Category: Insights

How to Make ACH Payments Online: A Complete Guide for Businesses and Consumers

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Are you ready to simplify how you move money? Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments make it easy to transfer funds directly between bank accounts—securely, quickly, and without the hassle of paper checks or card fees. The ACH Network backs these transactions, and it’s becoming the go-to choice for businesses and consumers alike.

In this guide, we’ll break down what ACH payments are, why they matter, and how you can start using them with CSG Forte.

 

How to make an ACH payment online

To make an ACH payment, you typically need the following information:

  • Bank account details: You will need the bank account number and the routing number of the account from which the funds will be debited.
  • Authorization: Depending on the nature of the ACH payment, you may need the recipient’s authorization to initiate the transaction. This is common for recurring payments or when debiting funds from another individual or business account.
  • Payment amount: You must specify the amount of money you wish to transfer through the ACH payment.
  • Payment purpose: Indicate the purpose of the transaction, whether it is for a bill payment, payroll, business transaction or another appropriate category.
  • Payment processing method: Determine the method through which you will initiate the ACH payment—this can be done through online banking platforms, payment processors or specialized ACH service providers.
  • ACH processing information: If you are initiating the ACH payment through a third-party service provider or a payment gateway, you may need to provide additional information such as the provider’s name, account details and any required authentication credentials.

 

Options for making an ACH payment

When it comes to making ACH payments, there are two primary methods—ACH debit and ACH credit:

  • ACH debit: ACH debit involves initiating a payment by granting authorization to a recipient to pull funds from your bank account. This method is commonly used for recurring payments or one-time payments where you provide your bank account information to the recipient. Examples of ACH debit transactions include utility bill payments, mortgage payments and subscription fees.
  • ACH credit: ACH credit involves pushing funds from your bank account to the recipient’s bank account. In this case, you are the one initiating the payment and providing the recipient’s bank account information. ACH credit payments are commonly used for various purposes such as payroll direct deposits, vendor payments and tax refunds.

 

How do I make an ACH payment?

You can send ACH payments online via an ACH debit payment or an ACH credit payment.

How to make an ACH debit payment

Follow these steps regarding how to do an ACH transfer via debit payment:

  1. Gather recipient information: Collect the necessary recipient information, including the recipient’s name, bank account number and bank routing number.
  2. Verify sufficient funds: Confirm that you have sufficient funds in your bank account to cover the ACH debit payment amount. Insufficient funds can result in declined transactions and potential fees.
  3. Choose an ACH debit method: Determine the method you will use to initiate the ACH debit payment—you can do so through online banking, a payment processor or specialized ACH service providers. Check with your bank or chosen service provider to understand the specific process for initiating ACH debit payments.
  4. Provide authorization details: Depending on your chosen method, you may need to provide the recipient’s bank account and routing numbers, along with the payment amount and any additional information required by the service provider or platform.
  5. Initiate the payment: Follow the instructions provided by your bank or payment provider to initiate the ACH debit payment. This may involve logging into your online banking account, accessing the payment section and entering the necessary payment details.
  6. Confirm and review: Before finalizing the transaction, review the payment details to ensure accuracy. Verify the payment amount, recipient information and any additional information required for the transaction.
  7. Submit the payment: Once you have reviewed and confirmed the payment details, submit the ACH debit payment. The transaction will be processed, and the funds will be electronically debited from your bank account and transferred to the recipient’s account.
  8. Record and retain documentation: Keep a record of the ACH debit payment, such as transaction confirmations, receipts or any other documentation provided by your bank or payment service provider.

 

How to make an ACH credit payment

Follow these steps to make an ACH payment via credit:

  1. Collect recipient information: Obtain the necessary information from the recipient to initiate the ACH credit payment. This data includes the recipient’s name, bank account number and bank routing number.
  2. Verify your bank’s ACH credit service: Ensure that your bank supports ACH credit transactions. Not all banks offer this service to their customers, so it’s important to confirm beforehand.
  3. Set up online banking or ACH service: If you haven’t already, enroll in online banking or an ACH service provided by your bank. This measure will allow you to initiate ACH credit payments conveniently.
  4. Access the payment section: Log in to your online banking account or ACH service provider’s platform and navigate to the payment section or ACH transfer section.
  5. Provide payment details: Enter the recipient’s bank account number, routing number, payment amount and any additional information required by your bank or service provider. Double-check the accuracy of the information to ensure the funds are directed to the correct account.
  6. Review and confirm: Review the payment details before finalizing the transaction. Verify the payment amount, recipient information and any additional details you enter.
  7. Initiate the payment: Once you have confirmed the payment details, submit the ACH credit payment request. Your bank or service provider will process the transaction and transfer the funds from your account to the recipient’s account.
  8. Retain documentation: Keep documentation of the ACH credit payment for your records.
  9. Follow up: If necessary, follow up with the recipient to confirm that they have received the ACH credit payment successfully.

 

ACH payments vs. direct deposits

ACH payments and direct deposits are both electronic methods of transferring funds between bank accounts, but they differ in their purpose and the direction of the transaction.

Direct deposits are a specific type of ACH payment that refers to funds being electronically deposited into a recipient’s bank account, typically for the purpose of receiving income or funds owed. Direct deposits are commonly used for payroll deposits, government benefit payments, tax refunds, pension payments, and other regular or recurring income streams.

Direct deposits are always initiated as ACH credits, with funds pushed into the recipient’s account. The payer, such as an employer or government agency, initiates direct deposits to the recipient’s designated bank account. Recipients often need to provide their bank account and routing numbers to the payer to set up direct deposit.

Key differences between ACH payments and direct deposits include:

  • Purpose: ACH payments encompass a broader range of electronic fund transfers, including both payments and receipts, while direct deposits specifically refer to receiving funds into an account.
  • Direction: ACH payments can be either ACH debit, which involves pulling funds from the payer’s account, or ACH credit, which involves pushing funds to the recipient’s account, whereas direct deposits are always ACH credit payments.
  • Usage: ACH payments are more versatile and can be used for various purposes, while direct deposits are primarily used for recurring income or benefit payments.

 

Accepting ACH payments from customers

Accepting ACH payments from customers can provide convenience and flexibility for your business. Here’s an overview of the steps involved in setting up and accepting ACH payments:

  1. Verify ACH payment support: Ensure that your business has the capability to accept ACH payments. Contact your bank or payment service provider to confirm if they offer ACH payment processing services. If not, explore alternative solutions such as third-party payment processors or specialized ACH service providers.
  2. Obtain authorization: Before initiating ACH payments from customers, you need to obtain proper authorization. This can be done by having customers sign an authorization agreement or including authorization clauses in your terms and conditions.
  3. Collect customer information: Gather the necessary information from your customers to process ACH payments. This typically includes their bank account number, routing number and authorization to debit their account. Consider using secure methods to collect and store this sensitive information.
  4. Set up payment processing system: Set up a payment processing system that supports ACH payments. You can complete this step using your bank’s online banking platform, a payment gateway or a specialized ACH payment processing service.
  5. Integrate the ACH payment option: If you have an online store or payment portal, integrate the ACH payment option to provide customers with the choice to pay via ACH. Work with your web developer or payment service provider to enable ACH as a payment method.
  6. Educate customers: Clearly communicate to your customers that you accept ACH payments. Update your website, invoices and other communication channels to inform customers of this payment option. Provide instructions on how they can provide their bank account information and authorize ACH payments.
  7. Process ACH payments: Once customers provide their authorization and necessary payment information, initiate the ACH payments through your chosen payment processing system. Follow the instructions provided by your bank or service provider for initiating ACH debit transactions securely.
  8. Monitor and reconcile payments: Regularly monitor your ACH payment transactions and reconcile them with your records. Keep track of successful payments, failed transactions and any necessary follow-up actions, such as resolving insufficient funds or other payment issues.
  9. Ensure security and compliance: Protect customer data and maintain compliance with applicable regulations. Implement security measures such as encryption and access controls to safeguard customer information.

