Now when you join up or renew your membership using the website, you have the options of paying by credit card directly.  The credit card link, which gives you a choice of the $35 single membership  ($25 for PDF option) or the $50 family ($40 PDF option) one links you to a simple screen that takes down your credit card information and some verification information.  What happens behind the scene is that a PayPal account  is created for you on their website www.paypal.com.  PayPal is an incredibly versatile, easy way to pay for all sorts of goods and services over the Web.  It is becoming more and more universally accepted payment option.  You can link it to a checking account to automatically withdraw funds to pay other PayPal account members.  You can also accept payments for eBay and other items you sell over the Web.  See www.paypal.com for more information on the type of accounts and charges.  I believe to accept web payments you need to set up a business  account which charges a small transaction fee and a reasonable percentage for every transaction where money is accepted by you.  Note: this is only if you are the Seller . Paying for AOTC membership is no-charge to the applicant (we pay the fees).  If you choose to leave the money in your PayPal account and not disburse it to your checking account, PayPal pays the account holder a small money market dividend to leave the money in your account. 

Note: as a casual user who pays bills online, you need not worry about any charges, account types, etc. as it is all free and transparent to the payee.