How Same Day ACH works
A normal ACH payment is sent today and settles on the next banking day, or the one after. A Same Day ACH payment is sent and settled on the same banking day.
Nothing special marks a payment as same-day. It is same-day when two things are true:
- The effective entry date in the file is today’s date.
- The sending bank delivers the file to the ACH Operator before one of the same-day deadlines.
Some banks also ask customers to add a marker such as SD1300 in the file to show they want same-day service. The ACH Operators do not act on that marker. It is between you and your bank.
Same Day ACH cutoff times
These are the Federal Reserve’s deadlines for banks. All times are Eastern Time.
| Window | Deadline for the bank’s file | Settlement | Funds available to the receiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 10:30 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | By 1:30 p.m., receiving bank’s local time |
| Second | 2:45 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | By 5:00 p.m., receiving bank’s local time |
| Third | 4:45 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | By the end of the receiving bank’s processing day |
Nacha does not set these clock times. Each ACH Operator sets its own schedule. Your cutoff as a customer is your own bank’s, and it is earlier than the times above.
Same Day ACH runs on banking days only. There is no service on weekends or Federal Reserve holidays.
The limit per payment
| Date | Limit per payment |
|---|---|
| September 23, 2016 | $25,000 (credits only) |
| March 20, 2020 | $100,000 |
| March 18, 2022 | $1 million |
| September 17, 2027 | $10 million |
The limit is for a single payment. If one payment in a batch is over the limit, that payment settles on the next banking day and the rest settle the same day. Your bank may set a lower limit for your account.
What is not eligible
- International payments (IAT). They need extra sanctions screening.
- Payments over the limit. They settle the next banking day instead.
- Enrollment entries (ENR).
- Re-presented and destroyed checks (RCK, XCK) over $2,500.
Same Day ACH fees
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Same Day Entry Fee | 5.2 cents per payment | The sending bank pays the receiving bank |
| FedACH same-day surcharge | $0.0010 per item | The sending bank pays the Federal Reserve |
| Your provider’s price | Varies | You pay your bank or processor |
Nacha reviewed the 5.2 cent fee in 2026 and left it unchanged for the next two years. Returns are not charged this fee. Prenotes and reversals sent same-day are.
A mistake that costs money
A file with a past or invalid effective date is not rejected. The ACH Operator settles it at the next opportunity, and if the file arrives before a same-day deadline, that means same-day settlement and the same-day fee. The Federal Reserve warns that a batch can be settled same-day without the sender meaning it.
Before you send a file, check that the effective date is the next banking day, unless you want same-day service. The NACHA file validator warns about past dates.
When to use Same Day ACH
| Use it for | Use standard ACH for |
|---|---|
| Payroll that was missed or sent late | Regular payroll you can send two days ahead |
| An urgent bill or supplier payment | Recurring bills and subscriptions |
| Collecting a payment due today | Payments where a day’s delay costs nothing |
Same Day ACH does not run at night, on weekends or on Federal Reserve holidays. For money that must arrive then, a real-time payment (RTP or FedNow) is the tool, if both banks offer it. A wire is quick on a business day, but Fedwire does not run on weekends or Federal Reserve holidays either. See instant ACH transfer and ACH vs wire transfer.