Payment Gateway

What is e-nach and mandate? Everything you need to know

What is an e-mandate?

E-mandate refers to an electronic authorization process that allows an individual or organization to authorize recurring payments or transactions from their bank account without needing physical signatures or paperwork.

E-mandate is commonly used in banking and financial services industries for recurring payments such as loan repayments, insurance premiums, utility bills, subscriptions, and other regular payments.

The e-mandate meaning typically involves the customer providing their consent through an electronic medium, such as a website or mobile application, and providing their bank account details for the payments to be debited from. The mandate is then electronically authenticated and stored securely for future transactions, reducing the need for manual intervention and paperwork.
E-mandates can streamline payment processes, reduce administrative costs, and improve customer experience by making payments more convenient and secure.

What is e-NACH?

e-NACH stands for “Electronic National Automated Clearing House.” It is a digital payment service in India that facilitates recurring payments such as insurance premiums, loan repayments, mutual fund investments, etc.

e-NACH uses the National Automated Clearing House (NACH) platform, an electronic clearing system operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It allows individuals and organizations to automate their recurring payments without manual intervention.

To use e-NACH, individuals or organizations must authorize the payer to automatically debit their bank account for the agreed-upon amount at the designated frequency. This authorization can be given online or offline, depending on the service provider.

e-NACH meaning has become a popular payment method in India due to its convenience and ease of use. It eliminates the need for writing and depositing checks or making manual payments, saving time and effort for both the payer and the recipient.

What's the difference between e-NACH and mandate?

Both e-NACH (Electronic National Automated Clearing House) and mandate are related to making electronic payments, but they refer to different aspects of that process.

A mandate is a written authorization that a payer gives to a bank or other financial institution to initiate a payment transaction on their behalf. Mandates are often used for recurring payments, such as monthly rent or utility bills. The payer fills out a form, signs it, and gives it to the bank, initiating the payment according to the terms specified in the mandate.

e-NACH, on the other hand, is an electronic payment system that allows for automated processing of payment mandates. With e-NACH, the payer authorizes the bank to initiate payment transactions on their behalf, but instead of a paper mandate, the authorization is given electronically. The e-NACH system is designed to streamline the process of collecting recurring payments, reducing the need for paper-based forms and manual processing.

In short, while a mandate is a written authorization for a payment transaction, e-NACH is a specific electronic payment system that uses mandates for the automated processing of recurring payments.

How does e-mandate work?

E-mandate is a process through which a customer gives their authorization electronically to a service provider, allowing the service provider to deduct money from the customer’s bank account for payment of goods or services.

Here are the steps involved in the e-mandate process:

  • Registration: The service provider must first register with the customer’s bank to use the e-mandate service.
  • Authorization: The customer provides authorization for the e-mandate by either filling out an online form or giving a one-time password (OTP) to verify their identity.
  • Processing: Once the authorization is received, the service provider processes the e-mandate request and sends it to the customer’s bank for approval.
  • Approval: The bank checks if the customer’s account has sufficient funds and approves the e-mandate request.
  • Deduction: Once the e-mandate is approved, the service provider can deduct the payment from the customer’s account.

E-mandates are usually used for recurring payments such as subscription services, utility bills, insurance premiums, and loan repayments. They are convenient for customers as they eliminate the need for manual payments and reduce the risk of late payments or missed payments.

What is an e-mandate registration?

An e-mandate registration electronically authorizes a recurring payment from your bank account to a particular service provider. In an e-mandate, the customer provides permission to the service provider to collect payments automatically from their bank account at specified intervals.

The e-mandate registration process involves the customer submitting their bank account information and giving consent to the service provider to withdraw funds from their account at predetermined intervals. It can be done with various channels such as Internet banking, mobile banking, or a payment gateway.

E-mandate registration is typically used for recurring payments such as utility bills, subscription fees, loan repayments, and insurance premiums. By registering for the e-mandate, customers can avoid the hassle of manual payments and ensure that they are made on time without delay.

What are the advantages of e-mandate?

E-mandate, or electronic mandate, refers to authorizing recurring payments through electronic means, such as online banking or mobile apps.

Here are some advantages of using e-mandate:

  • Convenience: E-mandate eliminates the need for paper-based forms, making it convenient for customers to authorize recurring payments. Customers can complete the authorization process online from their homes or offices.
  • Speed: With e-mandate, the authorization process is completed in real-time, so customers can start enjoying the service immediately without any delays.
  • Accuracy: E-mandate eliminates the possibility of errors arising from manual data entry. Customers can verify the details of their mandate before submitting them, ensuring accuracy.
  • Cost-effective: E-mandate is a cost-effective way of authorizing recurring payments, as it eliminates the need for paper-based forms and manual processing.
  • Security: E-mandate is a secure way of authorizing payments, using encryption technology to protect sensitive data.

How to cancel an e-mandate?

To cancel an e-mandate, you must follow the specific steps provided by the service provider with whom you set up the e-mandate. Generally, e-mandates can be canceled through the provider’s website or mobile application or by contacting their customer support team.

Here are a few general steps that may apply to many e-mandates:

  • Log in to your account on the provider’s website or mobile application.
  • Navigate to the section where your e-mandates are managed.
  • Find the e-mandate you wish to cancel and select the option to cancel or revoke it.
  • Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
  • If necessary, contact the provider’s customer support team for further assistance.

It is important to note that canceling an e-mandate may affect any services or subscriptions being paid for through the mandate. Be sure to understand the consequences before proceeding with cancellation.

Final Thoughts:

To conclude, e-NACH and mandate serve a similar purpose, but the implementation is quite different. These two services initiated by NPCI enable automated recurring payments. E-NACH covers over 40 banks, while e-mandate registration is under individual banks and is available across 4-5 banks.