ACH Payment Limits and Cutoff Times: What Businesses Need to Know

Small businesses in the U.S. rely heavily on ACH payments – from running payroll to paying suppliers. Understanding the payment limits and cutoff times for ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions is crucial for timely and smooth business operations. Missing a cutoff or exceeding a limit can delay payments, incur fees, or even disrupt your cash flow. This comprehensive guide explains ACH limits and cutoff times in plain language, focusing on U.S.-specific rules and bank policies. 

We’ll also compare ACH with alternatives like wire transfers and RTP (Real-Time Payments), so you can choose the best option for each situation. By the end, you’ll know exactly how much you can send via ACH, when you need to initiate transfers, and when to opt for faster (or larger) payment methods.

What is ACH?

The Automated Clearing House is an electronic network for financial transactions in the U.S. – essentially the backbone of how direct deposits, bill payments, and many bank-to-bank transfers are processed. Instead of moving money instantly, ACH transactions are batched and settled periodically (typically overnight or a few times a day). This makes ACH great for routine payments like payroll, vendor invoices, and recurring bills, but it also means timing is important.

ACH Credit vs. Debit

ACH payments come in two flavors – credits and debits. An ACH credit pushes money out of your account to someone else (for example, paying a vendor or doing direct deposit payroll). An ACH debit pulls money into your account from someone else’s (for example, collecting a customer’s payment or a utility bill autopay).

For business owners, ACH credits are commonly used to pay employees or suppliers, while ACH debits might be used to collect recurring customer payments. In both cases, ACH is a U.S.-only network, so it cannot send money internationally (you’d need a wire transfer for that).

Why ACH Matters for Small Businesses 

ACH payments are ubiquitous – they reach all U.S. banks and credit unions, so when you pay someone via ACH, it’s almost certain their bank can receive it. Fees are low (often just a few cents to a few dollars, or even free) compared to wire transfers, making ACH a cost-effective way to move money. 

Moreover, 92% of American workers get paid via ACH direct deposit, and a huge portion of business-to-business (B2B) payments also flow through ACH. In 2024, businesses in the U.S. processed 7.3 billion B2B payments over ACH, an 11.6% increase from 2023. In short, ACH is a workhorse for everyday business transactions.

However, unlike some newer payment methods, ACH isn’t instant – and that’s where cutoff times come in. Also, for security and regulatory reasons, both the ACH network and individual banks impose limits on how much money can move in a single ACH payment or within a day. Let’s dive into those limits and timing rules, and how they affect your business.

ACH Transfer Limits in the U.S.

When we talk about ACH payment limits, there are two layers to consider: network-level limits set by ACH governing rules, and bank-level limits set by each financial institution for their customers. As a business owner, you need to be aware of both, because the lower of the two will determine how much you can actually send or receive via ACH.

• Nacha’s Network Limits: The ACH network in the U.S. is overseen by Nacha (National Automated Clearing House Association), which sets rules for all banks. Nacha itself doesn’t generally cap standard ACH transfers for businesses at low amounts – the theoretical standard ACH limit is very high (around $99 million per transaction), which is more than enough for any small business. However, Nacha does set a limit on Same-Day ACH transactions. In March 2022, Nacha raised the Same-Day ACH per-payment limit from $100,000 to $1 million.
  
  This means any single Same-Day ACH transaction cannot exceed $1,000,000 on the network (and originally it was much lower, just $100k). The increase to $1 million has expanded use cases for faster ACH – allowing larger payroll runs, vendor payments, or insurance claim payouts to happen within the same day. (Notably, Nacha has even explored raising this further to match the standard $99 million limit in the future, but as of now $1 million is the cap for Same-Day ACH.)
  
• Bank-Imposed ACH Limits: While the network might allow up to $1 million in one go, your bank might not. Banks often set lower ACH limits for their customers to manage risk and prevent fraud. These limits can be per transaction, per day, and/or per month. For example, one major bank (Chase) notes that it currently limits Same-Day ACH payments to $100,000 per payment for business customers on its platform – even though Nacha’s rule would permit up to $1 million.
  
  This is a risk-control measure. Banks also factor in your account history and relationship: new or small accounts often start with lower limits, which can increase over time if you have a positive track record.

Typical ACH Limits at Major Banks

ACH limits vary widely. Let’s look at a few examples (for business or consumer accounts, which often have similar initial limits):

• Bank of America: Often around $3,500 per day and $10,000 per month for outgoing ACH transfers by default (though incoming transfers might be allowed up to ~$250k in one go). BoA allows higher limits if you use certain security steps (e.g., enrolling in “SafePass” verification).
  
