An ACH transfer — or an Automated Clearing House transfer — is one of the main ways to send or receive money online. ACH transfers include transferring money from one bank account to another, paying bills online from your checking account, and receiving direct deposits.
After comparing ACH transfers at over 15 well-known banks, we found that none of them charged a fee to send or receive an ACH transfer. But there are some banks and credit unions that still charge a fee. If you don’t see your bank on our list, go on your bank’s website or call customer service to learn what your ACH transfer fee might be.
Here’s a guide to how ACH transfers work and how much they cost.
» Want to compare transfer options? See the best ways to send money
What is an ACH transfer?
An ACH transfer is the electronic movement of money between banks or credit unions through the Automated Clearing House network.
ACH transfers include external funds transfers, person-to-person payments, bill payments and direct deposits from employers and government benefit programs. Banks and third-party apps — like PayPal and Venmo — use the ACH network. Business-to-business payments are another example. (If you own a small business, see our guide to ACH transfers for businesses.)
The National Automated Clearing House Association, or NACHA, is the trade group that oversees the network.
Types of ACH transfers
There are two types of ACH transfers:
- ACH credit transfers let you “push” money to accounts at different banks, either accounts you own or friends’ and family members’ accounts.
- ACH debit transfers involve money getting “pulled” from an account. When you set up a recurring bill payment, for example, the company you’re paying can pull what it’s owed from your account each month.
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How much is an ACH transfer fee?
- ACH credit transfer cost: Many banks offer free ACH external funds transfers but some banks might charge a fee of around $3 for sending money to an account you have at a different bank. There’s usually no fee to receive them.
- ACH debit transfer cost: These transfers, which include payroll direct deposits and most bill payments, are typically free. If you need expedited bill payments, there can be fees.
Person-to-person payments that you initiate through your bank or third-party apps such as PayPal can cost a small fee, depending on the platform and payment method.
» Interested in peer-to-peer payment services? See our list of top P2P payment apps
How long do ACH transfers take?
NACHA estimates that 80% of all ACH payments take just one banking day or less, regardless of whether you chose same-day or standard ACH . But banks and credit unions advertise speeds that are slower, usually several business days (days that banks are open, not weekends or holidays). NACHA rules ensure that banks can process payments the same day they’re sent, but it’s up to each bank whether it charges you for expediting a payment. And upon receiving the money, a bank or credit union might also hold these transferred funds for a period of time, so the total delivery time varies.
ACH transfers are processed by a network operator in batches only seven times a day, unlike the real-time processing of wire transfers.
- ACH credit transfer speed: Financial institutions can choose to have ACH credits processed and delivered within the same day, or in one to two business days.
- ACH debit transfer speed: In contrast, ACH debit transactions must be processed by the next business day.
» Your bank might have a faster option: See if you have access to the Fed’s real-time payments service, FedNow
External ACH transfer fees by financial institution
The table below lists the costs to transfer money between banks for some of the country’s largest financial institutions, including Chase’s external transfer fee and Bank of America’s transfer fee.
+ See table of ACH transfer fees by financial institution
Financial institution (Select the bank name to read our review) | Cost (both directions, unless otherwise specified) | Approximate delivery times* |
|---|---|---|
Popular banks | ||
Bank of America transfer fee | $0. | To Bank of America account: 3 business days. From Bank of America account: 1 business day. |
Capital One 360 Bank transfer fee | $0. | To Capital One 360 account: up to 1 business day. From Capital One 360 account: 1-3 business days. |
TD Bank transfer fee | $0. | 1-3 business days. |
Wells Fargo transfer fee | $0. | To Wells Fargo account: 3 business days. From Wells Fargo account: 2 business days. |
More banks | ||
Alliant Credit Union transfer fee | $0. | 1 business day. |
Ally Bank transfer fee | $0. | 1-3 business days. |
American Express National Bank transfer fee | $0. | 1-3 business days; 3 or more business days for transfers initiated at the bank where the funds should arrive. |
Axos Bank transfer fee | $0. | 3-5 business days. |
Barclays transfer fee | $0. | 2-3 business days. |
Boeing Employees Credit Union transfer fee | $0. | Up to 3 business days. |
Chase transfer fee | $0. | 2-3 business days. |
Citibank transfer fee | $0. | Same-day or next-day, depending on what time of day the request is made. |
Navy Federal Credit Union transfer fee | $0. | 2-3 business days. |
PNC Bank transfer fee | $0. | 3 business days. |
Synchrony Bank transfer fee | $0. | Up to 3 business days. |
U.S. Bank transfer fee | $0. | 1-3 business days; there is an option for free same day delivery via FedNow. |
*These are typical total outgoing and incoming transfer times when initiated through online banking, according to each financial institution’s disclosures and general policies. Delays can occur due to holding periods, sending after daily cutoff times, initial service setup and other reasons. This list includes only personal accounts, not business accounts.
