Quick Facts

• EFT to same bank: Up to 12 hours
• EFT to other banks: Up to 2 business days
• Real-Time Payments: Up to 60 minutes
• Maximum EFT limit: R5,000,000

What is an EFT Payment?

An EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) is a way to send money from one bank account to another without using cash. The money moves electronically between banks.

You use EFT when you:

• Pay a friend or family member
• Pay your rent or accounts
• Send money to someone at a different bank
• Transfer money between your own accounts at different banks

Important: EFT payments are not instant like cash. They take time to process and move between banks.

💡 Good to Know: As of 2025, South Africa also has PayShap (Rapid Payments Programme) for instant payments under R3,000. But standard EFT remains the most common method for larger amounts.

✅ How to Track Your Payment on Absa

Using Absa Online Banking:

1. Go to www.absa.co.za and click “Log in” at the top right
2. Enter your login details (Access PIN and password)
3. Once logged in, click on “Payments” in the main menu
4. Look for “Payment History” or “Transaction History”
5. Find your payment by date or amount
6. Click on the payment to see its status

Using the Absa Banking App:

1. Open the Absa Banking App on your phone
2. Log in with your PIN or fingerprint
3. Tap on the account you paid from
4. Look for “Transactions” or “History”
5. Scroll to find your payment
6. Tap on it to see if it’s “Pending” or “Completed”

Absa NotifyMe Service:

Absa offers a free notification service. You can get SMS, email, or app alerts every time money leaves or enters your account. This helps you track payments automatically.

To set this up, go to Settings in your Absa app and look for “NotifyMe” or “Notifications”.

✅ How to Track Your Payment on Capitec

Using the Capitec Banking App (Easiest Method):

1. Open your Capitec Banking App
2. Sign in with your Remote PIN or fingerprint
3. On the home screen, tap on “Transact”
4. Select “Payments”
5. Tap on “History” or “Transaction History”
6. Find your payment in the list
7. Tap on it to see the full details and status

Using Capitec Online Banking:

1. Go to www.capitecbank.co.za
2. Click “Sign in” at the top
3. Enter your Remote PIN
4. Look for “Transaction History” in the menu
5. Find your payment and check its status

Getting Proof of Payment:

If you need proof that you made the payment:

1. Find the transaction in your History
2. Tap on it
3. Look for “Download” or “Share”
4. You can save it as a PDF or email it to yourself

Free Transaction Notifications:

Capitec offers free “Money In/Money Out” messages through the app. You’ll get a notification every time money moves in your account. This is the easiest way to track your payments automatically.

✅ How to Track Your Payment on FNB

Using FNB Online Banking:

1. Go to www.fnb.co.za
2. Click “Log in” and enter your details
3. Click on “My Bank Accounts” in the menu
4. Select the account you paid from
5. Look for “Transaction History” or “Statement”
6. Find your payment and click on it
7. Check if it says “Successful” or “Processing”

Using the FNB Banking App:

1. Open your FNB Banking App
2. Log in with your PIN or biometrics
3. Tap on your account
4. Scroll down to see “Recent Transactions”
5. Find your payment in the list
6. Tap it to see full details and status

Checking Payment History:

In your FNB Online Banking, go to “Payment History” to see all your payments. This shows:

• Who you paid
• The account number you paid to
• The date and time
• Whether it was successful

Important: Always double-check the account number in your payment history. If you made a mistake with the account number, you’ll need to follow FNB’s payment reversal process.

⏰ How Long Does an EFT Take?

The time it takes for your EFT to arrive depends on which banks are involved and when you made the payment.

Payment Type	How Long It Takes
Same Bank (e.g., FNB to FNB)	Up to 12 hours Sometimes instant
Different Banks (e.g., Absa to Capitec)	Up to 2 business days Usually arrives next day
Real-Time Payment (Pay & Clear Now)	Up to 60 minutes Usually within 10 minutes
PayShap (under R3,000)	Instant Money arrives immediately

What is a “Business Day”? A business day is Monday to Friday, but not on public holidays. So if you make a payment on Friday afternoon, the 2 business days would be Monday and Tuesday.

❗ What to Do If Your Payment Doesn’t Arrive

Step 1: Check How Long It’s Been

If you paid to a different bank, wait at least 2 full business days before worrying. Remember to count only Monday-Friday, not weekends or public holidays.

Step 2: Check Your Account

• Did the money leave your account? If no, the payment failed and you’ll need to try again
• If yes, check your transaction history for the payment status
• If it says “Failed”, the money will come back to your account within 24-48 hours

Step 3: Check the Account Number

Go back to your payment history and carefully check the account number. Did you type it correctly? Even one wrong number means the money went to the wrong account.

What banks do NOT check: Banks only check if the account number exists. They do NOT check if the account number matches the name you typed in. So if you put in the wrong number, the payment will still go through – just to the wrong person.

