How do I set up direct deposit payouts?

Edited

Column pays publishers via direct deposit. Payouts are initiated once a notice completes its lifecycle, meaning the invoice has been paid and the affidavit uploaded. Read more about payout schedules here: When Will I Be Paid

You must create an account via Stripe Connect to set up direct deposits:

How to set up direct deposits

  1. Log in to Column.

  2. Go to My Organization Settings> Payment Settings.

  3. Click "Get Paid Via Direct Deposit."

  4. You'll get redirected to Stripe's registration page to create a new Stripe Connect account. Complete all required details about your organization. When asked for a phone number, we recommend using your mobile phone number, as you'll need this number for account verification in the future.

  5. Once you're done registering, you will be redirected back to Column. If you need to view or edit your Stripe Connect account details, click "Update Account" to open the Stripe portal. Here, you'll need to ensure you have access to the phone you used to register with Stripe because you'll receive a 6-digit authorization code to that phone to access your account.

Can I use my own Stripe account if I already have one?

No. We need to connect you to our Stripe Marketplace. If you already have a Stripe account connected to a different marketplace, that is unique, and we can’t use the same one. However, you can still set up a new account using another email!

What if I've already set up direct deposits but need to create a new account?

Contact your Column Customer Success Manager. We can help you set up and link a new Stripe Connect account!

How can I set up multiple newspapers to receive payments to the same bank?

Start by setting up one paper for direct deposit using the steps described above. Then, contact your Customer Success Manager, and we can link your Stripe account to all papers where you need to share banking information.

Why must I provide my SSN and/or Business EIN to set up direct deposits?

Our payment processor, Stripe, requires an SSN to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, a standard due diligence process used by financial institutions and other financial services companies to verify a customer's identity. If you are registering your newspaper business, you will also need proof of your Business Tax ID (EIN).

Stripe is a universally accepted financial services and SaaS (Software as a Service) company used by small, mid-sized, and large enterprises for payment processing. It's the industry standard to pay our partners quickly and provide overall transparency regarding the continuous transfers of payments.

KYC protocols help us ensure that payments on our platform are 100% secure. Often, this step is completed by an officer of the corporation. This standard procedure is completed by hundreds of newspapers using the Column platform. For more information regarding these requirements, please see this article: Why do I need to share personal information to receive payments from Column?