• Chase: Typically $25,000 per day for most standard accounts, and up to $100,000 per day for premium business or private banking clients. (Chase’s same-day ACH payments also carry a $100k per transaction cap as noted above.) This relatively high daily limit is one reason Chase “stands out” among banks.
  
• Wells Fargo: Varies by your account and history; a common daily limit is around $5,000 per day for many customers starting out. Wells Fargo can adjust limits case-by-case – long-term business customers or those with larger balances may negotiate higher limits.
  
• Citibank: Often $10,000 per day (and $10,000 per month) for new accounts, though Citi may raise this over time. Some Citi accounts report outbound ACH limits up to $25,000 daily and $50,000 monthly for established customers.
  
• Other Banks: Many regional and online banks fall in a similar range – e.g., Capital One might allow $10k/day, PNC Bank around $2k/day initially, and so on. Some, like Ally Bank, determine limits on a case-by-case basis but don’t charge fees.

Can you increase your ACH limits?

Yes – especially for business accounts. If your company needs to send larger payments, contact your bank’s treasury management or support team. Often, by providing additional information or maintaining a certain balance, banks will raise your ACH transfer limits. For instance, some banks automatically bump up your limit after you establish a history of successful transfers over a few months. 

Others might require you to use added security (like one-time passcodes) for higher amounts. Always plan ahead: if you know a large payment run (like paying subcontractors or a big supplier) is coming, arrange with your bank to accommodate it. Alternatively, you might split the payment over multiple days or use a wire transfer for a one-time large sum.

ACH Cutoff Times: When Payments Get Processed

Timing is everything with ACH. Cutoff time refers to the daily deadline by which your bank needs to receive your ACH transfer request in order to process it that day. If you miss the cutoff, your payment will be processed on the next business day’s cycle.

Here’s how ACH processing works in the U.S. today:

• Batch Processing Windows: Unlike real-time payments, ACH transactions queue up and settle in batches. Traditionally, ACH transfers are settled once at the end of each business day (which is why payroll submitted on Thursday arrives Friday, for example). Today, there are multiple settlement windows. In fact, the Federal Reserve and The Clearing House (the ACH network operators) now run three Same-Day ACH batches and additional overnight batches each weekday. According to Nacha, the network settles payments four times per day now – including overnight and the three same-day cycles.
  
  • Early Morning: Submit by ~10:30 AM Eastern Time (ET), funds delivered by around 1:30 PM local time.
    
  • Midday/Afternoon: Submit by ~2:45 PM ET, funds delivered by around 5:00 PM local time.
    
  • Late Afternoon: Submit by ~4:45 PM ET, funds settle that day but would be available to the recipient by the next morning (this late window allows West Coast banks to participate.
    
  • Night/Next-Day: Transactions submitted after the last same-day window (or those not sent as same-day) go into the traditional overnight batch. These will typically settle and post the next business day (or day after, depending on whether it’s a one-day or two-day ACH). Note: ACH does not settle on weekends or Federal holidays; any payments queued during those times won’t move until the next banking day.
    
• Bank Internal Cutoff Times: Your bank will have its own cutoff times slightly earlier than the network deadlines. This buffer gives the bank time to process your request and forward it to the ACH operator. Each bank sets its schedule, and they can vary. Here are some examples:
  
  • Chase: Same-day ACH cutoff at 2:00 PM ET, and standard (next-day) ACH cutoff at 8:00 PM ET. If you authorize a payment by 1:59 PM, it can go out and settle same-day; if you miss that, it will default to next-day processing. And if you authorize by 7:59 PM, it will make the overnight batch for next-day delivery.
    
  • Bank of America: Standard ACH cutoff around 8:00 PM ET, and Same-day ACH cutoff around 2:20 PM ET. (Internally, BoA might allow a few minutes past 2:20 for same-day, but it’s safest to get it in by that time.) These times are in Eastern Time since BoA processes ACH on an ET schedule.
    
  • Wells Fargo: Standard cutoff roughly 8:00 PM (often cited as 8:00–8:30 PM ET), and Same-day cutoff around 12:00 PM ET (Wells has one of the earlier same-day cutoffs). In fact, one source indicates Wells requires same-day files by ~11:50 AM ET. This early deadline means if you use Wells Fargo, you need to initiate any same-day payments by late morning or they’ll go next-day.
    
