By Adam Klappholz, Zelle Head of Product
Banks and credit unions offering Zelle for small business account holders are rolling out a new feature: the ability to create a small business Zelle tag. By the end of the year, many small businesses will be able to claim a custom handle (e.g., "brooklynbarbeque") that drops customer payments straight into the business’s eligible bank or credit union account — no email address or U.S. mobile number needed.
We built Zelle tag so it integrates seamlessly within the Zelle ecosystem, focusing on delivering the feature so it meets the reliable and differentiated experience we bring to the payments industry. Small businesses count on Zelle for fast, reliable cash flow because payments move from one U.S bank account to another. We wanted to preserve that standard with Zelle tag, ensuring it serves as a custom digital “open for business” sign while still delivering the speed, reliability and quick cashflow visibility that small business owners rely on.
And because the world doesn’t need another “_shop-1234” username, we put together a quick guide to help businesses claim a tag that stands out for all the right reasons.
The Rule-of-Three Guide to Tag Glory
- Spell-Check Like Rent Depends on It
Typos send customers on a scavenger hunt. Clear tags mean more payments because it’s easier to type. The money gets to the right place and reduces the opportunities for imposters.
- Skip the Random Numbers and Keep it Simple
Random strings of numbers at the end of a handle look spammy. “Jims-Deli-Longbeach” is a lot better than "Jimsdeli27463728". You also want to make it as easy as possible for customers to type the handle, so they don’t mistype and send payments to "Sm00thie-Bow3ls" instead of the right tag, "Smoothie-Bowls".
- Make It Personal, but Professional
A tag is a tiny billboard. Sprinkle personality and make it memorable but leave the seven exclamation marks to your teen cousin’s gamer handle.
Claiming a Tag
Once a bank or credit union enables Zelle tag small businesses using Zelle can:
- Open their banking app and navigate to Zelle.
- Choose “Create a Zelle Tag” and choose their Zelle tag handle.
- Save it, share it and start getting paid.
Fine Print Actually Worth Reading
- Not all financial institutions offer Zelle for small businesses, so you should double check yours does.
- A tag can be six to 40 characters.
- Letters, numbers, and hyphens are fair game, but no other special characters or spaces.
- Tags aren’t case sensitive.
Also, if you are a consumer sending to a Zelle tag, make sure it is typed correctly, and when sending money to someone new, it’s always important to confirm the recipient is correct by reviewing the contact name that is displayed before sending money.
Nearly seven million small businesses are enrolled to use Zelle, and payments to those small businesses have grown threefold over the past three years. From covering expenses to paying contractors to accepting customer payments, Zelle gives business owners better access to cash and keeps money moving. It’s a network built for consistency and speed, and it’s become an everyday essential for small businesses nationwide.