Automatic Payments On Shabbos

Question:

Hi,

Am I allowed to set up automatic payments to be withdrawn from my bank account on shabbos to pay bills and the like? Please provide sources for all answers. Thank you.

Answer:

It is permitted as long as no one is doing any action of melacha. The mishna in Shabbos 17b states that one may set a trap before shabbos even if it will eventually trap an animal on shabbos because we are not commanded in shvisas keilim. The poskim say that doing these transactions and setting it up before shabbos is therefore permitted.

Sources:

O:CH 252-1, MIshne Halachos 10-51, Rivivos Efrayim 1-255, Piskei Teshuvos 252-2.