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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

BankenEuZahlungsverkehr

Difficulty:

Question on this card

Under the EU regulation, what is the maximum time for a SEPA instant payment?

  1. 10 seconds
  2. 10 minutes
  3. 1 hour
  4. 1 business day
Show the answer

Correct: 10 seconds

Instant payments must be credited within 10 seconds, including nights and weekends.

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