Calculate the exact arrival time of your UK domestic or international bank transfer. Supporting Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT, and SEPA across major banks worldwide.
Select your sending and receiving banks, choose a payment method, and enter the time you're making the transfer.
Three simple steps to find out when your money will arrive.
Choose the bank you're sending money from and the bank that will receive it. We support all major UK high-street and digital banks.
Select whether you're using Faster Payments (instant), BACS (standard 3-day), or CHAPS (same-day high-value) transfer.
Tell us when you're sending the payment and we'll calculate exactly when the funds will arrive in the recipient's account.
Understanding the three main ways to send money between UK bank accounts.
The most commonly used system for online bank transfers. Faster Payments typically deliver funds within seconds, although payments can take up to 2 hours in some cases. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays.
The traditional batch processing system used for direct debits, standing orders, and salary payments. BACS processes payments in a 3-day cycle: submission, processing, and credit. Only processes on working days.
A same-day guaranteed payment system typically used for high-value transactions such as property purchases. Payments are settled individually and irrevocably. Must be initiated before the bank's daily cutoff time.
Our calculator covers all major UK high-street banks and leading digital banks.
Sending money between UK bank accounts is something millions of people do every day. Whether you're paying rent, sending money to family, settling a bill, or buying a car, understanding how long your bank transfer will take is essential for financial planning.
Faster Payments is the UK's most popular electronic payment system, handling over 3 billion transactions per year. When you make a bank transfer through your online banking or mobile app, it's almost certainly going via Faster Payments.
The vast majority of Faster Payments arrive within seconds. However, the official service level agreement allows up to 2 hours. Delays can happen due to:
BACS is the traditional UK payment clearing system and processes payments in a 3 working day cycle. It's the system behind direct debits, employer salary payments, and some standing orders.
The BACS cycle works as follows:
It's important to note that BACS only processes on working days — Monday to Friday, excluding England and Wales bank holidays. If you submit a BACS payment on a Friday, it won't arrive until the following Wednesday.
CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) is designed for high-value, time-sensitive payments. It's most commonly used for property transactions, where solicitors need guaranteed same-day settlement.
Key facts about CHAPS:
UK bank holidays significantly affect BACS and CHAPS processing. On bank holidays, these systems do not operate, which means payments are delayed to the next working day. Faster Payments, however, continues to operate 24/7, including on bank holidays and weekends.
The 2026 UK bank holidays are: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), Early May Bank Holiday (4 May), Spring Bank Holiday (25 May), Summer Bank Holiday (31 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (28 December — substitute day).
Sending money abroad from the UK typically involves either the SWIFT network or SEPA (for European transfers). Our advanced international calculator covers 30+ countries and hundreds of banks worldwide.
SWIFT transfer times vary by destination:
UK banks typically have SWIFT cutoff times between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Transfers sent after cutoff will begin processing on the next working day.
Everything you need to know about UK bank transfers.
It depends on the payment method used. Faster Payments typically arrive within seconds to 2 hours and operate 24/7. BACS transfers take 3 working days (Monday–Friday, excluding bank holidays). CHAPS payments arrive on the same working day if sent before the bank's cutoff time (usually 2:00–3:30 PM). Most online bank transfers in the UK use Faster Payments by default.
Faster Payments operate 24/7, including weekends and bank holidays, so your transfer will still arrive almost instantly. However, BACS and CHAPS only process on working days. If you send a BACS payment on Friday, it won't begin processing until Monday, arriving on Wednesday. CHAPS sent after the cutoff or on non-working days will settle on the next business day.
The Faster Payments system supports individual transactions up to £1,000,000. However, each bank sets its own sending limit for customers. Most personal accounts allow between £10,000 and £25,000 per transaction. Business accounts often have higher limits. Check with your bank for your specific Faster Payments limit — some banks allow you to temporarily increase it for large purchases.
Several factors can delay a bank transfer: fraud checks — your bank may hold the payment for security review, especially for large or first-time payments; incorrect details — wrong sort code or account number; system maintenance — banks occasionally have scheduled downtime; bank holidays/weekends — BACS and CHAPS don't process on non-working days; or the payment exceeded the Faster Payments limit and was rerouted via a slower method. If your Faster Payment hasn't arrived after 2 hours, contact your bank immediately.
Faster Payments is the default for online bank transfers — near-instant, free, available 24/7, up to £1M. BACS is a batch system used for direct debits and payroll — takes 3 working days, very low cost, no upper limit. CHAPS is for guaranteed same-day high-value payments — used for property purchases and urgent large transfers, costs £20–£35, only available on working days before the bank's cutoff time. For everyday transfers, Faster Payments is the best choice.
Faster Payments and CHAPS cannot be reversed once sent — these are irrevocable payments. If you've sent money to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately. Under the "misdirected payments" process, your bank will work with the receiving bank to attempt recovery, but this isn't guaranteed. BACS Direct Debits can be cancelled and are covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee, which gives you a right to a full refund for incorrect payments. Always double-check recipient details before confirming a transfer.
Faster Payments process around the clock — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. BACS operates on a 3-day cycle during working days, with processing happening overnight. Credits typically appear in accounts early morning on Day 3. CHAPS operates from approximately 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on working days, but banks set their own earlier cutoff times for customer instructions (typically 2:00–3:30 PM). Our calculator takes these cutoff times into account for accurate arrival estimates.
International transfer times depend on the destination and method used. SEPA transfers to European countries typically arrive within 1 working day. SWIFT transfers to major corridors (USA, Canada, Australia, EU) usually take 1–4 working days. Transfers to some countries in Asia, Africa, or South America may take 2–5 working days. Factors such as correspondent banks, compliance checks, time zones, and local holidays can affect delivery times. Use our international calculator for estimates specific to your bank and destination.
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a global messaging network used for international wire transfers to virtually any country. It typically takes 1–5 working days and fees range from £5–£40. SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a European system that processes euro-denominated transfers between 36 European countries, usually within 1 working day and at very low cost (often free). If you're sending to a European country, SEPA is usually faster and cheaper than SWIFT.
International transfers are slower because they involve multiple steps: your bank sends the payment instruction via the SWIFT network, which may pass through one or more correspondent (intermediary) banks before reaching the recipient's bank. Each bank in the chain must process the payment, which adds time. Additionally, anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance checks, currency conversion, time zone differences, and local banking hours and holidays in the destination country all contribute to longer processing times compared to domestic UK transfers.