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Using Bulk & BACS Payments

How to pay multiple payees at once using a bulk template, a BACS 18 file, or a manual batch

The Bulk & BACS Payments section in Calmony lets you pay several payees in one transaction, instead of processing individual Fast Payments one at a time. There are three ways to create a batch:

1. Download Bulk Template
Downloads a blank spreadsheet with the fields Calmony needs to process a payment run:

  • Account Name
  • Account Number
  • Sort Code
  • Payment Reference
  • Amount
  • Optional: person type and contact details

Fill this in with all payees and amounts, then upload it back in.

2. Upload Calmony / Standard BACS 18 File
Use this if you already have a completed bulk template, or a standard BACS 18-format file exported from your accounting or CRM software. Once uploaded, Calmony converts the file into a batch of individual Faster Payments that can be authorised together in one step.

3. Manual Bulk Payment
Lets you build a payment batch line by line inside Calmony, without uploading a file - useful for one-off or ad hoc runs.

Note: This is different from a Fast Payment. A Fast Payment is made from an individual payee's record (Actions → Make Fast Payment) and sends one payment to one payee, authorised with its own authenticator code each time. Manual Bulk Payment, by contrast, lets you add multiple payees as separate lines in a single batch, which is then authorised together with one authenticator code. Use Fast Payment for a single, one-off payment; use Manual Bulk Payment when you're paying several payees at once but don't have a file to upload.

Reviewing a batch
After upload (or manual entry), the batch appears as a payment list showing:

  • Payee
  • Account name
  • Statement reference
  • State
  • Paid at
  • Can pay
  • Amount

You can add or edit rows here before authorising.

Payment status

  • 🟢 Green – payment complete
  • 🔴 Red – payment failed (click the arrow next to the payment to see the failure reason)

Common failure reasons: incorrect bank details, special account requirements, or exceeding a payment limit.

Limits and processing

  • Payments are subject to available cleared funds.
  • Default limits: £50,000 per payment, £100,000 per day (Calmony can review these on request).
  • Payments process in order of submission once funds are available.
  • You'll need your authenticator code to authorise the batch - your login code alone won't work.

Troubleshooting

  • Double-check exact name formatting on payments.
  • Confirm the reference is within the character limit.
  • Verify bank details before submitting.
  • For payment investigations, contact support@calmony.co (response within 1 working day).