In the same way that technology has had an impact on the way we live and work, so it has changed the way in which we make payments. Increasingly, we are choosing to use automated payments rather than paper-based payments such as cheques and bankers' drafts.

In 2004 there were a record 4.8 billion automated payments (4.5 billion of those were processed by BACS). 93% of automated payments are bulk transactions generated by organisations and businesses both large and small and are:

• direct debits, used mainly to pay utility bills, life and general insurance premiums and various subscriptions;
• direct credits, used mainly for salary payments, pensions, annuities and child benefit.

The remaining 7% is made up of inter-bank telephone and online banking payments and standing order payments.

Click on the links below to find out more about the five main automated payment methods: