PayTo is a way for customers to authorise and control payments from their bank account. It can be used as a digital alternative to direct debit and also for bank-based payments in experiences where cards have traditionally been used, such as online shopping or in-app purchases.

PayTo gives customers a secure payment option with more visibility and control over how payments are taken from their bank account.

Customers can view their PayTo agreements in internet or mobile banking, where they may be able to pause, cancel, or manage certain changes. PayTo also lets users pay directly from a bank account using a PayID or BSB and account number, without needing to rely on card details.

PayTo was developed by New Payments Platform Australia (NPPA), now part of Australian Payments Plus (AP+), in collaboration with the industry. It is offered through Australian banks, financial institutions, and payment service providers such as Zepto.

1. A business creates a PayTo agreement with the customer, setting out how much can be debited and when.
2. The agreement is sent to the customer’s bank or financial institution and presented in their internet or mobile banking app for authorisation.
3. Once authorised, the business can debit the customer’s account in line with the agreed payment terms.

PayTo is designed to be safe because a PayTo agreement must first be authorised inside the customer’s internet or mobile banking app before any payment can be made.

• The agreement is subject to the security controls already used within the customer’s banking relationship.
• Customers should review the agreement details carefully before authorising them.
• Once authorised, payments can only be taken in accordance with the agreed payment terms.

PayTo payments are highly reliable. When a PayTo agreement is created, the account is validated in real time, and authorisation occurs within the payer’s banking environment.

Real-time notifications can confirm whether a payment settled or failed and can return granular reason codes, helping businesses respond more effectively to payment outcomes.

Yes. While recurring direct debit is a common use case, PayTo also supports one-off and ad-hoc payment experiences, including eCommerce and in-app scenarios.

Its real-time, always-on nature also makes it useful for broader use cases such as payroll, accounts payable, and e-invoicing-related workflows where faster collection and settlement matter.

PayID helps identify a bank account using an easy-to-remember identifier, such as an email address or phone number, so a payer can send money to the right person or business.

PayTo is different. It is a pre-authorised payment method that enables real-time pull payments from a payer’s bank account, rather than a push payment initiated by the payer.

Yes. PayTo payments can be processed using either BSB and account number details, or PayID details such as a phone number, email, ABN, or organisation identifier.

PayTo agreements include data that supports easier matching and reconciliation.

Notifications can also be generated when an agreement is paused, amended, or cancelled, helping businesses act quickly and improve payment success.