Faster Payments is a United Kingdom electronic payment service that lets money move between participating bank accounts close to immediately, usually within seconds and at any time of day, for most standard sterling payments.
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
How Faster Payments works
Faster Payments is an interbank system in the United Kingdom that clears most standard sterling payments in close to real time, often within seconds, and operates around the clock including evenings and weekends. When someone sends a payment through online or mobile banking, the participating banks exchange and settle the instruction through the service so the money reaches the recipient quickly. The service supports single immediate payments as well as forward dated and recurring payments such as standing orders. The system allows individual payments of up to one million pounds, but each bank or building society sets its own sending limits, which are often lower, current as of 9 April 2026.
Faster Payments, CHAPS, and Bacs
The United Kingdom has more than one way to move money, and they suit different needs. Faster Payments is built for speed, moving most payments in seconds at any time. CHAPS is generally used for high value or time critical sterling payments, settles on the same working day, and often carries a fee. Bacs is used for bulk and routine payments such as salaries and direct debits and typically takes a few working days to clear. The right method depends on how fast the payment must arrive, the amount, and any fees the bank charges.
Why it matters to a business
For a business, Faster Payments can mean quicker access to incoming funds and the ability to pay suppliers, staff, or tax close to immediately, which helps cash flow. Many United Kingdom business accounts include Faster Payments for electronic transfers, sometimes free and sometimes with a per payment charge, and impose their own daily or per transaction limits that can be below the one million pound system maximum. Because limits, availability, and any fees differ by bank and account, a business should confirm its own sending limits and charges with its provider before relying on the service for large or urgent payments.
Frequently asked questions
What is Faster Payments?
How long does a Faster Payment take?
Is there a limit on Faster Payments?
How is Faster Payments different from CHAPS and Bacs?
Definitions, fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 9 April 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.