How Long Do Bank Transfers Take? Payment Clearing Times
How long a payment takes depends entirely on how it's sent. A Faster Payment lands in seconds; a BACS payment takes three working days; CHAPS is same-day.
Pick the payment type and the day it's sent below, and we'll tell you when the money should arrive — allowing for weekends and bank holidays.
⏱️ When will my payment clear?
Faster Payments are usually instant (and available within 2 hours at most), 24/7 — including weekends and bank holidays. Occasionally a first payment to a new payee is held briefly for security.
A guide based on how the UK payment schemes normally work, using England & Wales bank holidays. Your bank’s cut-off times and security checks can shift the exact timing — check your banking app for a specific payment.
The main ways money moves in the UK
Faster Payments — seconds, 24/7
Most everyday transfers between UK banks use Faster Payments. They're usually instant, available within two hours at the very most, and run around the clock — weekends and bank holidays included. There's a limit per payment (banks set their own, often £25,000+), and a brand-new payee can occasionally be held briefly for security.
CHAPS — same working day
CHAPS is used for big, time-critical payments — most often the money for a house purchase. Send it before your bank's cut-off (usually early-to-mid afternoon) on a working day and it arrives the same day. It doesn't run on weekends or bank holidays, and there's normally a fee.
BACS — three working days
BACS runs a three-working-day cycle: submitted on day one, processed on day two, paid on day three. It's the workhorse behind salaries, benefits and Direct Debits. Because it only runs on working days, a weekend or bank holiday pushes everything back.
Standing orders
A standing order is a regular payment you set up yourself. It's sent by Faster Payments on its date, so it arrives the same day. If the date falls on a weekend or holiday, banks differ — some send the working day before, some the working day after.
Cheques — about two working days
Under the current cheque-clearing model, money paid in by cheque is usually available to withdraw by the next working day, and it's guaranteed — it can't bounce — by the end of the second working day.
Why weekends and bank holidays matter
Faster Payments ignore them, but BACS, CHAPS and cheque clearing only happen on working days. So a payment sent on a Friday afternoon, or the day before a bank holiday, can take noticeably longer to land. Check whether the day is a working one with our Are banks open today? tool.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bank transfer take between different banks?
Between UK banks, a normal transfer uses Faster Payments and is usually instant — available within two hours at most, any day of the week.
How long does a BACS payment take?
BACS takes three working days from start to finish. Weekends and bank holidays don't count, so timing can stretch around them.
How long does CHAPS take?
CHAPS arrives the same working day, provided it's sent before your bank's cut-off time. It doesn't run at weekends or on bank holidays.
Why is my bank transfer taking so long?
The usual reasons are a non-instant method (BACS rather than Faster Payments), a weekend or bank holiday, a payment sent after the daily cut-off, or a security hold on a new payee. If money has genuinely gone missing, contact your bank.
Related: is BACS the same as a bank transfer? · what bank details are needed to receive money · what time do DWP & benefit payments go in?
General guidance only. Exact timing depends on your bank's cut-off times, limits and security checks.