By offering ACH payment options to your customers, you can streamline payment processes, reduce reliance on paper checks and make it easier for people to do business with you.

 

Choose CSG Forte to start making ACH payments

ACH payments have revolutionized the way businesses and individuals handle their financial transactions. Offering convenience, cost savings and enhanced security, ACH payments have become a preferred method for many individuals and organizations. As technology continues to advance, ACH payments are likely to play an increasingly significant role in our digital economy.

Contact the team at CSG Forte to learn more about how to make an ACH transfer.

Embedded Payments for ISVs: How to Monetize Payments Without the Risk

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If you’re an independent software vendor (ISV), payments are no longer a bolt-on feature. Customers expect to onboard, accept and reconcile payments without leaving your website or application. That’s why “embedded payments” has replaced simple gateway integrations: you’re not just processing transactions—you’re designing the entire money-movement experience, from sign-up to settlement.

 

Integrated vs. embedded: what ISVs really mean by “embedded payments”

Embedded payments are native payment experiences inside your software. Beyond taking a card, they often include automated onboarding (know your customer or KYC, and know your buyer or KYB), split payouts for service fees, risk controls and dashboards your customers actually use.

“Integrated” usually means you connect your app to a processor or gateway and offload the rest. “Embedded” extends into orchestration—how funds move among parties, how identities are verified, how disputes are handled and how the data shows up in your product reporting. If you operate a vertical SaaS or multi-sided marketplace, you almost certainly need embedded.

  • When platforms need more than a gateway, some of the common signals are:
  • You manage sub-accounts (franchises, locations, contractors, clinics).
  • You must split payouts or hold funds until milestones are met.
  • Your users demand white-labeled onboarding and unified reporting.

 

Evaluation criteria that actually predict success

Plenty of checklists exist, but three areas correlate best with ISV outcomes.

  1. Onboarding speed & compliance: How quickly can a typical merchant get from “create account” to “take first payment”? Look for automated KYC/KYB, clear status webhooks and tiered underwriting so low-risk merchants move fast while higher-risk flows get escalated. Competitors spotlight fast launches and single integrations.
  2. Risk & fraud controls you can tune: Vertical variance matters. A home-services marketplace needs different velocity checks than a point-of-sale ISV. Ask about account verification, support, tokenization and end-to-end encryption—core controls that reduce losses and scope without trashing the UX.
  3. Revenue levers (fees, markups, value-add): Payments should be a profit contributor, not just table stakes. Evaluate your ability to add value—card-on-file durability via account updater, network tokens and smart retries—and price for it. Integrating account updating software keeps card data current to avoid involuntary churn; its tokenization explainer is a good primer for why this matters to auth rates and retention.

 

Build vs. partner: PFaaS as the fast path

You can assemble a payment stack yourself—gateway, acquirer relationships, compliance program, risk models, settlement ops—or partner with a payment facilitation-as-a-service (PFaaS) provider that brings the scaffolding. Owning everything can yield maximum control, but it also imports regulatory overhead, capital requirements and operational complexity. PFaaS lets you keep the customer experience and monetization strategy while offloading the hard parts of compliance, settlement and scheme-level nuance.

Competitors talk up “single global integration” and “go-live faster.” That’s valuable—but the difference shows up after launch, when your support team handles exceptions and your PMs need to add features without undertaking six-month projects. Look for clear and multi-functional APIs, vertical fit and hands-on solutioning rather than generic solutions.

 

How CSG Forte helps ISVs ship faster

Think about hosted when you need speed; APIs when you need control. CSG Forte offers hosted flows (like BillPay) to stand up clean experiences fast—helpful if you’re validating a motion or need a branded portal while your UX team finishes native flows. The clickable Modern Bill Pay demo shows what those experiences look like end-to-end. From there, APIs let you move deeper into embedded: white-label onboarding, account management and reporting.

CSG Forte: support that matches mid-market realities
If you sell to regulated or quasi-public sectors (e.g., utilities, municipalities, healthcare), your buyers prize reliability, reporting and compliance clarity. CSG Forte’s bill presentment content and support library skew practical, with specifics on encryption/tokenization and portal capabilities—useful for procurement and IT reviewers.

Ready to accelerate your ISV payments journey? Whether you’re looking to streamline onboarding, tighten risk controls or unlock new revenue streams, choosing the right partner can make all the difference. Reach out to the expert team at CSG Forte today to discover how our tailored solutions can help you launch faster, operate smarter and deliver the reliability your customers demand.

Stronger ACH Fraud Controls Are Coming: Prepare for Nacha’s New Rules

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Imagine waking up to find that a single fraudulent transaction drained your business account overnight. As digital payment fraud becomes more advanced, Nacha is improving security. They are introducing new rules for Automated Clearing House (ACH) monitoring that require proactive action.

Although they’re safer than paper checks, ACH transactions are vulnerable to fraud.

In 2024, over a third (38%) of organizations faced ACH debit fraud. Additionally, 20% suffered from ACH credit fraud. In comparison, 63% experienced check fraud.

This information comes from the 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey Report. ACH fraud includes Account Takeover and Authorized Push Payment (APP) Fraud. In Account Takeover, the fraudster gets unauthorized access to the victim’s account. In APP Fraud, the fraudster tricks the victim into sending money to a fake account.

But, while fraud threats continue to multiply, businesses are also gaining access to increased protections. For example, the countdown has begun to Nacha’s new ACH fraud monitoring rules, which take effect in 2026. This rule change is part of Nacha’s Risk Management package. It aims to stop fraud attempts and help recover lost funds.

This means most businesses need to implement or strengthen their ACH fraud detection capabilities. Payment service providers can give you an ACH guide to help you set up monitoring and prevent ACH fraud. These steps can lower your organization’s fraud risk and help you follow Nacha’s new rules.

 

What ACH fraud controls will Nacha require?

Each party involved in ACH payments must create “risk-based” processes to spot possible fraud. They should review these processes at least once a year. This helps to find gaps and make improvements.

It also allows users to allocate resources based on transaction risk. Nacha states, “A risk-based approach should not mean that no monitoring is needed at all.” At a minimum, organizations should assess risk to identify and distinguish higher-risk transactions from lower-risk ones.

 

What ACH fraud controls will Nacha not require?

You do not need to monitor transactions in real-time before processing entries. However, it offers the best chance to find and stop potential fraud.

When does the ACH fraud monitoring rule take effect?

  • March 20, 2026 (for organizations that originate > 6 million ACH transactions)
  • June 19, 2026 (for everyone else who processes ACH payments)

Who is affected by this rule?

The changes will affect any business that processes electronic payments, from payroll deposits to vendor payments. Specifically, the rule applies to ACH originators and receivers.

What are the anticipated benefits?

  • Fraud monitoring reduces the incidence of successful fraud and improves the quality of transactions in the ACH Network.
  • Expanding fraud detection duties to more parties in the ACH Network creates more chances to find and stop fraud. This is especially true for fraud that uses credit-push payments.

How will these new rules impact originators?

Many originators will need to implement or update their fraud-detection processes and procedures. This will be more of a lift for companies that are not currently monitoring fraud. Organizations that already use a monitoring system for WEB Debits or Micro-Entries will feel fewer effects.

Covered institutions will need risk-based controls that detect deception and false pretenses—not just unauthorized access. Originators should monitor behavioral anomalies, social engineering tactics and misrepresented identities.