  • Citibank: Standard cutoff ~6:50 PM ET (a bit earlier than others), Same-day cutoff ~2:50 PM ET. So Citi customers should initiate same-day transfers before mid-afternoon.
    
  • Smaller banks/credit unions: Many smaller institutions align with one of the Fed’s standard windows. It’s common to see same-day ACH cutoffs around 12:00–1:30 PM local time, and end-of-day cutoffs around 5:00 PM local or earlier, especially if the bank doesn’t offer late processing. Always verify with your bank’s published schedule or ask a representative.

In the table below, we summarize a few major banks’ approximate cutoff times and typical ACH limits (assuming standard small business accounts):

Bank	Same-Day ACH Cutoff (approx.)	Standard ACH Cutoff (Next-day)	Typical ACH Limit (daily)
Bank of America	~2:20 PM ET for same-day	~8:00 PM ET for next-day	~$3,500 outgoing per day (default); higher with verification
Chase	2:00 PM ET for same-day	8:00 PM ET for next-day	~$25,000 per day (standard accounts); up to $100k for premium clients; $100k per same-day transaction
Wells Fargo	~12:00 PM ET for same-day	~8:00 PM ET for next-day	~$5,000 per day (typical starting limit); varies with account history
Citibank	~2:50 PM ET for same-day	~6:50 PM ET for next-day	~$10,000 per day (new accounts); up to $25,000 per day outbound for established accounts

Note: The above limits are example figures for many accounts – your individual limits may differ. “Cutoff” times mean payments initiated after that time will be processed in the next cycle (e.g. next day). All times are given in Eastern Time to keep things comparable, but some banks will publish in their local time (e.g., 5:00 PM Pacific for West Coast banks, which is 8:00 PM ET).

What happens if you miss a cutoff? 

If you authorize an ACH transfer after your bank’s cutoff time, it won’t vanish – it simply gets queued for the next processing window. For example, say your business submits a vendor payment as a standard ACH at 9 PM on Tuesday, but your bank’s cutoff was 8 PM. In that case, the payment will miss the Tuesday night batch and instead go out with Wednesday’s batch, arriving Thursday instead of Wednesday. 

Similarly, if you miss the same-day ACH cutoff, your payment will fall back to the next available cycle (which could be the next business day’s morning). The golden rule is: submit early if a payment is time-sensitive. It’s wise to give yourself a cushion before the deadline in case of any issues or delays in the bank’s processing.

Same-Day ACH vs. Next-Day ACH

Remember that to get same-day settlement, you not only need to meet the cutoff but also typically have to designate the payment as “Same-Day” when initiating it (and your bank might charge a small fee for this service). If you don’t specifically opt-in or your bank doesn’t support same-day for that transaction, it will default to the standard ACH timing (even if you hit an early cutoff).

Always check if there’s a checkbox or option for same-day when you need it, and be aware of any fee (for instance, some banks charge ~$5 or a percentage fee for same-day ACH). We’ll talk more about fees shortly.

Also, keep in mind weekends and holidays: ACH only moves money Monday through Friday when banks are open. If you send an ACH on Friday after the last window (which, for most banks, means after their cutoff Friday afternoon/evening), your payment will likely not reach the recipient until Monday (or even Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday).

This delay catches many businesses off guard – for example, if the 1st of the month is a Saturday and you pay rent or a contractor on that Saturday via ACH, that ACH won’t actually leave your account until Monday, and the recipient won’t see it until Monday or Tuesday. Plan around bank holidays (like Presidents’ Day, etc.) as well, since those are off-days for ACH processing.

ACH vs. Wire vs. RTP: Comparing Payment Options

ACH is not the only way to move money for your business. Depending on urgency and amount, you might consider a wire transfer or a Real-Time Payment (RTP) instead. Here’s a comparison of these methods, including their limits and cutoff times, to help you decide:

