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Payments

The Accounts Payable department is responsible for generating all University payments to vendors and individuals both foreign and domestic through either electronic payments or live checks.

Once a transaction is fully approved, individuals and vendors set up in NUFinancials to be paid by live check will be included in the payment file sent to Chase Bank that evening. Chase then prints the checks the following business day and sends them directly to the individual or vendor.

A live check held for pick up refers to the process of requesting that a check be picked up from the Accounts Payable department on designated days once individuals are notified so it can be handed to the payee or so an enclosure can be included with the check. These requests should be rare.

The request for a check to be held for pick up causes a delay in getting it to the payee. The check has to be processed by Accounts Payable first, then sent to Chase to print, the check then ships back to Accounts Payable before it can be picked up and delivered to the payee.

There are fast and secure electronic payment options to pay vendors and individuals.  

Electronic Payments:

We strongly recommend that departments and schools encourage vendors and individuals to sign up for one of the following electronic payment options:

Live Checks for Pick Up - Rare:

  • Requests for checks to be held for pick up should be limited and of high importance.
  • Electronic payment options are available to pay vendors and individuals. Schools/departments/units are strongly encouraged to use these options.
  • Schools/departments/units will need to plan accordingly for their check processing needs. Checks may not be available quickly and greater effort needs to be made by having the bank mail checks on our behalf.
  • Once the request is submitted, Accounts Payable needs to review and process the request. Chase prints the check within one or two days after they receive our nightly payment file, sends back to campus for pick up, and delays the payee’s receipt of the check by multiple days.
  • Due to the nature of the check handling, the process to print the checks can take several days longer than electronic payments.
  • In the rare instance that checks must be held for pick up, Accounts Payable will notify individuals when the checks are ready to be picked up on designated days.
    • Checks can be picked up on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1800 Sherman Avenue, 6-600, Evanston, IL 60208 from 8:30a – 4:00p.
    • Individuals can use their Wildcard to enter 1800 Sherman. Call 847-491-8120 upon arrival to the 6th Floor. 
  • If an emergency arises that a check is needed outside the pickup timeframe, please contact procurement@northwestern.edu.

Learn more about generating payments: