When it comes to conducting transactions with your bank account, one of the most popular types is using ACH transfers, but they can come with limits, albeit fairly high ones. ACH payments are electronic bank transfers that quickly and conveniently process regular payments such as mortgages, utilities, loans, and tax payments. They can also be used for one-time payments as well.
Nacha, the organization that oversees the ACH network, raised the limit for same-day incoming and outcoming consumer and business transfer to $1 million in March 2022. That, however, does not necessarily mean that limit applies to your particular financial institution. Knowing the full story on ACH transfer limits can help to make sure all your transactions go through smoothly and avoid any potential hiccups.
Key Points
• ACH transfers enable electronic transactions for various purposes, including bill payments and direct deposits, providing a convenient way to manage finances.
• The National Automated Clearing House Association raised the ACH transfer limit to $1 million, but individual banks may impose lower limits for customers.
• Many banks have specific daily and monthly ACH transfer limits, which can vary based on account types and customer relationships.
• Timing is crucial for ACH transfers, as cutoff times can affect the speed of transactions, and insufficient funds may result in fees.
• ACH transfers are typically not available for international transactions, which require wire transfers and may incur additional fees.
How ACH Transfers Work
First, a little more about ACH, which stands for Automated Clearing House. ACH transfers are an electronic transfer system that allows individuals or businesses to transfer money from one financial institution. This network is one of the main ways to send and receive money. Did you sign up for autopay on your utilities bill? ACH transfers will make it happen. Do you receive your paycheck by direct deposit? That’s also an ACH transfer.
Other types of transactions include direct ACH debits, electronic funds transfers (EFTs), electronic checks (eChecks), and direct payments. Aside from banks, third-party apps, such as PayPal, which allow you to pay friends without cash, also use the ACH network.
In most cases, ACH payments, which are only for U.S. transactions, are usually faster than other types of transactions — if there’s enough money in the account, an ACH incoming transfer is usually cleared within one to several days. A few instances where it could take longer is during holidays or if the network suspects the transaction is potentially fraudulent. Debits are typically processed on a next-day basis. (If you need a super-fast transfer, look into how ACH vs. wire transfers stack up.)
There are often daily ACH limits as well as ACH period limits — as in, there may be daily or monthly limits, depending on your financial institution.
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Incoming ACH Transfer Limits
According to the National Automated Clearing House Association (Nacha), which manages ACH payments, ACH limits can be as high as $1,000,000 per day, up from $100,000 previously.
However, ACH transfer limits for your checking account or savings account may be considerably lower. For clients of Chase bank, for example, the same-day limit is $25,000 for standard accounts and $100,000 for premium or private client accounts.
This means it can be crucial to check with your bank about their policies. By knowing your limits, you can troubleshoot before you wind up in a “Where’s my money?” situation.
Outgoing ACH Transfer Limits
Depending on your financial institution, your outgoing ACH transfer limit may be much lower than what NACHA imposes. Understanding the ACH outgoing transfer limit is important because you want to ensure your transactions go smoothly.
If you have multiple transactions set up regularly to send money, you’ll want them all to go through and not run the risk of payments being held up and late fees accruing.
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ACH Transfer Limits at Top US Banks
The following ACH transfer limits and its associated fees are from the six biggest traditional banks, plus SoFi.
| Name of Bank | ACH Transfer Limit | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | Typically $3,500 daily outgoing $10,000 monthly outgoing $249,999 for some one-time incoming transfers Higher limits for transfers between Bank of America accounts held by the client | Variable |
| Capital One | May vary by account type. Up to $100,000 for a single bill pay payment with 360 Checking | Typically none |
| U.S. Bank | Varies | Varies, often $0 to $3 |
| Citibank | Inbound, from $10,000 to $100,000 daily and monthly Outbound, up to $25,000 daily and $50,000 monthly | None |
| Wells Fargo | Varies | Varies |
| Chase | Varies, but typically $25,000 daily for standard accounts and $100,000 daily for premium or private client accounts | None |
| SoFi | Typically up to $50,000 daily | Typically none |
As you can see above, a few of the banks have varying daily and monthly ACH transfer limits. Some of these depend on the type of account you have and your relationship with the bank. For instance, those who have more premium accounts (such as ones that require higher balance minimum requirements) may have higher ACH transfer limits, though it’s not always the case.
Also, business accounts may have different and/or higher limits than personal bank accounts. ACH transfers can be conducted with both brick-and-mortar and secure online bank accounts.
ACH Transfer Penalties
While ACH transfers are a convenient way to conduct bank transactions, there are some limitations you need to be aware of.
Cutoff Times
ACH transfers can be conducted on a same-day or somewhat slower basis. For same-day, transfers must usually be submitted by 4:45 pm ET. Some banks may set earlier deadlines, such as 12:30 ET.
In general, though, ACH transfers can take a bit longer than same-day, and it’s worth taking into account the day of the week. If you submit a transfer at 5:03 pm on a Friday, it may not get moving until the following Monday, which could count as a late payment.
So, if you’re making a transfer from your checking or savings account and want it to arrive as soon as possible, it’s best to initiate the transfer earlier in the day. And keep these timing issues in mind if you are tracking an ACH payment, whether incoming or outgoing.
Insufficient Funds Penalty Fee
Many financial institutions won’t charge you for an ACH transfer, but they may charge you a fee if you don’t have enough money in your account. This penalty is typically called the insufficient funds fee, and the amount varies from bank to bank.
No International Transfers
In most cases, ACH transfers aren’t available to send money to another account internationally. If you want to send money overseas from your bank, you’ll have to do so via a wire transfer. You’ll likely be charged a fee for the service, often between $35 and $50.
Recommended: Understanding ACH Fees
The Takeaway
ACH transfers are an important part of modern banking, whisking funds from account to account. This process enables direct deposit, automatic bill-pay, P2P platforms, and more. However, these transactions may come with dollar and timing limits, as well as fees. Each financial institution will have different rules and guidelines as to how you can conduct ACH transfers. Reading the fine print on your account agreement or checking in with customer support can save you time, money, and headaches.
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FAQ
Which bank has the highest ACH transfer limit?
As of press time, SoFi, Chase, Capital One, and Citi have the highest ACH transfer limits. However, these higher limits may only be available for those who have certain types of bank accounts or have been a long-time customer with these financial institutions.
Are ACH transfers reported to the IRS?
The IRS doesn’t count ACH transfers as cash, so they are not reported.
What is the maximum amount you can transfer from bank to bank?
The maximum amount you’ll be able to transfer between banks will depend on various factors, such as how much you have in your account, ACH transfer limits for your financial institution, and how much the receiving bank is allowed to receive. Nacha recently raised the maximum possible to $1,000,000, but again, that will not be available to every banking customer.
Which bank is good for ACH?
All financial institutions should be able to initiate and receive ACH transactions. The differences involve limits, processing time, and possible fees. It’s worth checking at specific banks to understand their guidelines if you plan on using ACH transfers.
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