Payment Method	Typical Transfer Limit	Cutoff Times (Business Days)	Speed (Settlement)	Cost (Typical Fees)
Standard ACH (Next-day)	Varies by bank; often ~$2k–$25k per day for small businesses (bank-dependent). Network max ~$99 million (practically unlimited for most uses).	End of day (e.g. around 8:00 PM local/ET at many banks) to catch overnight processing. If missed, processes next business day.	1–2 business days. Generally delivered next business day if sent by cutoff (ACH credit can also be scheduled 2 days out). No weekends/holidays.	Low cost. Often free or a small fee (<$3) per transfer. Many banks charge $0 for standard ACH.
Same-Day ACH	$1,000,000 per transaction (network limit). Banks may impose lower caps (e.g. $100k per payment at some banks). Daily limits still apply as above.	Early cutoffs on business days (typically by 12:00–2:30 PM ET). Ex: 2:00 PM ET at Chase, ~1:00 PM ET at some others. After cutoff, will settle next day.	Same business day. Funds settle in a few hours, by end of day if sent by cutoff. (Not available weekends/holidays.)	Moderate cost. Often a small flat fee or percentage. E.g., many banks charge ~$1–$5 per same-day ACH; Chase charges 1% up to $25. Some banks even offer it free for certain accounts, but usually there’s a nominal fee.
Wire Transfer (Domestic)	Effectively no fixed limit – can send millions in one transfer (limited only by your available balance or arrangements with the bank). Very large payments (e.g. real estate closings, large purchases) commonly use wires.	Typically mid-to-late afternoon on business days. Many banks have a wire cutoff ~5:00 PM ET (some earlier). Wires sent after cutoff or on non-business days go next business day.	Within minutes to a few hours (same day). Domestic wires are near-instant between Federal Reserve banks, usually crediting the recipient on the same day, often within an hour or two. (International wires take longer and cut off earlier in day.)	High cost. Banks charge hefty fees: ~$25–$30 for outgoing domestic wires is common. International wires cost more ($40+). No fee for the receiver typically. Wires are the most expensive routine payment method.
RTP (Real-Time Payments)	$1,000,000 per transaction (was $1M; increased to $10 million in 2025). This is the network’s cap; banks might set lower customer limits initially.	No cutoff – 24/7 service. RTP is always available. You can send an RTP any time, even nights, weekends, holidays, and it will process immediatel.	Instant. True real-time posting, typically within seconds. The payment is received and available immediately (24/7/365).	Low-to-moderate cost. Often very cheap for businesses: some banks charge a small fee (e.g. $1 or less), others might even offer RTP transfers free to compete with FedNow/Zelle. The network fee is only a few cents, far cheaper than a wire, and banks may pass through little cost.

Pros & Cons at a Glance 

In general, ACH (standard) is cheapest but slowest; Same-Day ACH speeds it up for a small fee and a mid-day deadline; RTP is fastest (instant) and relatively low cost, but has a network participation caveat; Wires are fast and universally accepted for any amount (including international), but are very expensive and typically irreversible once sent. 

Wires also carry extra security considerations – for example, fraud via business email compromise often attempts to trick companies into wiring money to fraudsters, because once sent, a wire is hard to recall. ACH and RTP have the advantage that they are typically credit transfers you initiate and ACH even has an ability to be reversed in cases of error or fraud (within a short window. In fact, the average fraud loss on wires is much higher than on ACH, partly due to this irreversibility.

Which to use? 

For most routine U.S. business payments under the six-figure range, ACH (standard or same-day) suffices and saves money. If you have an urgent payment that’s under the ACH same-day limit ($1M), using Same-Day ACH is usually more cost-effective than a wire and will get the money there by end of day. Reserve wire transfers for cases where:

• The amount exceeds what ACH or RTP can handle (e.g. multi-million dollar transactions, certain real estate deals, etc.).
  
• It’s an international payment (ACH/RTP are domestic only).
  
• Or if for some reason you missed all other deadlines and absolutely needed to push funds last-minute before banks close (wires can often be sent a bit later in the day than ACH cutoffs).

If both sender and receiver are on an instant network, RTP (or FedNow) is a fantastic option – you avoid wire fees and the payment is instantaneous even outside banking hours. As of late 2024, a significant chunk of businesses and banks are enabling RTP – over 1 million RTP payments are now sent per day on average – indicating growing adoption.

Best Practices for Small Businesses

Managing payment limits and cutoff times may seem tedious, but a few best practices can save you from headaches:

• Know Your Bank’s Policies: Every bank has its own ACH cutoff times and transfer limits. When you open a business account (or if you already have one and never checked), take a moment to find out the default ACH limits on the account (per transaction and per day). Also, look up the cutoff times for ACH and wires.
  
  Banks often have this on their website (search for “ACH cutoff” on your bank’s support pages) or in the account agreement. For example, if you bank with Chase, you now know it’s 2 PM ET for same-day ACH. Mark these times on your calendar or internal process docs.
  
