How Much Money Can You Transfer By ACH? Limits by Bank Revealed

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network technically allows same-day transfers up to $1 million per transaction (NACHA, March 2022). But in practice, banks impose far smaller caps, often just $3,500 to $25,000 per day for personal accounts, and somewhat higher for business accounts. Understanding your bank’s ACH transfer limits helps you plan large transactions, avoid delays, and choose alternatives like wire transfers if needed.

• NACHA’s rule: $1 million per same-day ACH transfer is permitted, but banks almost never allow this maximum.
• Bank limits: Chase sets dynamic limits, Bank of America caps personal/business ACH at $7,500 daily, Citi allows up to $500,000, Wells Fargo $5,000 for international remittance, SoFi $50,000, and Ally $25,000 during the first 90 days.
• Why limits exist: Banks restrict outgoing transfers to reduce fraud and manage liquidity; incoming ACH deposits (like payroll or benefits) are typically unlimited.
• How to move more money: Request a higher ACH limit, open a business account, use a wire transfer ($20–$35 fees), or split transfers across multiple days.
• Bottom line: Plan around your bank’s daily/monthly ACH caps to avoid stalled transfers, especially when funding accounts, making investments, or sending family support.

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network is one of the most widely used payment systems in the United States. It powers payroll deposits, bill payments, and personal transfers between accounts, offering low costs and reliability. But when it comes to moving large sums of money, ACH transfers aren’t limitless. Every bank sets rules on how much you can send or receive in a given day or month.

Understanding these limits is essential, whether you’re funding a new account, making an investment, or sending money to family.

NACHA’s $1 Million Same-Day Cap vs. Bank-Imposed Limits

 The ACH network is overseen by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). Since March 2022, NACHA raised the ceiling for same-day ACH transfers to $1 million per transaction.

However, this upper limit rarely applies in practice. Individual banks and credit unions set their own caps for consumer and business accounts, and these are typically far lower. For personal accounts, outgoing daily limits often range from $3,500 to $25,000. Business accounts may offer higher thresholds, but still nowhere near the $1 million NACHA cap.

In short, the real transfer ceiling depends on your bank, not the ACH network itself.

ACH Transfer Limits by Bank

Banks don’t always make their ACH transfer limits public, and they can vary based on account type, customer history, and relationship with the bank. The following ranges are based on reported customer data and publicly available resources.

Although NACHA permits transfers of up to $1 million, banks impose much smaller limits to manage risk. The main concern is fraud prevention: smaller caps reduce the likelihood of large, unauthorized withdrawals that could harm both customers and the bank.

Liquidity management also plays a role, as financial institutions prefer to control how much money flows out on a given day. Another factor is customer risk profiling.

A long-standing client with high balances may be granted higher limits, while a new customer or one with less account history may face stricter restrictions. These measures ultimately balance customer convenience with bank security.

Incoming vs. Outgoing Transfers

There is also an important distinction between receiving and sending ACH transfers. Outgoing transactions, the ones where money leaves your account, are where most banks impose restrictions. This is where the risk of fraud or rapid outflows is highest.

Incoming transactions, such as payroll direct deposits, government benefits, or funds transferred into your account from another institution, usually face no such caps. For most customers, limits only become relevant when trying to move money out, not when receiving funds.

How to Raise Your ACH Limits

If you need to transfer more than your bank’s default allows, there are several paths forward:

• Request a higher limit:Long-standing or high-balance customers may qualify for approval.

• Open a business account: These accounts often allow much larger ACH transfers.

• Use a wire transfer: Wires cost more (typically $20–$35) but generally don’t have restrictive limits.

• Split transfers: If time isn’t critical, you can send multiple transfers across several days.

• Consider alternatives:Services like Zelle or Wise can help, though they come with their own caps and use cases.

Conclusion

While NACHA sets the technical ceiling for same-day ACH transfers at $1 million, banks impose their own much lower limits. For most people, the effective range is $3,500–$25,000 per day, depending on the institution. Incoming transfers usually aren’t restricted, but outgoing ones almost always are.

If you need to move larger sums, your best options are requesting a higher limit, using a business account, or turning to wire transfers. Knowing these rules ahead of time ensures your transfer goes smoothly and helps you avoid costly delays.

This topic is part of the broader banking system. For a complete explanation of accounts, transfers, fees, and consumer protections, see our Banking & Cash Management guide.