How long can a bank hold a direct deposit?

Asked by: Keira Walker  |  Last update: February 26, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (59 votes)

Banks are required to make direct-deposit funds available for withdrawal not later than the business day after the banking day on which the bank received the electronic payment. For instance, funds direct deposited on a regular, non-holiday Monday would be available by Tuesday.

What is the longest a bank can hold a deposit?

An extension of up to five business days for most checks. An extension of one business day for checks that are drawn on, and deposited into, the same bank. An extension of up to six business days for funds deposited into an automated teller machine (ATM) not owned by the bank.

What is the longest a direct deposit can take?

The Direct Deposit Timeline

The exact timeline for direct deposit can vary depending on several factors, including your employer's payroll processing practices, the financial institutions involved, and even the day of the week. Typically, the processing time can range from one to three business days.

Can a bank hold a deposit for 10 days?

A "reasonable" period of time can range from two business days to up to six business days. A hold can also be placed if a bank has reasonable cause to doubt the collectability of the check. The portion of a deposited check that exceeds $5,525 can be held for two to five business days.

How long can a bank legally put a hold on your money?

Deposits to your checking account may be subject to holds, which restrict your access to the funds, typically lasting up to seven business days for certain circumstances. Federal laws regulate deposit holds, with most deposits being available within one or two business days.

3 Ways To Fake A Direct Deposit

29 related questions found

How long can a bank hold your money for?

How long can a bank freeze your account for suspicious activity? It is most likely to be resolved within a couple of weeks. However, if the NCA are investigating you may not hear anything for up to 42 days. After the expiry of that period the Bank must normally release the bank account unless there is a court order.

Can I sue a bank for holding funds?

If the bank will not release funds that are legally yours, you might have a valid legal claim. An attorney can help you understand your rights and responsibilities if your funds are being withheld.

How long can a bank hold an electronic deposit?

Funds deposited electronically or by cash are generally available by the business day after the banking day they were deposited.

Is it legal for a bank to hold your money from you?

Yes. Your bank may hold the funds according to its funds availability policy. Or it may have placed an exception hold on the deposit. If the bank has placed a hold on the deposit, the bank generally should provide you with written notice of the hold.

How long can my deposit be held?

When you leave, if you and your landlord or agent both agree on how much of the deposit you should get back, you should get it back within ten days of agreeing. If your deposit was held in a custodial scheme, you will also receive some interest on the deposit.

Can a bank hold a payroll direct deposit?

Yes. Your bank may hold the funds according to its funds availability policy. Or it may have placed an exception hold on the deposit.

Why haven't I gotten my direct deposit yet?

Reasons your direct deposit hasn't hit

That said, if you haven't received your direct deposit, it could be for several reasons: Your employer entered an incorrect date when processing your payroll. Processing is taking longer than usual due to holidays (payday falling on a bank holiday often delays direct deposits).

How long can a bank hold a direct deposit if the account is closed?

Direct Deposit Will Be Returned to the Sender

In many cases when someone tries to send money to a closed bank account, the bank will simply return the funds to the sender or decline the transaction. It can take about five to 10 days for funds to be returned to the sender.

Why is my deposit hold so long?

Here are common reasons a bank may hold a check longer than two business days: New customers: Banks are more likely to place holds on check deposits from new customers with accounts less than 30 days old than from customers with whom they've developed a long and trusted relationship.

Can I ask my bank to release funds early?

Some banks or credit unions may make funds available more quickly than the law requires, and some may expedite funds availability for a fee. If you need the money from a particular check, you can ask the teller when the funds will become available.

How long can a bank hold an ACH deposit?

Banks put ACH holds on accounts to verify funds availability before approving transactions. ACH holds can last up to 24 to 48 hours and are typically processed in batches throughout the day.

What to do when a bank won't release your money?

If a bank thinks your account might be at risk for fraud or someone stealing your money, they're allowed to flag the account and take reasonable steps to protect your money. BUT – they can't just lock you out forever. If you tell them to give you your money back and they won't, EFTA may let you sue.

What is the $225 rule?

A detailed explanation can be found in section 229.12 of Regulation CC. But remember, the Expedited Funds Availability Act requires the first $225 of a deposit that is not already subject to next-day availability to be made available by the first business day following the day of deposit.

What is the $450 rule?

If it does, a customer must also be allowed to withdraw $450 of the deposited funds (or the maximum amount that may be withdrawn from an ATM, but not more than $450) no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day the funds would have ordinarily become available for check withdrawals, that is, the second business day after the ...

How to get a bank to release funds?

Contact Your Bank

If deposited funds are being held for a longer period than you expected, it's a good idea to call, email or stop by a branch of your bank to ask about specifics of its hold policy. You can ask your bank to provide an explanation for the hold or sometimes even to release the hold.

How long can a bank keep your money on hold?

The Federal Reserve says that a "reasonable" extended hold generally means one additional business day (total of two business days) for a bank's own checks and five additional business days (total of seven) for most other checks.

Can I withdraw $20,000 from a bank?

Often, banks will let you withdraw up to $20,000 per day in person (where they can confirm your identity). Daily withdrawal limits at ATMs tend to be much lower, generally ranging from $300 to $1,000.

Can I sue if my bank won't release my money?

Banks owe you a duty to only give out funds that you authorize, and to only give out funds in the manner that you instruct them. As a consumer, you are entitled to file a lawsuit against any bank, credit union or other creditor who violates your rights under the EFTA.

Can a bank legally withhold your money?

A federal law, the Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFA), or Regulation CC, provides exceptions that allow banks to delay or "hold" funds deposited by check for an extended period of time. When this happens, you must be given a notice stating the reason for the hold and when your funds are available for withdrawal.

What is an example of bank negligence?

Banking related negligence can include when a bank refused to refund money to a client following a bank account error, a bank sold you an unsuitable financial product or made mistakes leading to financial loss when you attempted to transfer money.