With less than six months to prepare for Nacha’s ACH fraud control rules to take effect, now is the time to:

  • Check your current fraud detection systems and processes: Find gaps and have your risk team look at your ACH account validation. They should also review your real-time fraud detection abilities.
  • Implement or upgrade monitoring processes to fill in the gaps: Please refer to the best practices section below.
  • Educate your teams about the new Nacha requirements.
  • Review your contracts: Your legal team should assess vendor and partner agreements’ alignment with the new fraud monitoring requirements.
  • Plan your ongoing compliance strategy: stablish regular processes to review fraud monitoring processes at least annually.

 

3 best practices for proactive fraud monitoring

  1. Validate account information. Account validation is a critical pre-transaction step, especially for first-time use of an account number. Scrutinize all payments to a new account number or a new vendor for a designated period.
  2. Employ real-time fraud detection. The most secure payment systems use behavioral analysis to distinguish legitimate customer activity from fraud. Originators must establish a baseline of normal activity to be able to detect outliers and suspicious patterns.
  3. Look for these red flags:
    • Sudden changes in payment details. Someone pretending to be a vendor or employee asks to change their bank account number. This is concerning if the request comes from a generic email address, not the official company domain.
    • Velocity spikes. Watch for a sudden, big increase in the number or amount of payments being sent. This is important, especially to a new account or one that was not used much before.
    • Unusual dollar amounts. Flag payments that fall outside the typical range for an employee’s salary or a vendor’s invoice amount.
    • Small-dollar test transactions followed by larger withdrawals. These may indicate credential testing.
    • Multiple ACH credits from unrelated sources deposited into a single account, followed by quick withdrawals. This behavior suggests possible mule account activity.

 

Simplify ACH fraud monitoring with CSG Forte

CSG Forte empowers your organization to meet Nacha’s evolving ACH fraud monitoring standards with confidence. Whether you run a small business or a large company, Forte’s solutions help you meet Nacha and industry rules. This gives you peace of mind in a complicated payment world.

CSG Forte Verify uses two strong tools. CSG Validate checks account and routing numbers. CSG Authenticate confirms who owns the account.

Together, these solutions help prevent impersonation and unauthorized ACH transactions. With Forte’s advanced technology, you can lower fraud risk, improve transaction accuracy, and reduce false positives. This ensures a smooth experience for your customers.

Forte’s real-time transaction monitoring analyzes payment activity as it happens, identifies behavioral anomalies and flags suspicious transactions before anyone moves funds. This proactive approach strengthens your defenses and helps safeguard your business from evolving fraud threats.

Preparing for Nacha’s new fraud monitoring requirements doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Talk to CSG’s risk management experts. They can help you with your needs and create a plan to keep your organization safe and compliant.

How Can Embedded Payments Improve Your Business?

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Many new businesses and entrepreneurs face problems with payment processing. This is mainly because they do not know about the different payment solutions available. Because payment technology constantly evolves, selecting a solution that offers the most advantages to your operation is critical.

Using a reliable payment service provider is helpful. It lets you enjoy in-house payments. You don’t have to set it up on your own.

CSG Forte can help your company accept many payment methods. This is true no matter how you do business with your customers. Our cloud-based solutions let you manage all your payments in one place. This includes debit cards, credit cards, in-person purchases, and ACH transactions.

 

What is an embedded payment solution?

Embedded payment solutions allow businesses to accept credit or debit card payments directly into their existing software platform. They can link your payment systems to other important parts of your business. This includes your customer service management (CRM) program, payroll, and accounting functions.

One main benefit of these solutions is that they reduce the steps needed to manage your payments. They do this through automated accounting and recordkeeping.

Because the system posts payments for you, there’s no need to reconcile invoices or balance your general ledger later. Integrated payment solutions also work with banks to automatically process the incoming payment information.

 

Why should companies switch to Embedded payment solutions?

Businesses that implement embedded payment solutions into their operations experience instant benefits, including:

  • Security: Integrated payment solutions require fewer people to access your most sensitive financial data. They also eliminate manual entry, making them less susceptible to theft or interception. These systems have safeguards that make it safer to store valuable data. They use encryption to deter cybercriminals.
  • Revenue optimization: Companies can complete transactions and process invoices instantly using integrated payment solutions. Getting and posting payments quickly helps cash flow. This allows companies to build better relationships with customers, vendors and banks. It also boosts profitability.
  • Fewer errors: Calculation errors often lead to significant accounting problems and inaccuracies with revenue reporting. Integrated payment processing reduces these issues by eliminating double transactions and automatically relaying transaction information to the proper destination.
  • Streamlined operations: With integrated payments solutions, businesses can improve efficiencies in their accounting processes, eliminating the need to enter and reconcile transaction data manually. The platform automatically posts payments at the time of the sale. It shows transactions in real time. This makes accounting easier and more accurate. It also gives quick access to sales data.
  • Better customer experience: Quick transactions are a major concern for customers. They often affect how satisfied they feel and if they will come back to do business again. Customers often leave a store when they encounter long lines or potential checkout problems. An integrated payment solution helps increase checkout times by eliminating many time-consuming factors associated with manual checkout.

 

Benefits of partnering with CSG Forte

CSG Forte’s cloud-based solutions enable you to streamline payment management and increase your operational efficiency, including transaction monitoring, enhanced analysis and dispute management. Programs like Dex allow you to manage your payment operations in one location to save time and money. You can see your payment processes more clearly. This helps you do things like:

  • Cancel charges
  • Give refunds
  • Change payment methods
  • Meet other customer needs

At CSG Forte, we help our clients grow their businesses quickly and profitably. We do this by offering great payment platforms.

We create solutions that work well with your current network. We use our top technology and many years of experience. We provide everything you need to accept and manage payments anytime or anywhere.

We also offer customer support options to fit your needs, from intuitive self-service to round-the-clock assistance.

 

Contact the professionals at CSG Forte today

CSG Forte works with top software companies. They provide the best business automation, payment processing, and other solutions. Let our experts show you the advantages our integrated payment solutions can offer your business. Connect with us today to get started.

The Key to Winning (and Keeping) SMBs With Modern Payments

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Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) run on cash flow, customer trust and time they don’t have to spare. When they evaluate financial partners or software providers, they’re not shopping for “payments” as a feature—they’re looking for an easy, reliable way to get paid across every channel their customers use. If that experience feels fragmented, slow or risky, they’ll bounce to a provider that makes it simple.

As payments move from a back-office chore to a revenue generation source, organizations of all sizes—from independent software vendors (ISVs) and fintechs to banks, municipalities, utilities, healthcare and property management companies—are out there competing for SMB relationships. The winners lead with modern merchant services: fast onboarding, flexible acceptance (card, ACH, wallet, text), recurring and installment options and built-in fraud and compliance controls. The common thread: give SMBs one platform that reduces operational work while improving customer experience.

Below is a practical guide to what SMBs value right now and how a unified payments platform helps you deliver it.

What SMBs expect from a payment platform

  • Omnichannel without the hassle: Customers want to pay in person, on a phone, from a bill, inside an app or via a link. SMBs expect tap-to-pay, EMV, QR, hosted checkout, embedded payment pages and click-to-pay links—running through one processor so reconciliation stays clean.
  • Cash flow visibility and predictability: Deposits that arrive when expected, with payout schedules and transparent fees. SMBs want recurring billing, payment plans and tools like Account Updater to reduce involuntary churn.
  • Fewer chargebacks and less fraud: Card testing, friendly fraud and synthetic identities hit SMBs hard. They need layered defenses that work in the background (velocity checks, device signals, automated risk rules) and clear workflows when disputes do occur.
  • No-drama compliance and security: PCI scope reduction, tokenization and secure storage of customer credentials matter. SMBs want to know sensitive data is handled the right way—without adding steps to every checkout.
  • A partner who answers the phone: When something breaks or a statement looks off, SMBs want support that’s accountable. That’s a competitive edge you can’t fake.

