Payment processing platform Dwolla
Dwolla what is it
Dwolla is a payment processing platform that allows businesses and individuals to send and receive money online. It offers a variety of features, including ACH transfers, recurring payments, and mass payouts.
Dwolla also provides a suite of APIs that developers can use to integrate the platform into their own applications. The company is based in Des Moines, Iowa and it operates a real-time, peer-to-peer payments network.
Dwolla was founded in 2008 by Ben Milne, an entrepreneur from Iowa. The company began as a payment platform for small businesses, and quickly gained popularity as an alternative to traditional payment methods such as credit cards and PayPal.
In 2010, Dwolla launched its API, allowing developers to integrate the platform into their own applications. The company also began to focus on serving the banking and financial services industries.
In 2011, Dwolla announced a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City to test a real-time, peer-to-peer payments network. The partnership was part of a larger effort by the Federal Reserve to modernize the US payment system.
By 2012, Dwolla had grown to become one of the largest payment processors in the United States, with over 200,000 users and 20,000 merchants. The company also raised $16.5 million in venture capital funding.
In 2013, Dwolla released a new version of its platform, which included a mobile app and a feature for instant bank transfers.
In 2016, Dwolla announced a partnership with several large banks, including Wells Fargo and US Bank, to expand its reach.
Dwolla continues to innovate and improve its platform to provide better and faster payment experience to its users and merchants.
As of 2023, Dwolla is still in operation and continues to provide a payment processing platform and APIs to businesses and individuals.
How Dwolla works
Dwolla allows users to send and receive money online through its platform. The process of sending and receiving money with Dwolla is relatively simple.
Sending money:
- A user signs up for a Dwolla account and verifies their identity by linking it to their bank account.
- The user can then initiate a payment by entering the recipient’s email address or mobile phone number.
- The user confirms the payment amount and initiates the transfer.
- The money is transferred from the sender’s bank account to the recipient’s bank account.
Receiving money:
- A user signs up for a Dwolla account and verifies their identity by linking it to their bank account.
- Someone sends the user money using the recipient’s email address or mobile phone number.
- The user will receive an email or text message notification that they have received a payment.
- The money is transferred from the sender’s bank account to the recipient’s bank account.
Dwolla uses Automated Clearing House (ACH) to transfer money, which is a type of electronic funds transfer (EFT) used by financial institutions in the United States. ACH transactions typically take 1-2 business days to clear, but Dwolla’s instant bank transfer feature allows for near-real-time transfer of funds.
Dwolla also offers a suite of APIs that developers can use to integrate the platform into their own applications, allowing for more seamless and automated transactions.
Additionally, Dwolla offers a variety of features such as recurring payments, mass payouts and it operates a real-time, peer-to-peer payments network.

Can Dwolla be trusted
Dwolla is a legitimate and reputable payment processing platform. The company is registered with the U.S. Department of Treasury as a money services business and is required to comply with federal and state regulations related to money transfers. Dwolla also uses bank-grade security to protect user’s personal and financial information.
However, as with any online financial service, it’s important to be cautious and protect your personal and financial information. It’s a good idea to review Dwolla’s terms of service and privacy policy before signing up, and to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity on your account. Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you only provide your personal and financial information to Dwolla, and not to any third party purporting to be affiliated with the company.
In general, it can be said that Dwolla is a trusted and secure payment processing platform that has been in the market for a long time and is providing its services to many customers and merchants.
Does Dwolla charge a fee
Dwolla charges a fee for certain types of transactions and for certain business plans. The specifics of the fee structure depend on the type of account and usage.
For personal accounts, Dwolla charges no monthly or annual fees, and transactions under $10 are free. Transactions above $10 are charged a flat fee of $0.25.
For businesses, Dwolla offers different pricing plans with different fees. The “Standard” plan is free and includes free transactions under $10, and a $0.25 fee for transactions above $10.
The “Pro” plan costs $25 per month and includes free transactions under $5,000 and a $0.25 fee for transactions above $5,000. The “Enterprise” plan is tailored to businesses with high-volume transactions and is based on a custom quote.
Dwolla also charges a $30 fee for ACH returns, which occur when a bank returns a transaction because of insufficient funds or other issues.
It is important to review the fees associated with Dwolla’s different plans and usage before signing up for an account.
What bank does Dwolla use
Dwolla uses the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to transfer funds between bank accounts. ACH is a type of electronic funds transfer (EFT) used by financial institutions in the United States.
Dwolla uses the ACH network to transfer money between users’ bank accounts, which means that when a user initiates a payment through Dwolla, the money is transferred directly from the sender’s bank account to the recipient’s bank account. Dwolla does not hold any money, it just facilitates the transfer of funds between the bank accounts.
Dwolla does not have any direct banking relationship, but it partners with several banks to expand its reach, for instance in 2016 Dwolla announced a partnership with several large banks, including Wells Fargo and US Bank.
It is important to note that the bank where you have your account may have specific rules and restrictions regarding the use of ACH and Dwolla, so it’s advisable to check with your bank before signing up for an account.
Can I exchange currency using Dwolla
Dwolla does not currently offer a currency exchange service. Dwolla is a payment processing platform that allows users to send and receive money online in U.S. dollars.
It uses the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to transfer funds between bank accounts. While Dwolla does not offer a currency exchange service, if the sender and the recipient have bank accounts in different countries, the bank may charge a foreign exchange rate for the transfer, but Dwolla does not provide this service.
If you need to exchange currency, you can use a foreign exchange service provider like a bank, an online currency exchange platform or a currency exchange bureau. These providers will typically charge a fee for the service, and the exchange rate they offer may be different from the official interbank rate.
It is important to shop around and compare exchange rates and fees before using a currency exchange service to make sure you’re getting the best deal.