> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://faq.universalaccountservicing.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Accepted payment methods

> Which cards and bank accounts you can use, why the list differs between accounts, and where to find yours.

<Info>
  **Your account's list is on the Make A Payment screen.** Which methods you can use depends on the
  finance program your account belongs to, so it is not the same for everyone. Sign in and open
  **Make A Payment** to see yours.
</Info>

## What that means

The methods offered to you are set by the program your account was originated under — by the bank or
lender that funded it, by the card network rules that apply, and by the law of your state. Two
people with a UAS account can be shown different lists, and both are correct.

Whatever your list is, **at least one way to pay is always available to you at no extra cost.**

## What is usually available

| Method                 | Notes                                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Bank account (ACH)** | Checking or savings. Available on most programs                                             |
| **Debit card**         | Visa, Mastercard and Discover                                                               |
| **Credit card**        | Visa, Mastercard and Discover. **Not available on every program** — see below               |
| **American Express**   | Only where your program has it enabled                                                      |
| **HSA and FSA cards**  | Only where what you bought is a medical product or service. Otherwise the card will decline |
| **Check by mail**      | Available on essentially every account, and never carries a fee                             |

<Warning>
  **ACH needs a US bank account.** A US routing number is required. An account at a bank outside the
  US cannot be used, even if it holds US dollars — see [Paying from Canada](/payments/paying-from-canada).
</Warning>

## If your credit card declines and your debit card works

That is not a fault, and it is not about your card. Some accounts are set up so that credit cards
cannot be used to repay them — the card network rules that apply to repaying a debt permit a debit
card on those accounts but not a credit card.

If that applies to your account, you will not be offered a credit card option on the payment screen,
and a credit card entered anyway will be declined. **Use a bank account or a debit card instead.**

## Paying from a bank account

You will need your **9-digit routing number** and your **account number** — both are on a check, and
the payment screen shows a diagram of where to find them.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/uas-consumer/DAwNbPbgbWFXoTSs/images/uportal360/payment-make-a-payment.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DAwNbPbgbWFXoTSs&q=85&s=1fd2d387d33faea4e694c23ad7e3a6b5" alt="The Make A Payment screen showing accepted bank account types, accepted card networks, and the payment limits for each" width="1600" height="1200" data-path="images/uportal360/payment-make-a-payment.png" />
</Frame>

## We do not take cash

Do not mail cash. If your program offers payment at a retail cash location, that network charges you
its own fee at the counter — it is not a UAS fee and we cannot waive it.

## Saving a method for next time

You can store a card or bank account so you do not have to re-enter it — see
[Managing your saved payment methods](/payments/managing-payment-methods). If you pay by card and
your card is later replaced, [automatic card updates](/autopay/card-updater) may keep it working.