 

The case for a one-platform approach (and why it wins SMB loyalty)

Fragmented payment stacks multiply logins, reporting formats, settlement timelines and vendor support queues. A single platform creates consistency across acceptance, settlement, reporting and risk—and it lets SMBs add channels without reinventing the wheel every time.
With the right payment partner, you can:

  • Consolidate acceptance across card-present and card-not-present, ACH, digital wallets, text-to-pay, hosted pages and embedded flows.
  • Standardize reconciliation with unified reporting, so teams don’t stitch together spreadsheets to understand yesterday’s deposits.
  • Embed payments directly into software and portals (for ISVs, governments, healthcare, property management and more) while keeping the UI on-brand.
  • Scale features when needed—from recurring billing and installment plans to automatic account updates, tokenization and fraud controls—without bolting on yet another vendor.

The result: faster go-lives, lower total cost of ownership and a better experience for SMBs and their customers.

 

Cash flow, simplified: recurring installments and ACH that just works

SMBs live and die by cash flow. Give them levers that improve predictability:

  • Recurring billing & payment plans: Automate billing cycles (weekly, monthly, custom), add proration and let customers self-manage cards on file.
  • Account Updater: Reduce involuntary churn by automatically refreshing expired or reissued card credentials.
  • ACH with verification: Offer lower-cost bank-to-bank options with account validation to reduce returns and exceptions.
  • Flexible settlement and reporting: Know when funds will land, by channel, with reporting that matches real-world workflows.

For SMBs in services, subscriptions, HOA/dues, utilities, courts, clinics or rental portfolios, these capabilities reduce manual collections and the “phone tag” that eats staff time.

 

Omnichannel experience without operational drag

Customers don’t think in channels; they think in tasks: “Pay this invoice now.”
CSG Forte supports:

  • Card-present: EMV and tap-to-pay for in-person sales.
  • Card-not-present: Hosted checkout, embedded fields and invoice links.
  • Text-to-pay and email-to-pay: Send compliant payment links that pre-populate account info.
  • Self-service portals: Reduce calls and walk-ins by letting customers pay and set up autopay online.
  • Back-office tools: Virtual terminals and batch uploads for team-assisted payments.

Behind the scenes, tokens and a unified ledger keep transactions consistent across all touchpoints, so reporting and refunds are straightforward.

 

Fraud and chargebacks: layered protection that doesn’t hurt conversion

Fraudsters evolve quickly; tools should too. SMBs need risk controls that are configurable but not complicated.

  • Rules you can tune: Velocity limits, geolocation filters, allow/deny lists and device checks—set once, monitor always.
  • Secure when it makes sense: Add step-up authentication to high-risk transactions without forcing friction on every sale.
  • Dispute workflows: Clear visibility into retrievals and chargebacks with the evidence your team needs to respond on time.
  • ACH management: Account validation and data checks that reduce returns and downstream fees.

The goal: protect revenue while preserving a clean checkout.

 

Data, reporting and insights SMBs actually use

More dashboards aren’t the answer; the right views are.

  • Unified reporting across methods and channels so SMBs can see gross, fees, net and expected settlement in one place.
  • Deposits that reconcile—by batch, by location, by user—without manual gymnastics.
  • Operational alerts (e.g., spike in declines or unusual refund activity) that prompt action before there’s a month-end surprise.
  • Export and APIs for finance systems, CRMs and data warehouses.

For partners (banks, ISVs, fintechs), aggregated views simplify portfolio health, support needs and go-to-market planning.

 

Implementation without the headaches

Payments projects stall when teams underestimate data flows, PCI scope or edge cases (refunds, partial captures, offline scenarios). CSG Forte focuses on predictable go-lives:

  • Clear integration paths that include hosted pages, drop-in components or full API control.
  • Sandbox and sample apps to accelerate development.
  • Migration supportfor tokens, vaulted credentials and recurring schedules.
  • Change management that includes guidance for training staff and communicating to end users.
  • White-glove support: when you want a human to help troubleshoot or plan.

The outcome: less time wiring tools together and more time serving SMBs.

 

Proof points SMBs feel immediately

You don’t need to promise the moon—just deliver outcomes that matter week one:

  • Faster payments: text-to-pay links and hosted checkout reduce “I’ll do it later” delays.
  • Fewer declines and rekey errors: tokenization, card vaulting and Account Updater keep credentials current.
  • Lower total costs (not just rates): fewer vendors and fewer manual steps mean fewer reconciliation headaches.
  • Happier customers: more ways to pay, fewer calls and self-service options that work.

These are the levers that turn an initial “let’s test it” into “please move all of our payments over.”

 

A quick read on fees, compliance and risk (so there are no surprises)

SMBs deserve clarity:

  • Transparent pricing: understand card vs. ACH costs, add-on services (e.g., Account Updater) and how interchange optimization can help.
  • Compliance up front: PCI scope reduction with hosted fields and tokenization; data minimization across your stack.
  • Clear SLAs and support: know how to reach a human and what to expect when you do.

Predictability builds trust—and trust builds long-term relationships.

 

Why banks and ISVs choose CSG Forte to serve SMBs

Whether you’re a community bank, credit union or software platform, your SMB customers look to you for a complete solution. CSG Forte helps you deliver it—without building an in-house payments team from scratch.

 

For banks & financial institutions

  • Modern merchant services under your brand: under your brand: card, ACH, recurring or text-to-pay.
  • Operational efficiency: one set of reports and reconciliations across branches and portfolios.
  • Risk and compliance at scale: tokenization, PCI scope reduction and fraud tools that evolve with threats.
  • Revenue opportunities: interchange and ACH economics, plus higher stickiness when SMBs move all payments under one roof.

 

For ISVs and platforms

  • Embedded payments with clear developer docs and flexible integration models.
  • Faster onboarding so your SMBs start processing quickly.
  • Monetization options without compromising user experience.
  • Vertical depthfor sectors like government, utilities, healthcare, property management, education and professional services.

In both cases, the advantage is the same: a unified platform that’s reliable on day one and extensible on day 1,000.

 

Ready to help SMBs win with payments?

SMBs don’t need another login. They need one dependable platform that helps them take payments anywhere, protect revenue, reconcile quickly and grow. CSG Forte was built to make that the default—so banks, ISVs and growing businesses can focus on customers, not payment plumbing.

Let’s make payments your competitive edge. Talk to a payments expert to map your SMB use cases and integration path, or explore how text-to-pay, recurring billing, ACH and fraud prevention work together by exploring CSG Forte.

Payment Fraud 101

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Payment fraud has become more prominent and more damaging as online transactions have grown in popularity. Cybercriminals are using advanced and evolving tactics to access payment information and avoid detection. It’s more important than ever for businesses to recognize the realities of payment fraud and implement prevention strategies.

 

Understanding Payment Fraud

Payment fraud is the illegal process of making a purchase using forged or fabricated payment information. Most payment fraud involves some sort of identity theft. Identity thieves might steal a target’s personal information as a direct or indirect way to access their funds. Vulnerable information can include the consumer’s name, Social Security number, credit card information, bank account information and account passwords.

 

Payment Fraud Across Industries

Payment fraud impacts businesses across multiple sectors. A 2022 report shows that many industries saw numerous instances of payment fraud costing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the year:

 

Industry Number of cases Median loss
Banking and financial services 351 $100,000 
Government and public administration 198  $150,000
Healthcare 130 $100,000
Energy 97  $100,000
Insurance 88  $130,000
Transportation and warehousing 82 $250,000
Construction 78 $203,000
Telecommunications, publishing, media and other information 60 $58,000
Real estate 41 $435,000
Arts, entertainment and recreation 41 $73,000

 

Types of Payment Fraud

Perpetrators use numerous tactics to commit payment fraud. A few common payment fraud types include:

  1. Credit card fraud
  2. Phishing attacks
  3. Friendly fraud
  4. Skimming
  5. Triangulation fraud
  6. Card testing

 

1. Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is a type of theft that occurs when a person steals another’s credit card information and uses it to make fraudulent purchases. Credit cards are common targets for scammers because they have become so prominent in commerce. Credit cards are also vulnerable because few authentication factors are in place—if a person possesses the credit card or the information on it, they can use the card to purchase anything within the holder’s limit.

