Photo by Monstera Production via PexelsAn instant bank transfer moves money from one bank account to another within seconds, at any time, any day of the year. This payment method, distinct from a standard SEPA transfer, has become widespread in France since European regulation made it free of charge from 2025. Delay, cost, cap, security: here is how an instant transfer works and when it is worth choosing.
What is an instant bank transfer?
An instant bank transfer, also called an instant SEPA transfer or SCT Inst, is a transfer credited to the recipient’s account within seconds, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays. Banks in the SEPA area have been allowed to offer it to individual and business customers since November 2018. It does not replace the standard transfer: it is an additional option, reserved for one-off transfers with immediate execution, which banks generally enable by default on current accounts.
Every instant transfer is identified by the recipient’s IBAN, just like a standard transfer. Since 9 October 2025, the bank must also verify that the name provided by the sender matches the actual holder of that IBAN before validating the operation. This mechanism, known as verification of payee, applies to both standard and instant transfers.
How to make an instant bank transfer?
The process is identical to a standard transfer, from online banking or a mobile app. The account holder enters the recipient’s IBAN or selects it from their address book, enters the amount, then confirms the operation, usually by validating a notification received on their phone. Only one-off transfers with immediate execution are concerned: standing orders set up for recurring payments, as well as transfers scheduled for a later date, are still processed as standard transfers.
For anyone considering opening a bank account online, the availability and gratuity of instant transfers is one of the criteria worth checking before choosing a bank, as some online banks rolled it out earlier than traditional networks.
How long does an instant bank transfer take?
An instant SEPA transfer must be executed within a maximum of ten seconds between the sender’s account being debited and the recipient’s account being credited, regardless of the time or day of the week. A standard SEPA transfer, by contrast, remains limited to bank business days: its execution time is generally one business day, and can reach several calendar days when the order is placed on a Friday afternoon or before a public holiday.
This speed makes instant transfers particularly suited to urgent situations: settling a purchase between individuals, paying a security deposit, or paying a bill that is due.
How much does an instant bank transfer cost?
Until 8 January 2025, most French banks charged a fee for sending an instant transfer, averaging around one euro per operation. Since 9 January 2025, European regulation on instant payments has required banks in the euro area to charge the same price for instant transfers as for standard transfers for individual customers: as a result, it has become free for nearly all one-off transfers initiated online. This gratuity does not necessarily extend to transfers made from a business account, where pricing remains set by each bank.
Comparing conditions is also worth doing before opening a joint bank account, as fee policies can still differ depending on the type of account or the channel used to send the transfer.
Instant transfer or standard transfer: what are the differences?
| Criterion | Instant transfer | Standard transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Execution time | A few seconds (maximum 10 seconds) | 1 business day, up to several calendar days |
| Availability | 24/7, including weekends and public holidays | Bank business days only |
| Cost for individuals | Free since 9 January 2025 | Free |
| Regulatory cap | 100,000 euros per transaction, often lowered by the bank | Set by each bank |
| Reversibility | Irrevocable once validated | Can be cancelled before actual execution |
| Verification of payee | Mandatory since 9 October 2025 | Mandatory since 9 October 2025 |
Instant transfer is therefore not meant to replace the standard transfer: it complements it for situations where speed matters, while the standard transfer remains relevant for scheduled or recurring payments.
What is the cap on an instant bank transfer?
The amount of an instant SEPA transfer has been capped by European regulation at 100,000 euros per transaction since July 2020, up from 15,000 euros before that. This regulatory cap is a maximum: each bank remains free to set a lower cap for its individual customers, often aligned with the cap on their standard transfers.
When a one-off need exceeds this individual cap, for example an important transfer to a relative or an urgent payment, it is usually enough to contact a bank advisor or adjust the cap from the mobile app, depending on the bank.
What are the risks, and how to stay secure with instant transfers?
The speed of instant transfers is also its main security limitation: unlike a standard transfer, it is irrevocable once validated. Because funds are credited within seconds, there is no window to cancel it in case of a data entry error or fraud. Instant transfer scams exploit exactly this feature, pushing the victim, under the guise of urgency, to validate an operation toward a fraudulent recipient posing as a bank, an administration or a relative.
A few habits limit this risk: always verify the recipient’s identity before validating, never give in to a sense of urgency imposed by a third party, and rely on verification of payee, rolled out since October 2025, which flags when the name entered does not match the IBAN holder. More rigorous day-to-day account management, including working to reduce bank fees, also helps spot a suspicious operation more quickly.