. Enrolling in your credit union or bank’s online payment service, like Georgia’s Own Bill Pay, can help you manage your expenses easily and without the clutter of paper bills. Nowadays, it’s almost as easy to pay using your phone instead of a check or a debit card.
The Balance
thebalancemoney.com › is-online-bill-pay-safe-1294251
Find out How Safe It Is to Pay Bills Through an Online Bill Payer
August 9, 2021 - All bills and transactions can be accessed on the bill pay website, and many bill pay services also offer a mobile app. Online bill paying is safe when you choose the right bill payment service.
Cleveland.com
cleveland.com › business › 2018 › 08 › its_risky_to_use_checking_acco.html
It's risky to use checking account's auto pay for utility bills: Money Matters - cleveland.com
August 12, 2018 - This might cause us to miss a bill that comes via snail mail. More importantly, we are concerned about identity theft from snail mail and equally concerning to us is giving various utility companies access to our bank checking account or credit card number. We want to convert several of our utility accounts (electric, gas, water, sewer, cellphones and internet) to auto pay. The question is, which is safer: Auto draft from our primary checking account?
AARP
aarp.org › money › credit-loans-debt › info-2020 › how-to-pay-bills-online.html
How to Pay Bills Online From the Safety of Home
April 21, 2025 - Some providers charge transaction fees — typically 1 percent to 3 percent — if you make payments by credit card. (Banks don’t generally charge fees for automated payments.) ... Whatever checking or savings account you use for making automatic bill payments, keep an eye on the balance so you know there’s enough money to cover the payment amounts.
Bank at First
bankatfirst.com › personal › discover › flourish › reasons-to-use-bill-pay.html
7 reasons to use bill pay | First Financial Bank
However, if electronic payment is not available to the payee, Bill Pay can take care of sending checks for you, too, safely. Users of Bill Pay only have to enter the companies or people they send recurring payments to once, and it will remember them.