What is Bulk payee upload?
Bulk payee upload creates multiple payees, or adds a new payment method to existing payees, from one CSV or Excel file. Instead of entering each vendor, contractor, or other payee one at a time, you upload a file with their details and review the results.
This is especially useful if you're migrating a long vendor list from QuickBooks Online, Xero, or another bank into Relay, or if you're an accountant or bookkeeper setting up payees for a client.
FYI: If you're on the Grow Plan or Scale Plan and your vendors already live in QuickBooks Online or Xero, you can import them through Relay Bill Pay. Connect your accounting software and enable "Import vendors" in the integration settings. See How to Connect Relay With QuickBooks Online for Bill Pay or How to Integrate Xero With Relay for Bill Pay.
What files can I upload?
Relay accepts .csv, .xls, and .xlsx files. Only the first sheet is processed. Each file can contain up to 500 rows and 20 columns and must be 5 MB or smaller. You can submit one upload at a time per organization.
What information is required for each payee?
Every payee needs:
Recipient name
Payment method: ACH or domestic wire
Account type: Personal or Business
Account number
Routing number
ACH payees also need an account class: Checking or Savings.
Domestic wire payees also need a phone number, street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
Nickname, email, default memo, and suite or unit are optional. If you leave the nickname blank, Relay uses the recipient name.
Confirm account and routing numbers with each payee directly before uploading. Relay creates or updates payees using the details in your file.
The optional upload template is available through "Download template" in the "Import payees" window. It uses these column headers: nickname, recipientName, paymentMethod, accountNumber, routingNumber, accountType, accountClass, email, defaultMemo, recipientStreet, recipientSuite, recipientCity, recipientState, recipientPostalCode, and recipientPhone.
How do I bulk upload payees?
To bulk upload payees on the web:
Sign in to your Relay account on the web.
Go to the "Payments" tab, then select the "Payees" tab from the Payments dashboard.
Select the "Import payees" card on the Payees page.
Optional: Select "Download template" if you'd like to use Relay's template, and fill it in. You can also use your own spreadsheet.
Select "Upload from your computer" to choose your CSV or Excel file, or drag and drop it into the upload area.
Wait for Relay to process your file. Relay uses AI to match the file's values to the right columns.
Review the payees and their details in the preview before creating them.
Select the trash icon on any row you want to exclude. Excluded payees won't be created.
Select "Create payees".
Relay returns you to the Payees tab with the list sorted by "Last edited", so your imported payees appear at the top.
TIP: You can exclude rows during the preview and correct failed rows using the downloadable CSV Relay provides.
What happens if some payees can't be uploaded?
If required columns cannot be matched, the upload fails. Fix the column headers and upload the file again.
Payees that fail validation are grouped into a separate CSV file you can download, with a failure reason for each row.
To finish uploading them:
Download the CSV of payees that couldn't be created.
Fix each row using the reason provided.
Upload the corrected file again.
How does Relay handle existing payees?
Relay compares the payee name and payment method:
Same payee name and same payment method: Relay skips the row.
Same payee name and a new payment method: Relay adds the new payment method to the existing payee.
Things to Know
Bulk payee upload supports ACH and domestic wire payees. International wire and check payees must be added individually (see How to Add or Archive a Payee in Relay).
Bulk payee upload is available on the web only. It isn't available in the Relay mobile app.
Limits per file: 5 MB, 20 columns, and 500 rows.
Submission limits: one upload at a time per organization, 15 uploads per user per hour, and 30 per organization per hour.
Bulk payee upload does not apply smart tags to imported payees.
HEADS UP: Relay creates or updates payees using the details in your file. Double-check account and routing numbers with your payees before you upload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bulk upload international wire or check payees?
No. Bulk payee upload supports ACH and domestic wire payees only. Add international wire and check payees individually — see How to Add or Archive a Payee in Relay.
Can I bulk upload payees from the Relay mobile app?
No. Bulk payee upload is available on the web only. You can still add payees one at a time from the mobile app.
What if I don't have a payee's account details?
Add the payee individually with their email address, and Relay can request their payment details from them directly. See How to Request Payment Information From Payees in Relay.
Is Bulk payee upload the same as the Bulk Actions Toolbar?
No. The Bulk Actions Toolbar lets you act on multiple bills at once in Bill Pay — it doesn't create payees. Bulk payee upload creates or updates payees from a file. See What Is the Bulk Actions Toolbar in Relay Bill Pay?
Can I sync payees from QuickBooks Online or Xero instead?
Yes, on the Grow Plan or Scale Plan. If your vendors are already in QuickBooks Online or Xero, connect your accounting software to Relay Bill Pay and enable "Import vendors" in the integration settings to bring them into Relay without a spreadsheet. See How to Connect Relay With QuickBooks Online for Bill Pay or How to Integrate Xero With Relay for Bill Pay.
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