EBPP

Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) is a system that enables billers to deliver bills electronically to customers and allows those customers to pay electronically. The presentment component provides the bill and related data through an online portal, email, or other digital channel, while the payment component transfers funds to the biller through electronic channels such as Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers or card payments.

EBPP began to gain traction in the 1990s as banks, utilities, and other billers sought to replace paper statements with digital versions. It spread through online banking platforms, dedicated biller portals, and payment processors, becoming common in utilities, telecommunications, credit cards, and mortgage servicing.

How it works: A biller issues an electronic bill to the customer’s account. The customer can view the bill, verify charges, set up auto-pay, schedule payments, or pay manually. Payments are typically sent via ACH, debit, or credit card networks and are reconciled to the customer account when settlement occurs. Some EBPP solutions also support secure messaging, reminders, and disputes.

Benefits include reduced paper and postage costs, faster delivery, improved accuracy, and higher on-time payments for billers, along with convenience and control for consumers. For businesses, EBPP can improve cash flow and receivables management.

Security and compliance considerations emphasize encryption, authentication, and secure access controls. In the United States, EBPP transactions commonly operate under NACHA rules for ACH payments and follow applicable privacy and data security regulations; card-based payments are subject to PCI DSS requirements.