OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2016. Even with check usage waning, U.S. businesses still send consumers more than three billion checks annually — from insurance claims and tax refunds to financial aid and rebates, according to the Federal Reserve (PDF). To make the paper-to-electronic evolution easier and more secure, Wells Fargo & Company’s (NYSE:WFC) commercial, corporate, and institutional customers will soon be able to speed up B2P (business-to-person) electronic payments with its new payment option as part of the existing Payment Manager® service.

Payment Manager B2P, which is expected to roll out in early 2017, enables businesses to pay any consumer who has a U.S. bank account without collecting or storing sensitive bank account information. The service only requires the customers’ email address or mobile phone number and any accompanying remittance details to conduct a transaction.

“We’re excited to bring our business customers a new product that will help them improve payment timing, maximize staff efficiency, and boost payee satisfaction,” said Keith Theisen, executive vice president and product management director for the Wells Fargo Treasury Management Group.

Wells Fargo Payment Manager can be used to send B2P payments through Early Warning’s clearXchangeSM network, and manage traditional disbursements, all in a single interface. Businesses will be able to approve payments and transmit payment instructions for checks, Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions, wires, commercial card, and B2P payments in one electronic file. The service also enables businesses to pay individuals in the individual’s preferred method.

“As our world becomes more digital, we continue to evaluate and invest in new, innovative technologies that prioritize our customers’ experience and security,” said Theisen.

Wells Fargo is the No. 1 ACH electronic payment originator among U.S. based financial institutions, according to NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association.

About Wells Fargo Treasury Management

Wells Fargo Treasury Management helps government, large corporations, middle-market companies, and organizations optimize the cash conversion cycle with expert process analysis and automated solutions for payables, receivables, and information reporting. U.S.-based companies and their operations and subsidiaries worldwide connect to their accounts and global cash pictures through the Commercial Electronic Office® (CEO®) portal and the CEO Mobile® service.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with \\$1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.