Why a bank transfer takes days when it could take 10 seconds.
EU law says a standard SEPA transfer must reach the recipient by the next business day. It feels slow due to batch runs: banks bundle orders and swap them at fixed times via clearing houses; Friday evening often means Monday. Instant payments skip that: 10 seconds maximum, around the clock. Since October 2025 euro-area banks must offer them, normally priced.
Useful: If a bank charges extra for "instant", it has been breaking EU law since 2025.
Source: eur-lex.europa.eu