Restrictions on external ACH funds transfers
Sending money via ACH between banks can be convenient, but each bank has its own ACH policy and limitations, which could include:
- Amount limits: You may have a daily and monthly cap on how much money you can move.
- Cutoff times: After a certain hour, a transfer won’t be processed until the next business day. If you send money on a Friday, for instance, processing might not start until the following Monday. Weekends and bank holidays don’t count as business days. If you initiate a transfer request at 11 p.m. on the Friday before a three-day holiday weekend, the money might not reach its destination until the following Thursday.
- Fee for insufficient funds: If you don’t have enough money in your account, your bank might charge you a fee and stop the transfer.
- International transfer restrictions: Your bank might not allow consumer ACH transfers to banks outside the U.S.
- Transfer limits for savings accounts: Banks were previously required to limit the combined number of certain withdrawals and transfers from savings accounts to six per month. Although that is no longer the case, many banks will charge a fee for more than six transfers or withdrawals per month. (If you’re sending over the limit, consider opening a second account. Compare NerdWallet’s picks for best savings account.)
- Fee for staff-assisted banking transfer: If you call a customer service representative or visit a branch to request a bank transfer, your financial institution might charge you — even if online transfers are free. Before you make a transfer with assistance, make sure you know your financial institution’s policies.
ACH vs. wire transfer
Wire transfers are faster than ACH transfers. Whereas ACH transfers may take days, domestic wire transfers may be completed in minutes or hours.
But ACH transfers are cheaper than wire transfers. ACH transfers cost a few bucks at most, but NerdWallet analysis found that the median outgoing wire transfer in the U.S. costs $25. The median cost to receive one is $15.
» Read more about how wire transfers work
ACH transfers are best for: | Wire transfers are best for: | Zelle and other P2P apps are best for: |
Recurring, predictable or non-urgent transfers like receiving your paycheck via direct deposit, scheduling bills and moving money between your own accounts. | Large payments you want made quickly, like a down payment. | Sending small amounts to yourself or people you know and trust. Think splitting the bill at dinner, paying a babysitter or sending your sister $100 for her birthday. |
How to make ACH transfers more quickly
Transfer earlier in the day: Nearly every financial institution has a cutoff time for transfer requests; respecting those will help your money arrive earlier. If you submit a transfer request after the cutoff — around the end of the business day — it generally won’t be processed until the next business day.
Pay a fee: You can also pay to upgrade the delivery speed of your ACH transfer if your financial institution offers the option. Some banks offer next-day delivery, usually for an extra cost. Even then, “next day” usually means “next business day,” not “next calendar day.” But rules implemented in March 2018 make it possible for most ACH payments, including payroll and account-to-account transfers, to be processed the same day they’re requested.
Switch to Zelle: You can also use Zelle, a payment app that works directly with hundreds of banks and credit unions. Zelle delivers money to the recipient right away and the transfer is finalized later through normal ACH processing or in real time if the bank uses the RTP network, a real-time payment system. Zelle doesn’t charge fees, but some banks might. (See if your bank uses Zelle.)
When to use an ACH transfer
ACH transfers are a cheap way to move money. The main hangup with these transfers is speed, not cost. If you need to transfer a bit of money immediately, use Zelle or another peer-to-peer app.
If you need to move a lot of money immediately, you’ll probably need a wire transfer. But if you can wait one to three business days, an ACH transfer will likely be your cheapest and best option.
Frequently asked questions about ACH transfers
Here are answers to common questions about ACH transfers.
What are the steps for how to make an ACH payment?
ACH payments can be made online through your bank’s or credit union’s website or mobile app. Sometimes you can pay a bill by ACH transfer; you’ll need to provide the merchant (on its website or in its app) with your bank’s routing number and your account number to do this.
Article sources
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- 1.Nacha. How Direct Payment Works. Accessed Aug 18, 2025.
- 2.NACHA. How ACH Payments Work.
- 3.The Federal Reserve. Fedwire® Funds Service. Accessed Aug 18, 2025.
