In short: A pending EFT is not automatically a lost payment. The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) says EFT credits are batched and typically show later the same day or a day or two later, depending on the service level. RTC clears within about 60 seconds. PayShap is a rapid, real-time style credit. Check the status, reference and rail type in your own Absa, Capitec or FNB app — this page is not a live tracker. Not financial advice.
Sources: PASA — Credit Payments.
First identify the rail
Absa, Capitec and FNB all offer more than one way to send money. The label on the receipt matters:
- EFT credit. PASA: successful instructions usually reflect later that day or a day or two later. They are not instantaneous. Settlement follows same-day, one-day or two-day service levels.
- RTC / immediate payment. PASA: cleared within 60 seconds, with funds available in the receiver’s account.
- PayShap / Rapid Payment. PASA describes PayShap as a real-time credit using account details or a proxy such as a mobile number (ShapID).
PASA’s R5 million figure is the low-value versus high-value split and the weekday daytime RTC scheme maximum (until 16:00, excluding public holidays) — not a personal “maximum EFT” on Absa, Capitec or FNB. Night, weekend and public-holiday RTC tops out at R250 000 on PASA’s page; banks may set lower limits. This page does not publish a fake same-bank “12-hour EFT” clock.
What to check in the bank apps
Use the official Absa, Capitec or FNB app (or internet banking) of the bank that sent the payment, then ask the recipient to check their side:
- Status — pending, processing, paid, failed, reversed or rejected
- Reference — keep it for any trace
- Rail / product name — EFT vs Immediate / RTC vs PayShap
- Amount and beneficiary account
Bank menus change and there is no standard public “track EFT” USSD. If status is unclear, use that bank’s published contact route from the official app or website — not a WhatsApp broadcast number.
Weekends and bank-pair timing
Weekend and public-holiday EFTs often wait for the next business processing window. See weekend banking transfer times. For Absa → Capitec: Absa to Capitec transfer time.
When to treat it as a problem
- If it was an EFT and fewer than about two days have passed, PASA’s timing still covers “a day or two later” — unless status already says failed, reversed or rejected.
- If you chose immediate / RTC and more than a minute has passed with no credit on the receiving side, ask both banks to trace using the official reference.
- Keep proof from the official channel — not a photoshopped “POP”.
- Do not pay a tracer, read an OTP to a caller, or send a second payment because someone claims the first one is “stuck”.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait on an EFT? PASA: later that day or a day or two later, depending on the service level.
Is a real-time payment supposed to take an hour? No. PASA says RTC clears within 60 seconds.
Is R5 million the EFT limit? No. Your bank’s limit can be lower.
Can this site see my pending payment? No. Only your bank’s official channel can.
Related: SA bank transfer times hub · money sent but not received.
Last checked: September 2026 against PASA Credit Payments. General information only — not a live payment status. Not financial advice.