Step 4: Ask the Person to Check

Ask the person you paid to check their account. Sometimes the money is there but they haven’t noticed it yet. Ask them to:

• Log in to their banking app or online banking
• Check their transaction history or recent transactions
• Look for a payment with your reference number

Step 5: Contact Your Bank

If the money left your account but didn’t arrive after 2 business days, contact your bank. You’ll need:

• The date and time you made the payment
• The amount you paid
• The account number you paid to
• Your reference number
• The transaction ID (you can find this in your payment history)

Getting Help with a Reversal:

• FNB: You must complete a Payment Reversal Request Form. This is available in the Help section of your online banking. Note: There is a fee for this service
• Absa: Contact customer service via the app’s chat feature or call the helpline. They will guide you through the process
• Capitec: Contact their 24-hour Client Care Centre. Some reversals can be done through the app

Remember: Reversal requests can take 10 business days or more, and they are not guaranteed. The money must still be available in the recipient’s account for a reversal to work.

🚨 Scams to Watch Out For

Criminals in South Africa use EFT payments to steal money. Here are the most common scams as of 2025:

1. Fake Payment Confirmation Scam

How it works:

• You’re selling something online (on Gumtree, Facebook, etc.)
• The buyer says they will pay by EFT
• They send you a fake SMS or WhatsApp message that looks like a bank notification
• The message says “Payment successful – R2,500 received”
• You hand over the item or send the goods
• Later you check your account – no money arrived. The SMS was fake

How to protect yourself: NEVER trust an SMS or screenshot. Always log into your own banking app and check if the money is actually in your account. Wait until you can SEE the money in your account before handing over anything.

2. “Security Check” EFT Scam

How it works:

• Someone calls you claiming to be from your bank
• They say there’s a “security issue” or “suspicious activity” on your account
• They ask you to make an EFT payment to a “secure account” to “protect your money”
• Or they ask you to make an EFT to “test” if your account is working
• Once you send the money, it’s gone

How to protect yourself: Your bank will NEVER ask you to move money to a “secure account”. If someone calls with this story, hang up and call your bank directly using the number on your card.

3. Fake SARS Refund Scam

How it works:

• You receive an email or SMS that looks like it’s from SARS
• It says you’re owed a tax refund
• It asks you to click a link and enter your banking details
• The website looks real but it’s fake
• The criminals steal your banking details and make fraudulent EFT payments from your account

How to protect yourself: SARS will never ask for your banking details by email or SMS. Always log into eFiling directly – never click links in emails.

4. “Instant EFT” Third-Party Scam

How it works:

• You’re shopping online and choose “Instant EFT” as payment method
• A window pops up asking for your online banking login details
• You enter your username and password on this third-party site
• The criminals now have your login details
• They can access your account and make payments without you knowing

How to protect yourself: The South African Reserve Bank has warned against “Instant EFT” services. Only enter your banking details on your bank’s official website or app. Never give your login details to a third-party payment site.

📞 Who to Contact for Help

Absa Customer Service

• General Helpline: 0860 111 630 or 0800 11 11 55
• From your mobile: 011 501 5050
• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Online Help: Use the chat feature in the Absa Banking App

Capitec Client Care

• 24-Hour Helpline: 0860 10 20 43
• International: +27 21 440 3580
• WhatsApp: 067 418 9565 (available 06:00 to 22:00)
• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Email: ClientCare@capitecbank.co.za

FNB Customer Support

• General Helpline: 087 575 9404
• Fraud Line: 087 575 9444
• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Online Help: Use the chat feature in FNB Online Banking

If You’ve Been Scammed or It’s Fraud:

• Report to your bank immediately – use the fraud lines above
• Report to the police (SAPS): Open a case at your nearest police station or call 10111
• Report to SABRIC: South African Banking Risk Information Centre helps track banking fraud

If Your Bank Isn’t Helping:

You have rights as a banking customer. If your bank doesn’t resolve your problem, you can complain to:

• Banking Ombudsman: 0860 800 900 or visit www.obssa.co.za
• Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA): 0800 110 443 or visit www.fsca.co.za

Tracking your EFT payments doesn’t have to be difficult. The key is to understand how long payments take and to use your bank’s app or online banking to check the status.

Remember these important points:

• EFT payments are not instant – give them at least 2 business days to arrive
• Always check the account number carefully before sending money
• For sellers: Never release goods until money is actually in YOUR account (not just an SMS)
• Set up transaction notifications so you know immediately when money moves
• If you made a mistake, contact your bank immediately – the sooner the better
• Never share your banking passwords or make EFT payments to “verify” or “secure” your account

If you’re ever unsure about a payment or think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank’s fraud line immediately. It’s better to ask and be safe than to lose your money.