Overview of ACH Transfer Timelines
ACH (Automated Clearing House) fund transfers typically require 3 to 5 business days to complete. Business days exclude weekends and federal holidays, meaning transactions initiated on weekends or holidays will begin processing on the next business day. While this timeline is standard, delays can sometimes extend to 5–7 calendar days, depending on bank processes and unforeseen issues.
Common Causes of Transfer Delays
Weekends and Federal Holidays: Processing does not occur on weekends or public holidays, causing delays in initiation and completion of transfers. For instance, if you start a transfer on a Friday evening or during the weekend, processing will likely not begin until the next business day (Monday).
ACH Processing Limitations: ACH transactions operate on predetermined schedules that rely heavily on interbank communications. This can add a delay, especially during periods of high transactional volume.
Initial Delays in Posting: In some cases, recently initiated transactions may remain marked as "pending" longer than others. This variance depends on internal bank procedures for releasing funds, even if other transfers appear to have completed faster.
Steps to Take for Delayed Transfers
If your transfer takes longer than the expected 3–5 business days, consider the following:
Wait for the Recommended Timeframe: Ensure that at least 5 full business days have passed. Delays are often resolved within this timeframe without external intervention.
Check for Federal Holidays or Weekends: Confirm that the processing timeline overlaps with non-business days, as this will extend the completion date.
Contact Your Bank or Payment Platform: If delays persist beyond 5–7 calendar days, reach out to your bank for additional context on the delay.
Provide Relevant Transaction Details: For unresolved delays, prepare a screenshot of the pending transaction and provide this to our support team for further investigation.
Escalating Transfer Issues
To escalate unresolved issues, gather the following details:
Amount and screenshots of the pending transfer.
Dates and times the transfer was initiated.
This information will help our support team and payment processors expedite resolutions.