• Plan Around Deadlines: Schedule important payments (like payroll or vendor bills) with an earlier buffer. Don’t wait until 4 PM to try sending a same-day ACH – by then it’s too late at most banks. If payroll is due Friday, initiate it by Thursday or use same-day ACH early Friday morning.
  
  For tax payments or other time-crits, consider sending a day in advance when possible. Also factor in weekends/holidays by shifting schedules (e.g., if a payday falls on a Monday holiday, you’d run payroll on the prior Friday so employees still get paid on time).
  
• Utilize Same-Day ACH Strategically: Same-Day ACH is a great middle ground for speed vs. cost. Use it when you need funds to clear fast but the amount is within the allowed range. For instance, if you discover a missed invoice that will incur a late fee if not paid today, a same-day ACH in the morning can save the day (and save you from a ~$25 wire fee).
  
  Just remember the transaction must be under $1M (or your bank’s cap, if lower) and submitted by the cutoff. Many small businesses use same-day ACH for emergency payroll corrections or last-minute vendor payments that are too large for credit cards but not so large as to require a wire.
  
• Use Wires and RTP when Appropriate: For very large payments, or payments that absolutely must arrive outside of ACH operating hours, wires or RTP are the tools. Example: closing on a property purchase – you’d wire the down payment because it might be well over $1M and needs guaranteed immediate funds.
  
  On the other hand, if you’re just moving $50,000 to a supplier and both have RTP access, use RTP and you’ll both see the money move in seconds without a $25 fee. Educate your accounts payable staff on these options so they pick the most efficient method each time.
  
• Request Higher Limits if Needed: Don’t be shy about negotiating limits with your bank. If your business is growing, the $5k or $10k daily ACH limit that was fine last year might suddenly be a bottleneck (for example, if you need to pay a $20k vendor bill, it would take multiple days at $10k/day).
  
  Banks will often raise your ACH limits if you have good history, or they might have a higher-tier account you can upgrade to for larger transfers. Some banks also allow one-off limit exceptions – you just call the manager and say “I need to send $50k via ACH today” and they temporarily allow it after verifying security. Building a relationship with your business banker can help in these situations.
  
• Avoid Last-Second Submissions: Aim to submit critical ACH transfers at least an hour before the cutoff. This gives a buffer in case the bank’s system is slow or if there are any errors that you need to correct (incorrect account numbers, etc., which could cause the file not to send). If your payroll system or bank portal allows scheduling payments in advance, take advantage of that to queue things up – then you’re not scrambling at 1:59 PM to release a same-day file.
  
• Consider Treasury Services for High Volume: If your small business grows and starts processing hundreds of ACH payments (say for mass payouts or collections), banks offer ACH origination services or you could use payment processors/fintech platforms. These often come with later cutoffs or dedicated support.
  
  For instance, some modern fintech platforms allow initiating same-day ACH closer to the 4:45 PM ET final window, giving you extra flexibility (they basically cut it closer than traditional banks). This may not be necessary for a typical small business, but it’s good to know as you scale.

Now, let’s address some common questions that small business owners have about ACH payments:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the maximum amount I can send via ACH?

A: The maximum for a single standard ACH transfer is extremely high (nearly $100 million by network rules), so in practice the “max” is whatever your bank allows or your balance supports. For Same-Day ACH, the network cap is $1,000,000 per payment. However, your bank likely imposes its own limits well below these figures for security. For example, many banks cap new customers to a few thousand dollars per day via ACH. 

A common range for established small business accounts is $10k–$25k per day. If you need to send more, you can split the payment or request a higher limit from your bank. For very large payments (seven figures and above), businesses typically use wire transfers (which can handle unlimited amounts) or see if multiple ACH payments scheduled over consecutive days could work. Always verify your current ACH limits with your bank’s online interface or support, as they can change over time.

Q2. Can I increase my ACH transfer limits with my bank?

A: Often, yes. Banks will consider limit increase requests especially for business customers with a good track record. They might require a waiting period (e.g. 90 days of account activity) or that you keep a certain minimum balance. In some cases, using additional security features (like one-time passcode verification for each transfer) can qualify you for higher limits. 

Reach out to your relationship manager or the bank’s treasury management department. Provide a rationale – for instance, “We’re processing larger vendor payments now and need a $50k/day limit instead of $10k.” They may approve a new permanent limit or suggest you do a wire for one-off large transfers. Keep in mind, bank-imposed limits are there to mitigate risk, so they may also encourage you to spread out transfers or use multiple payment methods if you consistently hit your cap.

