In short: How long a bank transfer takes in South Africa depends on the payment type you pick, not just the two banks. The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) says a normal EFT is batched and usually shows later that day or a day or two later. Real-Time Clearing (RTC), sold as immediate or instant payment, clears within 60 seconds at scheme level. PayShap is real time, but each bank sets its own limits and fees. Use the bank-by-bank table below, then confirm the fee on your confirmation screen. Not financial advice.
Sources: PASA: Credit Payments, plus each bank’s own page linked in the table.
The three payment types
- EFT: processed in batches and not instant. PASA says successful EFTs typically show later that day or a day or two later. Weekend and public-holiday EFTs usually wait for the next business processing window.
- RTC (immediate or instant payment): PASA says it clears within 60 seconds. The scheme maximum is R5 million on weekdays from midnight to 16:00, and R250 000 on weeknights, weekends and public holidays. Banks can set lower limits and add safety holds.
- PayShap: a real-time payment using an account number or a ShapID (usually your cellphone number). Both banks must offer it.
Credit payments are final once processed. Check the account number before you confirm.
Bank-by-bank: what each bank says about fast payments
| Sending bank | Fast option | What the bank publishes | Bank-pair guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absa | Immediate Interbank Payment (IIP), PayShap | PayShap reflects instantly, up to R3 000 per payment on the app and Absa Online, R2 000 on Cellphone Banking. An IIP may be delayed to prevent fraud. | Absa to Capitec, Absa to FNB |
| Standard Bank | Immediate payment, PayShap | Immediate payment: about a minute or two to an existing beneficiary, about 2 hours to a new or changed one. R10 under R2 000, R50 for R2 000 or more, maximum R250 000. PayShap payments cannot exceed R3 000. | Standard Bank to Capitec |
| Nedbank | Instant Pay, PayShap | Instant Pay: cleared in under 30 minutes, any time including weekends and public holidays. Daily limit R10 000, up to R50 000 on digital channels. PayShap: sent and received immediately, free to a PayShap ID. | Nedbank to Capitec, Nedbank to FNB |
| FNB | PayShap | FNB PayShap is real time. If a payment shows Pending, FNB says wait 30 minutes before you call. Fees are in FNB’s pricing guide. | FNB to Capitec |
| Capitec | PayShap | Capitec PayShap works 24/7, including weekends and public holidays, and usually reflects within a few seconds. | Capitec to Standard Bank |
| Bank Zero | Bank Zero to Bank Zero | Bank Zero: payments between Bank Zero accounts reflect immediately. Payments to other banks loaded by 23h59 are sent the next day, and the receiving bank decides when they reflect. | Bank Zero to Capitec |
Fees and limits change and can differ by account. The fee on your confirmation screen is the one that counts.
Weekends and public holidays
RTC and PayShap can run at night and on weekends, within the lower overnight caps. A normal EFT sent on a Friday afternoon often only lands on the next business day. Full walk-through: weekend banking transfer times.
Which option to choose
- Not urgent: a normal EFT is usually the cheapest.
- Small and urgent: PayShap, if both banks offer it and the amount is under your bank’s PayShap limit.
- Larger and urgent: your bank’s immediate or instant option. Expect a safety hold on new beneficiaries.
More on PayShap: PayShap guide. More on EFT clocks: how long an EFT takes between banks.
If the money has not arrived
- Check the payment type on your transaction history: EFT, immediate or PayShap.
- For an EFT, allow the rest of the day and the next one or two business days.
- For an immediate or PayShap payment, check the status first, then use your bank’s official support line.
- Never give an OTP, PIN or password to anyone offering to “release” a payment.
Next steps: track a pending EFT or money sent but not received.
Last checked October 2026 against PASA Credit Payments and the Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, FNB, Capitec and Bank Zero pages linked above. Fees, limits and cut-offs can change. Confirm in your banking app before you send. Not financial advice.