Cheque usage is declining as more shops, retailers and business move away from accepting cheques as a payment method. To help you, we have detailed below some information about alternative payment methods you can use instead of cheques.
What else can I use other than cheques?
| Debit card | Direct Debit | Standing Order | Direct Payments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In shops/retailers |  | - | - | - |
| To pay a bill | | | | |
| To pay your Credit Card | | | - | |
| To make a one off payment i.e. to pay a yearly membership fee | | - | - | |
| Person to person payment i.e. gift or birthday present | - | - | - | |
Debit card
Using an NatWest Debit card is an easy and convenient way of paying for goods and services wherever you see the Visa, Maestro or Solo logo.
You can also use your card worldwide to pay for goods and services and withdraw cash, just look out for the Visa or Maestro logo shown on your card.
Your card is accepted at millions of retailers and cash machines worldwide. You also benefit from purchase protection when using your debit card to pay for goods and services.
Your NatWest debit card travels well. In fact, it’s one of the safest and easiest ways to pay for goods and services or withdraw cash overseas. There is a charge for using your card overseas. Find out more about overseas charges.
Direct Debit/Standing Orders
Direct Debits and standing orders offer a simple, safe and speedy way to pay regular bills and make payments from your bank account.
Direct debits are suitable when you have frequent bill payments, an amount is taken from your account on a set period each month and is transferred to the payee.
Standing Orders are normally used when you are moving a fixed amount of money between accounts on a set period each month.
In most cases a Direct Debit is set-up/amended by the recipient of the funds. If you need to set-up a Direct Debit or Standing Order contact your branch or why not sign-up for digital banking which will allow you to set-up, amend or cancel your Direct Debits and Standing Orders.
Direct payments
Direct payments allow a one off or regular payment that can be made by a customer to a recipient.
The service allows participating banks to provide same day processing of electronic payments such as funds transfers, bill payments and Standing Orders.
Customers are able to
- Make payments via the branch, online or telephone banking on a near real-time** basis
- Send same day payments without using CHAPS (same day value payments)
- Know in real time whether a direct payment was sent successfully
Both sending and receiving banks need to be members of the direct payment service and the amount of the payment needs to be within the set limits.
**Near real-time – The payment will be received by the payee, almost immediately after leaving your account, but sometimes up to two hours later or even the next business day, providing the payment amount is within the direct payments set limits