My customer paid an invoice by bank transfer using a link that was in the email with the invoice. how long does it take to see this $ arrive in my bank account?

It's completely understandable to expect the funds to show up in your bank account right after receiving a "payment received" email and seeing the invoice marked as PAID in QuickBooks, JL. Let me discuss the typical timeframe for customer payments to be deposited into your account.

Firstly, it's important to note that for the first payment, QuickBooks deposits your funds within five business days. This can be slightly longer as we complete the setup of your merchant account. Once this is finalized, the next payments are deposited faster, usually within two business days.

Moreover, since you mentioned that the customer paid by bank transfer, please know that bank transfers require separate enrolment. After you are enrolled, payments are typically deposited within 3 to 4 business days.

Additionally, you can check on the status of funds you're expecting at any time using the QuickBooks Digital Assistant.

Finally, I've added this resource to help you modify your deposit bank account for QuickBooks Payments. Whether you're switching banks or simply need to correct an existing setup, this article will assist you in making the necessary changes with ease: Change the deposit bank account.

If you have other questions about handling funds in QuickBooks Online, click the Reply button below. We're always here to assist you.

Can you please confirm how I am supposed to enrol in this bank transfer payment ?

I think it’s dumb that it offered it as an option to pay if I’m not even enrolled. 

To sign up for bank payments, you must have QuickBooks Payments already configured, JL458902. Let me explain the process further.

Once you’ve set up QuickBooks Payments, log in to your QuickBooks Online account to enroll for bank payments. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Gear icon at the top.
2. Choose Account and settings.
3. In the left menu, click Payments.
4. From there, you'll find the option to enroll in bank payments.
5. Follow the on-screen steps.

For more details about the bank payments feature, check out this article: Bank Payments: Frequently asked questions for Merchants.

Once everything is set up, you’re ready to accept payments. For further information on how to apply for and send bank payment requests, read this article: Accept bank payments in QuickBooks Online.

If you have questions about when QuickBooks Payments deposits your money, please let us know in this thread.