Bacs Direct Debit

Enabling Bacs allows supporters to provide their UK bank credentials online and approve bank-to-bank direct debit transfers.

This guide will walk you through the steps needed to enable Bacs within Givetly, including necessary configurations within Stripe to ensure seamless transaction processing. You’ll also learn about the donor experience using Bacs during the checkout process.

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Overview

• Available for supporters in: UK
• Accepted currencies: GBP
• Minimum donation amount: £2
• Recurring donations supported: Yes (Bacs only supports recurring donations)
• Works with: Checkout form, Donor Portal, Virtual Terminal

Please note that Bacs only supports recurring donations and won’t appear as an option for one-time donations. It will only appear in the Virtual Terminal when the “Allow direct debits to be set up in the Virtual Terminal” checkbox is checked in the Virtual Terminal section of your Dashboard settings. Learn more →

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Processing Fees

Payment processor fees on Bacs donations are 1%, starting at 0.20 GBP and capped at 2 GBP.

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Step 1: Enable and Configure Bacs in Stripe

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Enabling Bacs in Stripe

1. Go to your Stripe dashboard.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. In the Payments section, choose Payment methods.
4. Locate Bacs Direct Debit and click Turn on.

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Configuring Bacs in Stripe

To avoid sending unnecessary emails and to set a custom Business Display Name for bank statements:

1. Access Payment Methods in your Stripe account settings.
2. Click Bacs Direct Debit and then Configure.
3. Select the Upgrade option for custom Business Display Name (50 GBP/month).
4. Set a Business Display Name for supporter bank statements. The name will appear after 3–5 business days and cannot be changed once set.

5. Disable Stripe’s redundant Bacs emails by contacting Stripe Support, providing proof of compliance. Follow these instructions:

   • Make a test donation via Bacs using Givetly.
   • Screenshot the “Bank mandate” email from Givetly.
   • Email Stripe Support using the suggested text and attach the screenshot.

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Step 2: Enable Bacs in Givetly

Once your Givetly account is connected to a UK Stripe account, enable Bacs by:

1. Navigating to the Givetly Dashboard.
2. Clicking your name, selecting Settings from the dropdown.
3. Clicking Payment Methods in the left-hand menu.
4. Switching on Bacs (UK Direct Debit).
5. Confirming you’ve disabled Stripe’s Bacs emails, enabled Bacs in Stripe, and set your Business Display Name.
6. Clicking the Enable Bacs button to allow UK bank account donations via Givetly Checkout forms.

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Step 3: Review How Supporters Pay with Bacs

At checkout, supporters with recurring donations of £2 or higher will have the Direct Debit option, marked with the Bacs logo. They’ll provide their sort code and account number, verify the flow, and be required to enter their mailing address for confirmation.

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Bacs in the Virtual Terminal

• Bacs is an option in the Virtual Terminal if a campaign requests or requires a mailing address and the donation is £2 or more and recurring.

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Step 4: Customize Confirmation and Verification Emails

Emails for Bacs donations can be customized in the Emails section or per campaign via the Emails tab. Supporters will always receive a “Bank Mandate” email as required by regulations. The “Donation in progress” email is optional. Successful donations receive appropriate receipt emails when confirmed by Givetly.

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Processing and Email Delivery Times

• Marked successful by Stripe post-clearance; receipt emails up to 8 business days after donation for first installments, up to 5 days for subsequent ones.
• Direct Debit removals are marked as failures, prompting a “Plan failed” email to supporters.

Visit Stripe documentation for more technical insights on Bacs operations within Stripe.