Payment descriptors
A payment descriptor is the text that appears on a bank statement for a transaction. For Pay Out, descriptors help both the paypoint and the vendor recognize what a payment was for when they review their bank activity. Instead of a generic label, a descriptor can name the vendor, list the bills a payment covers, or show the transaction amount.
Payabli builds descriptors from a template. You combine static text with dynamic placeholders, and Payabli replaces each placeholder with the real transaction data when the payment processes. For example, the template Debit for {{VendorName1}} for bill(s): {{BillNumberList}} might render as Debit for Acme Supplies for bill(s): 1043, 1044.
Payabli sets up descriptors for you, per paypoint. Every paypoint starts with a set of default descriptors, and you can request custom templates by working with your Payabli representative.
Custom payment descriptors are available for on-demand payables.
Descriptor contexts
A payout has two sides: Payabli debits the paypoint to fund the payment, then credits the vendor. Each side has its own descriptor.
Payabli applies these defaults when a paypoint is created. You can request custom templates for a paypoint.
Available placeholders
Use these placeholders in a descriptor template. Payabli replaces each one with the corresponding value when the payment processes.
A descriptor template must include at least one placeholder. You can mix static text with more than one placeholder in a single template.
Configuring descriptors
When you request custom descriptors from the Payabli team, you can:
- Apply one funding descriptor across all payout methods, or use a separate descriptor for each method (for example, a different template for ACH and virtual card payouts).
- Set the vendor credit descriptor for ACH payments to vendors.
Each descriptor is specific to its context: funding descriptors control the debit to the paypoint, and vendor descriptors control the credit to the vendor. You can’t use a funding descriptor as a vendor descriptor, or the reverse.
Related resources
See these related resources to help you get the most out of Payabli.