Same Day ACH cutoff times and limits for businesses
Same Day ACH has three processing windows a day and a $1 million per-payment limit. Your provider's own cutoff is earlier than Nacha's, so plan around that.
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"Same day ACH cutoff times" and "same day ach limit" are the top completions after "same day ACH". Businesses use it for urgent payroll, supplier payments and refunds.
The windows
| Bank submission deadline (ET) | Settlement (ET) |
|---|---|
| 10:30 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| 2:45 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| 4:45 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
These are the Federal Reserve's FedACH times for banks. Your provider's cutoff for you is earlier, often 30 to 60 minutes before.
The limit
Each Same Day ACH payment can be up to $1 million. Larger payments go standard ACH or by wire.
When to use it
- Payroll that slipped.
- A supplier who will not ship until paid.
- A refund a customer is waiting for.
When a wire is better
Wires settle individually in real time on Fedwire and cannot be reversed in the same way. For large, final payments, wires are often the right choice. See ACH vs wire transfer.
Paying into the United States: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |
Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet gives registered companies USD details for receiving ACH and wires on the free Starter plan and sends payouts on local rails, including ACH in the US. Fees per payout are $2 on Starter, $1 on Growth and $0.50 on Scale. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See NACHA 2026 ACH rules.
Questions people ask
What are Same Day ACH cutoff times?
Banks submit Same Day ACH files to the operators by 10:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. ET. Your provider's cutoff for you is earlier.
What is the Same Day ACH limit?
$1 million per payment under Nacha rules.
Does Same Day ACH cost more?
Often. Providers set their own fees; some include it free on certain plans.
Can I use Same Day ACH for international payments?
No. Same Day ACH is a domestic US rail. International ACH (IAT) has its own rules.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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