Q3. What happens if I miss the ACH cutoff time?

A: Missing the cutoff means your payment will not go out until the next processing opportunity. If you missed a same-day ACH cutoff, your payment will be processed in the next available window (which could be the next business day morning). If you missed the end-of-day cutoff for standard ACH, then your transfer will be included in the next day’s batch and arrive a day later than intended. 

For example, say your payroll file was meant to go out Thursday for Friday pay, but you sent it after the bank’s cutoff on Thursday – the file might not process until overnight Friday, meaning employees won’t see funds until Monday. If timing is critical, you might need to use alternatives (like an emergency wire) after a cutoff is missed.

Some banks with multiple ACH windows might still process late submissions in a later same-day cycle if possible, but you shouldn’t count on it unless explicitly stated. In short: if it’s past the cutoff, the ACH train has left for the day – your payment is effectively waiting for the next departure.

Q4. Do ACH transfers process on weekends or holidays?

A: No – ACH only processes on banking days. The ACH Network aligns with Federal Reserve operating hours, which means weekends and federal holidays are downtime. If you send an ACH transfer on a Saturday or Sunday, the bank will queue it up, but it won’t actually move or show up at the other bank until Monday (assuming Monday isn’t a holiday). 

The same goes for a holiday: e.g., an ACH initiated on Thanksgiving Thursday will typically settle on Friday if Friday is not a holiday, or by Monday if the holiday extends. (One exception: if you’re using a real-time payment like RTP or certain push-to-card services, those can operate 24/7, but standard ACH does not.)

Q5. Are ACH transfers free for small businesses? What fees should I expect?

A: Standard ACH transfers are often free or very low-cost for businesses. Many banks include a number of ACH payments at no charge in their business checking packages, or charge a minimal fee like $0.25 or $0.50 per transaction.

In the MyBankTracker survey, typical ACH fees were around $3 for outgoing transfers at banks that did charge, though several major banks (Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, etc.) charge $0 for standard ACH outbound transfers. 

Same-Day ACH often incurs a fee – commonly around $1 to $5 per payment. For example, some banks charge a flat $2 or $2.50 for same-day, while Chase’s business accounts charge 1% of the amount up to $25 (so max $25). Incoming ACH payments are almost always free to receive. Always check your bank’s fee schedule.

Also note, if you use a payroll service or payment processor, they might bake ACH fees into their pricing. By contrast, wire transfers are much more expensive (usually $15–$30 each for domestic wires outgoing), which is why businesses try to use ACH for routine payments whenever possible.

Q6. How do I find my bank’s ACH cutoff times and limits easily?

A: Most banks publish this information in their online help or account disclosure documents. You can often search “[Your Bank] ACH cutoff time” and find a page or PDF. For example, Bank of America’s site notes that ACH transfers submitted after ~8 PM ET will be processed the next business day. Chase’s documentation clearly states 2:00 PM ET for same-day ACH, 8:00 PM ET for standard. 

If it’s not easily found online, call your business banking support line – they can tell you the cutoffs for both ACH and wire. As for limits, when you initiate an ACH transfer online, many systems will display your maximum allowed amount (e.g., when you input an amount, it might say “Maximum $10,000 per day”). Chase, for instance, will show your specific daily limit on the transfer screen.

Keep an eye on communications from your bank too; if your limit increases or policies change (like Nacha raising the same-day limit), banks will often send a notice.

Conclusion

ACH payments are a lifeline for U.S. businesses – they’re affordable and convenient – but to use them effectively, you need to be mindful of how much you can send and how fast those payments move. U.S. regulations (through Nacha rules) currently allow up to $1 million for Same-Day ACH, and virtually unlimited amounts for regular ACH, but your bank’s own limits will likely be the deciding factor on any given transaction.

Likewise, the ACH network clears payments in batches, so knowing your bank’s daily cutoff times (e.g. late evening for next-day transfers, early afternoon for same-day) is key to avoiding delays. Small business owners should align their payment schedules with these cutoff times – for instance, initiating payroll a day early or paying suppliers a few hours before the deadline – to ensure smooth operations.

When speed or amount requirements exceed what ACH can do, remember there are alternatives: Same-Day ACH for faster service on high-priority payments, wire transfers for very large or time-critical needs (at a higher cost), and emerging real-time options like RTP for instant transfers. Often, leveraging same-day ACH properly can save you from more expensive wires while still getting funds delivered within hours.