> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fintoc.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Alternative payment methods

> Use the Checkout Session API to accept payments with alternative methods.

Alternative payment methods are non-card payment buttons that route your customer to the institution's own checkout. This page covers the methods Fintoc supports in Chile and their limits. For the underlying flow, see [Checkout Sessions](/api/payments-api/checkout-sessions).

## Prerequisites

Fintoc supports two integration models:

* **Fintoc Collects:** Fintoc holds the credentials and settles funds into a pooled account. You do not need your own agreement.
* **Direct:** You hold the agreement and settle into your own account. Contact the Fintoc team to register your credentials.

Use Direct when you already have an agreement with one of the institutions below or need funds in your own account.

## Orchestration

Fintoc's orchestration engine selects the payment method at runtime based on your customer's institution and the payment amount. When your customer selects bank transfer, the engine first attempts a standard bank transfer through that institution. If the amount exceeds the institution's transaction limit, the engine routes your customer to the institution's alternative payment method instead. Your customer completes the payment in the institution's own checkout.

This fallback runs automatically once you register your credentials. Each supported method appears as a button in your checkout. Fintoc routes your customer to the applicable payment method based on the amount and the institution. See [Transaction limits](/guides/payments/overview-payment-initiation/transaction-limits) for the per-institution caps that trigger the redirect.

## Available methods and limits

Fintoc supports the following Chilean institutions:

| Institution     | Institution ID       | Maximum payment amount (CLP) |
| :-------------- | :------------------- | ---------------------------: |
| Banco Estado    | `cl_banco_estado`    |                 \$15.000.000 |
| Banco Santander | `cl_banco_santander` |                 \$15.000.000 |
| Banco de Chile  | `cl_banco_de_chile`  |                 \$15.000.000 |
| Mach            | `cl_mach`            |                  \$3.500.000 |

Banks apply first-transfer caps when your customer pays a new recipient. The orchestration engine uses this limit when choosing the payment method. The table below shows example outcomes:

| Your customer's institution | New recipient? | Payment amount (CLP) | Outcome                                                                      |
| :-------------------------- | :------------: | -------------------: | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Banco Estado                |       Yes      |             \$50.000 | Fintoc uses a standard bank transfer.                                        |
| Banco Estado                |       Yes      |            \$500.000 | Fintoc redirects your customer to Banco Estado's alternative payment method. |
| Banco Estado                |       No       |            \$500.000 | Fintoc uses a standard bank transfer.                                        |
| Banco Estado                |       No       |          \$8.000.000 | Fintoc redirects your customer to Banco Estado's alternative payment method. |
| Banco Estado                |       Any      |         \$20.000.000 | The payment fails because the amount exceeds the supported maximum.          |
| Mach                        |       Any      |            \$200.000 | Fintoc redirects your customer to Mach's alternative payment method.         |

<br />

## Refunding alternative payment methods

Your customer authorizes these payments through the institution's own checkout, so Fintoc never receives your customer's bank account details. To refund a payment made through one of these methods, collect the destination account from your customer. Submit the refund from the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.fintoc.com), or pass `recipient_account` when you [create the refund](/api/payments-api/refunds/refunds-create) via API.

Refunds are available for Banco Estado, Banco de Chile, and Banco Santander.

The `recipient_account` object contains your customer's bank details: `holder_id`, `holder_name`, `number`, `type`, and `institution_id`. `holder_id` must be a valid Chilean tax ID. `type` must be `checking_account` or `sight_account`. See [Create refund](/api/payments-api/refunds/refunds-create) for the full object structure and the [Refund payments](/guides/payments/fintoc-collect-payments/payment-initiation-refunds) guide for the end-to-end flow.

### Security policies

Fintoc's security policies can block refunds with a custom `recipient_account` before disbursement. If Fintoc blocks a refund, you receive a `refund.failed` webhook with `failure_code` set to `fraud_risk`. Fintoc does not transfer funds or notify your customer. Blocked refunds do not consume the payment's refundable balance, so you can issue another refund on the same payment.