Consequently, credit card fraud has risen steadily over the past decade. Reports find that credit card fraud occurrences increased by 10% between 2020 and 2021, amounting to over $30 billion lost worldwide and over $12 billion lost in the United States.

Fortunately, credit card companies can combat fraud by flagging suspicious activity, such as abnormally large charges or purchases made in an atypical geographical location.

 

2. Phishing Attacks

Phishing occurs when a thief poses as a reputable company to deceive the victim into sending account or payment information. Phishing attackers use fake emails, text messages, phone calls and websites that look close enough to those of a recognizable business to trick their victims.

During a phishing attack, the victim will receive a website link that often appears safe at first glance. However, the link directs the user to a fake version of the site and asks for login credentials. Submitting the login form will hand account information to the scammer, leading to an account takeover. A phishing link may also contain malware that infects the user’s device to access more information.

Phishing scammers target consumers to access their personal information, especially login and payment information on financial accounts. These scams also frequently target employees through business channels to access company data.

Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous types of fraud in digital payment. One study found that over 80% of employees fell for a malicious email scam and provided sensitive information. Another shows that phishing is among the most common types of cybercrime, doubling in frequency between 2019 and 2020.

 

3. Friendly Fraud

Friendly fraud, also known as chargeback fraud, occurs when a customer falsely disputes a legitimate transaction. The fraud claim causes the merchant to refund the customer after providing the product or service.

Friendly fraud can also occur when a dispute is legitimate, but the merchant isn’t at fault. If a thief steals a customer’s card information, the customer will rightfully flag the fraudulent purchase. Their credit card provider will likely pass the burden onto the merchant unless they find the person who’s truly behind the fraud.

Friendly fraud is a delicate subject for businesses striving for customer satisfaction. Helping legitimate customers avoid fraud is essential, but businesses must implement measures to verify online purchases. One study found that 23% of consumers admitted to falsely disputing charges. Fraud prevention efforts can mitigate the harm that friendly fraud and chargebacks cause.

 

4. Skimming

Skimming is a tactic that involves stealing a cardholder’s information from their physical credit card. Here, a criminal uses an inconspicuous device to read a customer’s credit card information as they complete an in-person transaction. Some skimming devices have cameras that sneak a peek at the card number, while others are installed inside the scanner and read the card’s magnetic strip.

Criminals used skimming to compromise upwards of 120,000 cards in the first half of 2023. This type of fraud is most likely to occur at a gas station or automated teller machine (ATM).

 

5. Triangulation Fraud

Triangulation fraud is a scam involving two separate consumers and a merchant. These attacks are complex and difficult to track and quantify.

This type of fraud begins with a cybercriminal posing as a merchant by using a similar web or email address. The first consumer doesn’t notice the discrepancy and completes a purchase. As a result, the cybercriminal steals the consumer’s financial information.

After stealing the first consumer’s information, the cybercriminal visits the legitimate merchant’s website and places the intended purchase in the consumer’s name—but they use a second consumer’s stolen payment information for the transaction.

The merchant accepts and fulfills the order, only later recognizing that the shipping information and billing information do not match. The initial consumer receives illegally purchased items, often without realizing it. Meanwhile, the cybercriminal has their payment information to use in a future scam, and the second consumer loses money to the fraudulent transaction.

The second consumer can report the event and receive a refund when they notice the attack. The merchant will need to forfeit their payment despite delivering the product or service. The cycle continues with another victim, another merchant and the initial victim’s payment information.

 

6. Card Testing

Card testing is a tactic that cybercriminals use to verify stolen credit card information before they sell it off. The crime is harmful to customers and merchants alike.

During a card scam, the perpetrator submits numerous small transactions to an e-commerce site. The card number may be the same each time, but other information, like the CVC or expiration date, will change as the scammer attempts to find the right combination.

When the scammer sees that the transactions are processing, they launch a full-scale attack. The e-commerce system may receive thousands of small transactions at once, all using stolen payment information. The scammer automates their guessing processes using a bot or another technological tool.

As payment requests roll in, the fraud victims will recognize fraudulent transactions on their accounts. They’ll submit chargeback requests to retrieve their money. The business will experience a sudden influx of transaction fees and chargeback fees that can amount to thousands of dollars. The scam may also lead to a freeze of the business’s merchant account.

 

The Impact of Payment Fraud on Businesses

Payment fraud can have a widespread impact on a business, affecting everything from its revenue to its reputation:

  • Financial losses: Payment fraud can bring significant financial consequences for merchants. In 2022, online payment fraud caused $41 billion in e-commerce losses worldwide.
  • Customer trust and loyalty implications: Consumers trust merchants to facilitate secure transactions, and breaches of this trust could cause them to take their business elsewhere. One survey found that 87% of consumers will choose a competitor after a data breach.
  • Legal consequences: Payment fraud leaves businesses liable. Merchants often must repay the cardholder’s financial institution after a breach. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) details legal guidelines for protecting customers’ personal and payment information.
  • Reputational damage: The reputational damage that payment fraud causes extends beyond lost revenue. As consumers turn to different businesses, prospective employees, investors and partners may do the same.

 

Common Warning Signs of Payment Fraud

While payment fraud is common and detrimental, your business can mitigate its harm. Monitor transactions for these warning signs that indicate payment fraud:

  • Unusual transactions or spending patterns
  • Multiple failed payment attempts
  • Inconsistencies in consumer information
  • Sudden changes in consumer behavior
  • High-risk transactions or unusual activity spikes

 

Payment Fraud Protection Strategies

Explore some of the top fraudulent payment prevention strategies and practices your business can adopt today.

 

Secure Payment Processing Systems

You can implement an advanced payment platform to protect customers and your business while meeting Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements. A cloud-based payment platform can provide a seamless customer experience while bolstering your business’s fraud prevention strategy.

 

Identity Verification

Methods like two-factor authentication and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures can help verify purchasers’ identities to prevent fraud. Two-factor authentication requires customers to confirm their identity after submitting their password by responding to a text message, phone call or email. KYC procedures are internal measures your business can take to identify customers and qualify leads.

 

Tokenization

Tokenization is a data security method that replaces raw payment information with a digital placeholder.

When a customer completes a purchase, their payment information enters your payment portal. There, tokenization software can create a nonsensitive version of the payment data. The nonsensitive version of the data, or the token, travels onward for payment processing. The original sensitive information remains in the payment portal.

Payment processing systems have the credentials or tools necessary to decipher the token and view the sensitive information in the payment portal.

 

Real-Time Fraud Detection

The most secure payment processing systems include real-time fraud detection. Fraud detection systems use behavioral analysis to separate legitimate customer behavior from fraudulent activity. Behavioral analysis can prevent fraudulent purchases and help your business resolve claims faster.

 

Education and Training

Employees are often the target of phishing and other scams. Train your personnel to use secure practices and recognize attempts at data theft. Cybersecurity training should be a part of onboarding and ongoing learning to ensure employees build strong fraud detection skills and keep them current as tactics evolve.

 

Regular System Audits and Updates

Cyberattackers constantly adapt, so it’s important to update your infrastructure and protection on a regular basis. Analyze your fraud prevention system as a part of annual or semiannual risk assessments.

