Why is my bank transfer taking so long?

Asked by: Keely Kuhn  |  Last update: July 25, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (50 votes)

Why is my bank transfer taking so long? Delays in bank transfers can be caused by factors such as the amount being transferred, bank security checks, or the bank's operational hours when transferring money internationally or during weekends and public holidays.

What's the longest a bank transfer can take?

Your specific bank transfer time will vary depending on a range of factors, including fraud prevention, different currencies, different time zones, and bank holidays/weekends. In general, the bank transfer time will be around one to five working days.

What happens if money is transferred but not received?

If money is transferred but not received, the sender should contact the bank or service used to initiate the transfer to track the transaction. They can also contact the recipient's bank to inquire if the funds have been received.

Why do me bank transfers take so long?

Remember that transfers between banks using BSB and account details can take up to 3 business days depending on when the transfer is made. It can take a little longer when transfers are made late in the day, on weekends and public holidays. You can change your daily transfer limit, up to a maximum of $20,000.

Why do bank transfers take 3 days?

The payment system takes up to three days due to the electronic funds' transfer and formal filing system. The financial institutions process bank account information in batches, leading to a delay in funds transfer.

Why Do Bank Transfers Take So Long?

41 related questions found

Can a bank transfer take longer than 3 days?

It usually takes 1-3 business days to process an IMT, but may take longer depending on the recipient's country and bank.

What is the longest an ACH transfer can take?

ACH transfer times take anywhere from a few hours to three business days, depending on the time of day the payment is initiated and whether same-day processing has been requested.

How can I speed up my bank transfer?

One of the fastest ways to transfer money between bank accounts is with an ACH debit, provided both accounts are linked. To link accounts and set up a transfer, you'll need to know basic details including your routing number and account number.

Why is my transferred money not showing up in my account?

The receiving bank is still processing the money

But some banks are slower than others — they might take up to 1 working day for them to release the money. So your money's safely on its way, but the recipient bank is still processing it. Your recipient can ask their bank to speed this up.

Why are bank transfers so slow today?

But banking hours, weekends, and public holidays are out of our control — so this might slow down the process. If you're sending money over the weekend or before a holiday, it may only get processed the next working day. This is because we work with banks, and can only send money when they're open.

Why haven't I received my bank transfer?

Bank transfers typically arrive in seconds, but they can take up to one working day if the sending bank need to run extra checks. If a payment is taking longer, check that the sender entered the correct account number and sort code. If they were entered incorrectly, the sender can ask their bank to recover the payment.

What delays money transfer?

Why bank transfers might be delayed
  • Weekends and holidays.
  • Paperwork errors.
  • Differences in time zones.
  • Missed bank cut-off times.

Can a bank transfer get lost?

Most "lost" transfers are eventually found and completed, but it's important to get in touch with your bank right away if you suspect there's an issue. For a fast and reliable service when sending money abroad, use Wise.

Why would a bank transfer take so long?

Bank transfers can take longer if you are transferring a large sum of money. The bank will need to verify the amount to prevent risks of fraud. If the amount exceeds instant transfer limits, the bank will need additional approvals which can delay the process.

Can a bank transfer take 2 weeks?

Transfers typically happen quickly. Generally, domestic bank wires are completed in three days, at most. If transfers occur between accounts at the same financial institution, they can take less than 24 hours. Wire transfers via a non-bank money transfer service may happen within minutes.

How do I know if a bank transfer has gone through?

If the payment or transfer you have made left your account immediately you will see the transaction in your list of most recent transactions. If you have scheduled a payment or transfer for a date in the future you will be able to check online that it has been created successfully.

What if I have transferred money but not received it?

Money was wired from my account to another party, but that party did not receive the money. What can I do? If the bank initiated the transfer, notify the bank immediately so that it can investigate your claim. If you first contact the bank by phone, it is a good practice to follow up in writing.

How do I know if my balance transfer went through?

A balance transfer typically takes between two days and six weeks to complete but depends on the credit card issuer and their process. To check the status of your balance transfer, you may be able to log into your account and look to see if your balance has increased by your transfer amount.

Can bank transfers be traced?

You can request a trace on the transfer, and your bank will be able to tell you whether the money has been deposited into the recipient's account².

How long does a bank transfer take between different banks?

Payments will generally be received the same day they were sent as banks will exchange payments throughout the day. This will occur at least every hour from 9am to midnight, every day including weekends and public holidays.

How can I speed up my transfer process?

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to improve transfer speeds.
  1. Close Some Running Apps. ...
  2. Set Your USB Drive to the Better Performance Option. ...
  3. Change the File System. ...
  4. Disable USB Selective Suspend. ...
  5. Disable Legacy Mode in BIOS. ...
  6. Upgrade to USB 3.0. ...
  7. Replace an Old Drive With a New One.

Can I withdraw 100k from my bank?

For a standard depository account, there are no laws or legal limits to how much cash you can withdraw. Withdrawal limits are set by the banks themselves and differ across institutions.

Why is my ACH transfer taking so long?

Because ACH transfers are processed in batches, direct ACH payments typically take one to three business days to appear in the recipient's account—longer than it generally takes to process wire transfers, credit card transactions, and ATM transactions. No international payments.

What time do bank transfers go through?

8:00 p.m. ET for next-business-day or 3-business-day transfer. Funds will be received by the recipient's bank either the next business day or within 3 business days. 5:00 p.m. ET for same-business-day (wire) transfer. Funds will be received by the recipient's bank on the same business day.

Why do banks take so long to process payments?

Processing Time: Different payment methods and networks have varying processing times, influenced by factors such as weekends, holidays, and the specific merchant. Deposit Waiting Periods: Deposits, especially checks or ACH payments, can also appear as pending while your bank verifies the funds.