Prepare payroll as usual in your accounting software or spreadsheet. When it's time to pay, upload your file to Apron - we'll extract the details automatically so you can review, choose a payment date, and authorise.
Payroll payments can only be sent to UK bank accounts in GBP.
File formats we accept
CSV files (most common)
Excel files (XLSX)
Text files (TXT)
BACS files
FPS files
Whatever your payroll software exports
If your software doesn't export payment files
Create a simple spreadsheet with the employee's full name, bank sort code (format: 12-34-56), 8-digit account number, payment reference (like 'Salary'), and amount in pounds. Save as CSV and upload.
Example format:
Name | Sort code | Account number | Reference | Amount |
Sarah Jones | 12-34-56 | 00000000 | Salary | 1000.00 |
To make payments
Go to the Payroll section and click on Upload payroll file
Upload your file
Check the extracted details
Pick when people should be paid
Choose your payment method
Authorise
Scheduling payroll
You can schedule payroll payments for future dates:
After uploading your file and reviewing the details, click Continue
Select your payment method
Choose the Delivery date from the calendar
Complete the payment process
Important: Money leaves your account when you authorise (even for future dates). We release payments typically at 1 AM on your chosen date. Payroll payments set for weekends or bank holidays will still be processed as scheduled.
When to pay
To ensure your employees receive their money on time, create and authorise your payment before these deadlines:
Paying by card - money reaches us the next working day, around 2 PM. Create your payment at least two working days before your chosen payment date.
Paying by Open Banking or bank transfer - we usually receive funds instantly, but we recommend sending money at least one day before your payment date to avoid delays.
Payment limits
Maximum £350,000 per payroll batch with no limit on the number of employees. For larger amounts, contact [email protected] or use your bank directly.
Before processing, we flag incorrect account numbers or sort codes, failed name checks, and accounts with previous payment failures. Fix any flagged details before paying.