 

Protect Your Business Against Payment Fraud

Payment fraud is prominent and takes many forms. Understanding the possibilities and implementing prevention strategies can save your business countless hours and thousands of dollars.

At CSG Forte, we develop cloud-based payment systems with payment fraud security integration. Our systems and resources will give you peace of mind as you accept payments online, in person and over the phone. We encourage you to request access to our payment security whitepaper to learn more about effective payment security strategies.

We’re also available to discuss your situation, so contact us to learn more about our secure, scalable payment solutions.

The 5 Payment Fraud Monsters: Simple Defenses and How Smart Tech Can Protect You

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The front doors are decorated, cobwebs draped just so, porch light on. From the sidewalk, your payments house looks festive and fine, ready to greet the spooks and ghouls when they come knocking.

But open the door and—yikes! Your business is like a well-decorated haunted house—inviting from the outside, but vulnerable to lurking dangers within. Fraudsters knock on your door as if they’re seeking treats, meanwhile tricking (no treat) your platform, sneaking in and turning Halloween fun into freaky horrors if you’re not in tune with the warning signs.

And when that happens, the real fright isn’t a jump scare; it’s the slow, compounding cost of doing nothing to protect your business.

The good news: you don’t need garlic, silver bullets or a room full of fraud analysts to make progress. A handful of pragmatic controls—turned on, tuned up and measured—can calm the chaos before it becomes a budget-eating monster.

The real horror: Inaction will cost you gravely

Fraud doesn’t take a holiday. When “just a little” card-not-present fraud invades your system, you can end up paying a lot more than you expected via billed authorization fees on doomed attempts, operational time answering tickets, chargeback losses and representment work, plus the invisible cost of turning away good customers when rules get over-tight after a spike.

Worse, once attackers find a soft door, they come back with friends. In other words: if you don’t have a clear “Monsters Not Welcome” sign hung and the doors securely locked, your system could be infiltrated before you even know the monsters are there.

The Halloween spike (and the morning after)

October through January is peak distraction: higher traffic and increased shopper activity create the perfect storm for fraudsters to exploit vulnerabilities. Card testing bots take advantage of the increased cover noise to stage account takeovers (harvested passwords work just fine on bill-pay portals) and abuse refund policies that are already stretched like taffy.

Then comes the January 1 reality check: disputes pile up, approval rates wobble and teams spend weeks mopping instead of supporting their clients. The trick is getting ahead of it—now.

The 5 monsters and how to keep them at bay

  1. Card testing (bots & scripts): Tell-tale signs: sudden bursts of tiny authorizations from many cards, same device/browser fingerprint, weird IP clusters.
    Stake through the heart: Enable velocity limits per IP/device/card, BIN throttling, bot filtering and AVS/CVV checks that cool suspicious bursts.
  2. Credential stuffing & account takeover: Think skeleton keys for login pages. Reused passwords + high-value bill-pay accounts = easy pickings.
    Counter-spell: Enable multi-factor authentication or opt for one-time password access when available; add device fingerprinting when risk is high, login throttling and watchlists for unusual behavior.
  3. First-party Misuse (“friendly fraud”): The cardholder is real—but the chargeback reason isn’t. Subscriptions and recurring billing are common targets.
    Ghost hunter: Set up clear descriptors, reminder emails/SMS, solid receipts and dispute playbooks with evidence packs. (You don’t win what you can’t document.)
  4. Refund & return abuse: Policy gaps turn into open graves.
    Fix it; don’t forget it: Require consistent refund inputs, track serial returners and align customer service scripts with policy (no accidental loopholes).
  5. ACH returns & NSF loops: It’s not fangs; it’s friction—in the form of fees, staff time and annoyed customers.
    Risk remedy: Get return monitoring, smart re-debit rules and payment plan options that reduce surprises.

 

An in-house hardening plan

Before you step into the payments graveyard, make sure you’re packing the right gear to close the door on monsters. Here’s your checklist to safeguard your business from horrors lurking in every transaction.

  • Shut the doors: Turn on velocity limits everywhere you accept payments—web, mobile and text-to-pay. Add BIN/IP throttles. Confirm AVS/CVV enforcement.
  • Turn on the lights: Instrument your funnel so you can see: approval rate, decline reasons, chargeback codes and ACH return codes. Create alerts for abnormal spikes (declines, AVS mismatches, refund volume).
  • Prove the customer (selectively): Apply an authorization + capture approach when risk is elevated—not on everything. Use issuer-friendly data like network tokens to raise approvals while keeping checkout smooth.
  • Stop the leaks: Enable Account Updater for recurring portfolios to prevent passive churn and risky retries. Stand up your dispute playbooks and track win rate like a KPI, not an afterthought.

 

Don’t witch-hunt the good customers

Over-blocking is its own monster. Blanket rules can repel fraud and revenue. Instead, layer your checks: let low-risk customers glide, step-up medium-risk customers and block the obvious ghouls.

When the monsters get smarter, it’s time to call in backup

The hardening plan are your garlic, but there’s no silver bullet. That’s why implementing simple, high-impact defenses to stop everyday ghouls at the gate are more important than ever. But as fraudsters evolve, so do their tricks. Scripted attacks turn into adaptive bots, synthetic identities mimic real customers and human fraud rings mask their intentions well enough to sneak past.

It might be time to consider a fraud detection platform, which analyzes big data with AI/machine learning, using advanced rulesets to spot subtle, emerging fraud patterns that less-dynamic systems can’t see. A strong platform can:

  • Cover multiple payment methods, channels and fraud vectors
  • Adapt to your specific business risks and industry needs
  • Elevate suspicious transactions in real time, allowing teams to promptly review flagged items
  • Filter and allow the legitimate transactions
  • Learn and adapt in real time

 

Two quick wins before the candy’s gone

  1. Turn on Account Updater and tokens for your recurring or invoice-based portfolios. That’s instant stability for approvals and fewer awkward “your card didn’t go through” moments.
  2. Add velocity limits and bot filtering on your most exposed endpoints. You’ll blunt card testing without clobbering good traffic.

 

Ready to de-spook your payments?

CSG Forte can help you implement simple defenses now, and plan for more robust protection tomorrow. Every day, the haunted maze of fraudsters learn more tricks, increasing the dangers and making goblins even more difficult to see.

Let’s do a fast risk review and make sure the only scares this season are the intentional ones. Get in touch today to talk to a payments risk expert.

Navigating the Forrester Merchant Payment Providers Landscape: How CSG Forte Addresses What Matters Most

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We’re excited to announce that CSG Forte has been included in the Forrester Merchant Payment Providers Landscape, Q4 2025 report—a recognition that we believe highlights our quality products and service, as well as our commitment to empowering organizations of all sizes with scalable, secure and future-ready payment solutions.

But what truly sets CSG Forte apart in a crowded field of payment providers? We believe the answer lies in our deep partnership approach and the real-world results our clients achieve.

 

How payments are evolving—and why merchants need to keep up

The payments industry continues to evolve rapidly, moving away from cash and checks and toward digital wallets and omnichannel experiences. In fact, cashless transactions are expected to triple from 2020 to 2030—a shift that no organization can afford to ignore. For enterprise organizations, this means integrated payments are no longer a “nice to have”—they’re a strategic necessity for growth, customer satisfaction and competitive differentiation.

Industry experts predict that continued cloud adoption and digital transformation across the software vendor sector will boost industry growth by nearly 24% annually through 2032. To stay ahead, businesses must develop a payment integration strategy that not only meets today’s needs but is also flexible and scalable enough to adapt to tomorrow’s innovations.

 

Why embedded payments matter

Facilitating online payments allows businesses to own the full payment flow, delivering seamless, branded experiences that reduce friction at checkout and boost conversion rates. With CSG Forte, merchants can:

  • Centralize payment data for better support and optimization.
  • Minimize latency and failed transactions.
  • Enable recurring billing and support emerging payment methods.
  • Scale efficiently with modular infrastructure and flexible monetization models.

But the benefits go beyond technology. By partnering with a payment processor like CSG Forte, organizations of any size gain access to infrastructure, compliance expertise and ongoing support—without having to divert resources from their core business.

 

Real-world results: Buildium and Rentec Direct

The impact of CSG Forte’s embedded payments strategy is best illustrated by our clients’ success stories.

Buildium, a leading property management software provider, needed a payment processing solution that could handle high transaction volumes and offer cost-effective ACH payments. By partnering with CSG Forte, Buildium was able to launch a tailored Automated Clearing House (ACH) solution quickly, driving 35% year-over-year growth in transactions and a 39% increase in dollars processed.

The partnership’s stability and personalized support were key: “Having the same person on our account from nearly the beginning of the relationship has made a huge impact,” said Buildium’s cofounder. The results speak for themselves—Buildium scaled rapidly and was ultimately acquired for $580 million.

Rentec Direct, another property management platform, faced inefficiencies with traditional rent payment methods. By integrating CSG Forte’s digital payment solutions, Rentec enabled online and recurring payments, reducing late payments from 22% to just 1% among users of the recurring system.

Over five years, Rentec saw an 112% increase in average payment volume and 98% revenue growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, landlords using CSG Forte-powered recurring payments experienced 20% less churn and fewer vacancies—a testament to the resilience and value of embedded payments.

 

The CSG Forte partnership difference

So, what makes CSG Forte the partner of choice?

  • Security & compliance: Forte is PCI-compliant, offering end-to-end encryption and tokenization to protect sensitive payment data. Achieving this level of security independently is costly and complex; with CSG Forte, it’s built in.
  • Flexibility & customization: Our APIs and developer-friendly solutions allow companies to quickly adapt to industry changes and evolving customer preferences.
  • Fast, smooth onboarding: CSG Forte’s streamlined onboarding process helps merchants get up and running quickly, making a strong first impression and accelerating time to value.
  • Scalable revenue models: Whether through referral partnerships, payment facilitation-as-a-service or full payment facilitation, CSG Forte offers multiple paths to monetization that grow with your business.

 

The Forrester landscape

Inclusion in the Forrester Merchant Payment Providers Landscape is more than a milestone—For us it’s repeated validation of CSG Forte’s ability to help merchants deliver seamless, secure and scalable payment experiences. Our embedded payments strategy empowers software providers to differentiate their platforms. This change can unlock new revenue streams and future-proof businesses in a rapidly changing industry.

Reports like the Forrester Merchant Payment Providers Landscape are invaluable tools for organizations that are seeking clarity in a rapidly evolving payments landscape. They provide unbiased, objective insights that help organizations cut through complexity, benchmark providers and make well-informed decisions to drive business growth and innovation.

Ready to learn more? Connect with our payment experts to see how CSG Forte can help you embed and monetize payments for long-term success.

Disclaimer: Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand or service included in its research publications, and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester’s objectivity here.

Beat The Numbers Game: Guard Against Card Testing Fraud

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Card-testing fraud has gone from nuisance to nonstop swarm—supercharged by cheap bots and off-the-shelf artificial intelligence (AI). In 2025, fraud teams report that card testing (aka enumeration) remains one of the most common attacks online, hitting roughly 45% of merchants worldwide even as some other fraud types cooled this year. At the same time, nearly half of financial institutions say monthly bot attacks are rising, underscoring how automation is amplifying low-value, high-volume probes that quickly cascade into chargebacks and network monitoring trouble.

For merchants, that “pennies at scale” behavior isn’t harmless: enumeration drives ecosystem losses in the billions and can push businesses toward acquirer/network programs when thresholds are crossed—especially under 2025’s tighter Visa monitoring rules. If your checkout, APIs, or account pages aren’t rate-limited and bot-mitigated—and if you’re not leaning on tools like velocity controls, AVS/CVV with intelligent retries, 3-D Secure 2.x, and network tokens—you’re inviting attackers to find valid PANs and move up the value chain.

Payment solutions can play a major role in protecting businesses from card testing-related losses. But does yours have the right capabilities? Read on as we explain card testing and some fundamental ways to reduce its impact on your customers and your bottom line.

 

What is card testing?

Card testing is a payment fraud technique where cybercriminals use automation or bots to guess valid credit card numbers. It’s literally a numbers game. Fraudsters submit a barrage of small transactions of just a few cents each, testing to see if a card number is valid. Once they’ve identified a set of card information that works, they then use it either to make larger unauthorized purchases or sell the card info on the dark web.

For merchants, falling victim to card testing can disrupt operations and generate costly chargebacks. But it means more than revenue loss: there’s also reputational damage to consider. According to a PYMNTS survey, 21% of consumers said that losing money due to fraud would be the most important factor that would erode their trust in a merchant.

 

5 layers of protection against card testing attacks

In the battle against card testing fraud, your strongest line of defense is a modern payment solution. It can safeguard your transactions and customer data in multiple ways. Here’s how:

1. Spot it early

As we all know, the earlier fraud is spotted, the better. Modern fraud detection platforms are doing this better than ever by engaging machine learning and sophisticated, dynamic rules that identify suspicious transactions and evolving patterns as they happen. These systems flag and report suspicious activity before bad actors “crack the code” and make a successful unauthorized charge, or before they can go on to do significant damage with the stolen card information.

  • Tell-tale signs: sudden bursts of tiny or $0/$1 authorizations, many declines in a short window, the same card BIN showing up repeatedly, or a spike in traffic with few real checkouts
  • Why it’s happening: fraudsters now use cheap bots—and increasingly AI—to run thousands of quick tests to find a “live” card number before moving on to bigger purchases elsewhere

2. Boost your tokenization technology

Modern payment solutions typically replace sensitive card data with unique tokens—randomly generated values that are unrelated to the original card data. This adds an extra layer of security. Even if bad actors intercept the merchant’s card data, the tokens render that data useless for making unauthorized transactions.

3. Make testing harder

  • Add a light “are you human?” check on payment and account pages when activity spikes.
  • Slow rapid-fire attempts with simple limits (e.g., only a few tries in a short period).
  • Turn on AVS and CVV checks for first-time payments so obviously bad attempts fail fast.

4. Get 3DS authentication

Modern payments solutions often integrate 3D-secure protocols, or “3DS,” which stands for 3 Domain Secure. This is an authentication method for online transactions that relies on three domains:

  • Issuer domain — The bank or financial institution that issued the card
  • Acquirer domain — The bank or financial institution processing the payment on the merchant’s behalf
  • Interoperability domain (card scheme) — The payment card network (e.g., Visa, MasterCard) that connects the issuer and acquirer domains

If you’re using 3DS, a cardholder making an online purchase undergoes an additional authentication step. This typically involves redirecting them to a page hosted by their card issuer or having them provide a one-time authentication code that is sent to their phone. And it’s this extra step that adds another strong barrier against card testing attempts.

5. Update and monitor regularly

Payment fraud techniques evolve, and so should your defenses. Your SaaS provider should provide regular updates and enable round-the-clock monitoring, making sure your payment system is always equipped with the latest security features.

  • Watch for patterns, not just single declines: Unusual spikes in small authorizations, odd geographies, or “many cards/one device” should trigger a closer look.
  • Have a short playbook: Pause the affected page or endpoint, tighten limits for an hour, review the attempts, and notify your payments partner if thresholds were hit.
  • Clean up quickly: Void/refund test charges, update blocklists and, if needed, rotate any exposed credentials.

 

Act today

Safeguarding your organization against card testing is a must. Do you know if your payment ecosystem has all these protections in place for you and your customers? Talk to us at CSG Forte, and we can help you ensure your payments security is up to task—even as fraudsters put it to the test.

