How long does an ACH transfer take?
Standard ACH settles in 1 to 2 banking days. Same Day ACH can settle within hours of submission, if it goes in before a processing window closes.
Standard ACH: 1 to 2 banking days
Most ACH transfers are entered as standard next-day or two-day items. The originating bank submits the file, the Federal Reserve processes it overnight, and funds are available to the receiving account on the settlement date, one to two banking days after submission. Weekends and Federal Reserve holidays do not count, so a Friday submission does not settle until the following Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.
Same Day ACH: hours, not days
Same Day ACH moves money on the same banking day it is submitted, provided it beats one of three daily processing windows.
| Submit by | Settles |
|---|---|
| 10:30 AM ET | 1:00 PM ET |
| 2:45 PM ET | 5:00 PM ET |
| 4:45 PM ET | 6:00 PM ET |
A file submitted after 4:45 PM ET falls to the next banking day, the same as a standard entry. These are the Federal Reserve's deadlines; your originating bank sets its own, usually earlier, so confirm the cutoff your ODFI publishes before working to the times above.
What counts as a banking day
A banking day is any day Federal Reserve Banks are open: Monday through Friday, minus the eleven federal holidays. Check whether the Fed is open today, or see the full closure schedule for the year.
Get the exact date
These are the general rules. For a specific submission date, use the settlement date calculator. Working backwards from a required payday instead? Use the payroll cutoff calculator.