Product
EFT Debits
The most widely used recurring collections method in Southern Africa. Reliable, high-volume, and built for businesses that need to collect at scale.
EFT Debits (Electronic Funds Transfer Debit Orders) are the backbone of recurring collections across South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini. As the most established debit collection method in the region, EFT Debits give businesses a simple, bank-agnostic way to collect recurring payments from customers without requiring upfront bank authentication.
Collections are submitted in batch and processed on a guaranteed future date, a model known as Dated Service, making EFT Debits ideal for high-volume portfolios where operational simplicity and cost efficiency matter. RealPay enhances standard EFT Debits with Smart Retry Logic, which automatically resubmits failed collections at optimised times, and pairs seamlessly with AVS-R for pre-collection bank account verification to reduce failures before they happen.
While EFT Debits carry a higher dispute risk than authenticated methods like DebiCheck, they remain an essential tool for businesses managing large, predictable consumer payment cycles, particularly where customers cannot be reached through real-time authentication channels.
What's included
Universal Bank Reach
Accepted by every major financial institution across South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini. No bank exclusions, no compatibility issues, your collections reach every customer.
Simple Mandate Setup
Mandates can be captured via paper or digital consent forms with no real-time bank authentication required, making onboarding fast and straightforward at scale.
Smart Retry Logic
RealPay's proprietary retry engine automatically resubmits failed collections at the optimal time, recovering revenue from temporary insufficient funds without manual intervention.
High-Volume Batch Processing
Submit millions of collections in a single batch for guaranteed processing on a specific future date. Designed for large portfolios that need efficient, scalable throughput.
Cost-Effective at Scale
EFT Debits are one of the most affordable recurring collections methods available, making them the practical choice for high-volume businesses managing tight margins.
Who it’s for
EFT Debits are suited for businesses with large recurring consumer payment portfolios where authentication is not mandatory or feasible. Common use cases include:
- Insurance companies and financial service providers collecting large volumes of monthly premiums
- Property managers and body corporates collecting monthly rental or levy payments
- Educational institutions collecting school fees across large student bases
- Retailers and service businesses running loyalty or payment plan programmes
- For anyone who needs secure payment solutions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EFT Debits and DebiCheck?
EFT Debits do not require real-time bank authentication from the customer, making them simpler to set up but more susceptible to disputes. DebiCheck adds bank-level mandate authentication, making collections dispute-resistant. Businesses often use both in parallel.
How does Smart Retry Logic work?
When a collection fails due to insufficient funds or a temporary account issue, RealPay's Smart Retry Logic automatically schedules and resubmits the payment at the most likely time of success, based on transaction history and account behaviour, without any manual action required.
Is AVS-R required for EFT Debits?
It is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. Running an AVS-R check before submission confirms the account is active and that the account holder's details are correct, significantly reducing failure rates and associated transaction costs.
Can EFT Debits be used across borders?
Yes. RealPay supports EFT Debit collections across South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini through their respective local payment rails.
What is the Dated Service feature?
Dated Service allows businesses to submit collections in advance, specifying an exact future processing date. This gives businesses full control over their collections calendar and ensures predictable cash flow scheduling.
Available in
Suited for
Payment flow
Integration
Included features
Optional add-ons