Rent Payment Methods

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Managing rent collection is one of the most critical responsibilities for landlords. With many rent payment methods available today, landlords are no longer limited to paper checks or in-person cash payments. By weighing the pros and cons of different solutions, you can identify rent payment options that make the most sense for your business model.

 

Traditional rent payment methods

Property owners have relied on tried-and-true approaches like cash, checks and bank drafts for decades. These traditional rent payment methods remain in use across the rental market, especially with small landlords or tenants who are less comfortable with technology. Nonetheless, they have limitations, especially when scaling operations or managing tenants across different locations.

Cash payments

Paying in cash is one of the oldest rent payment methods and is still common in certain markets. Tenants hand over bills directly, and landlords issue a receipt as proof of payment.

Pros of cash payments include:

  • Immediate access to funds without waiting for bank processing
  • No banking or processing fees
  • Cash can be the only viable method for tenants without checking accounts or digital tools

Cons of cash payments include:

  • Cash is vulnerable to miscounting, theft or loss
  • Requires strong manual record keeping to avoid disputes
  • Needs in-person delivery, which can be inconvenient
  • As your portfolio grows, handling rent in cash becomes cumbersome and inefficient

Personal and certified checks

Checks remain a familiar method, particularly for tenants who prefer banking-based payments. Certified checks provide an added level of security since the bank verifies that funds are available during issuance.

The benefits of check payments are:

  • Checks create a clear, traceable payment record, making accounting and settling disputes easier
  • Widely accepted and comfortable for tenants who prefer paper-based methods
  • Certified checks reduce the risk of insufficient funds
  • Unlike credit card or app-based transactions, checks generally don’t have processing fees

The drawbacks of check payments are:

  • Personal checks can bounce, causing delays and possible bank penalties
  • Mailing introduces risks of lost or delayed payments
  • Certified checks require a bank visit and involve fees
  • Longer processing times may delay cash flow

Cashier’s check or bank draft

Cashier’s checks and bank drafts are some of the most secure traditional rent payment methods. Unlike personal checks, these are backed by the issuing bank’s funds, offering higher security.

Pros of this payment method include:

  • Because funds are withdrawn before issuance, there’s no risk of a bounced check
  • Cashier’s checks can instill confidence in high-value transactions like deposits or the first month’s rent
  • Each check is tied to a bank, providing strong documentation

The cons of this payment method include:

  • Require tenants to visit a bank, which may be inconvenient
  • Banks typically charge fees for each check or draft
  • Not practical for recurring monthly rent payments due to the effort required
  • Hard to scale; for landlords managing multiple properties, the effort to reconcile accounts adds up quickly

 

Modern rent payment methods

Digital payment tools have revolutionized how landlords and tenants handle rent.

ACH payments

Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments allow tenants to transfer rent directly from their bank account to yours, reducing manual handling and risk.

A few advantages of ACH payments are:

  • Funds are deposited straight into your business or personal bank account without requiring in-person exchanges
  • ACH processing typically costs less than credit card transactions
  • Tenants can set up automatic transfers, reducing late payments and improving cash predictability
  • Transactions are logged by the banking network, providing reliable records for both parties

However, ACH rent payments do come with some potential drawbacks:

  • Funds can take a few business days to clear, especially on weekends or holidays
  • Tenants unfamiliar with digital banking may need guidance to set it up
  • In rare cases, tenants can reverse payments, requiring additional follow up
  • Incorrect inputs may delay payment or lead to payment failures

The right payments partner may offer value added services that reduce these potential drawbacks, such as account verification services, and non-sufficient funds recovery, which can improve the end-to-end results of ACH payments.

 

Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps

Apps like Venmo and, PayPal have made sending money almost instantaneous.

Pros of these P2P apps include:

  • Fast transactions completed from a phone or computer
  • Most tenants already use at least one app in their daily lives
  • Tenants can send rent anytime, from anywhere

Cons of P2P apps include:

  • Larger rent amounts may exceed daily or weekly sending caps
  • Typos or wrong usernames can result in money going to the wrong recipient, with limited recourse
  • Less structured recordkeeping compared to dedicated rent collection platforms

Credit card payments

Some tenants prefer paying rent with a credit card because it allows them to manage cash flow, earn rewards or build their credit history. For landlords, this option introduces both advantages and challenges.

The benefits of paying rent with credit cards are:

  • Credit cards help tenants manage cash flow, especially during unexpected financial challenges
  • Fast processing delivers funds quickly to your account
  • Tenants may prefer this option to earn cashback or points, which can encourage on-time payments

However, paying with credit cards also creates disadvantages, including:

  • Fees of 2% to 3% per transaction, which can cut into rental income if not passed on to the tenant
  • Risk of chargebacks if a tenant disputes a payment
  • Requires specialized processing arrangements, making it less straightforward for landlords to adopt

 

Online rent payment options and property management software

Dedicated rent collection platforms and property management software combine different ways to pay rent into one centralized system. These systems often integrate rent collection with other management features, such as maintenance requests, tenant communication, compliance tools and actionable insights.

Pros of centralized rent payment systems include:

  • Landlords can accept multiple payment methods, including ACH, credit card and mobile wallets through a single interface
  • Tenants can enroll in recurring payments and receive alerts about due dates, reducing missed rent
  • Real-time dashboards help track income, late fees, refunds and transaction history
  • Built-in encryption and compliance features enhance security

Cons of centralized rent payment systems include:

  • Some platforms charge monthly subscriptions or per-transaction fees
  • Both landlords and tenants may need onboarding to use these tools effectively
  • Tenants without consistent digital access may face barriers unless offline alternatives are available

 

How to choose the best rent payment option for your property

Below are key factors landlords should evaluate when comparing different ways to pay rent:

  • Ease of use: Look for tools that offer intuitive interfaces, mobile accessibility and automated options like recurring billing
  • Security: Payment methods should protect both your funds and tenants’ information through encryption, tokenization and compliance with industry standards
  • Speed of access to funds: If you need quick fund availability, choose a method that reliably delivers cleared funds without delays, such as mobile apps or credit card payments
  • Documentation and recordkeeping: Digital platforms automatically log transactions, making disputes easier to resolve. Paper-based options require careful organization of receipts or bank statements, which can become difficult at scale
  • Costs and transaction fees: Understanding the actual cost per payment helps protect your margins, especially when processing high volumes each month
  • Portfolio size: Landlords managing one or two units may tolerate manual methods like checks or cash. But once you’re overseeing multiple properties or units, scaling manual processes becomes inefficient
  • Technological proficiency: Older tenants may prefer checks, while younger renters often expect online rent payment options
  • Proximity to properties: Collecting cash or checks in person may be workable if you live near your rental. For landlords managing properties from a distance, digital rent payment methods become essential for convenience and timeliness

 

Accept multiple ways to pay with CSG Forte

Rent collection works best when tenants have options and you maintain control. Whether you manage a single-family unit or a growing portfolio of rental properties, integrating secure, flexible and scalable online rent payment options helps streamline operations and improve tenant satisfaction.

CSG Forte allows landlords and property owners to accept ACH, eCheck, debit and credit cards, phone payments and other contactless payments through a unified platform. It supports recurring billing and automated reminders, making it easier for tenants to pay on time and for you to maintain consistent revenue. It enables you to track every transaction in real time through an intuitive reporting dashboard, offering visibility into payment trends and helping you stay organized.

The platform includes robust tools that automate dispute resolution and simplify reconciliation, so you spend less time sorting out late fees or reprocessing failed transactions. From payment acceptance to refunds and account management, CSG Forte keeps everything centralized and secure so you can focus on running your business, not chasing down rent.

Contact one of our payment experts today to see how CSG Forte can help modernize your rent collection process.