What are CHAPS, BACS, SWIFT and Faster Payment transfer methods for GBP?

There are several different transfer methods available depending of the location of your bank for GBP transfers.

Most banks in the UK offer local transfer methods called CHAPS, BACS and Faster Payment as well as international bank transfer (SWIFT). 

Banks located outside of the UK may offer solely international bank transfer (SWIFT) to transfer GBP.

CHAPS payment

The Clearing House Automated Payment System - CHAPS - has been in operation since 1984.

CHAPS payments are used for retail and wholesale, high value payments within the UK. Although there's no minimum payment limit, CHAPS payments are not generally used for low value transfers because they’re typically quite expensive to process.

CHAPS payments are usually worth over £10,000, and can be settled immediately, making them perfect for large, and critical transfers which have to be received right away.

BACS payment

BACS stands for Banker’s Automated Clearing Services.

BACS payments are used for bank transfers within the UK, including direct debits. Usually it takes a couple of days to receive a BACS payment, which can be up to the value of £20 million for retail clients. Usually, a Bacs payment takes three working days to go through.

Faster Payments

Faster Payments are available for bank to bank transfers within the UK, and are typically one of the quicker ways to move money between bank accounts. In most cases a Faster Payments transfer is processed in a matter of seconds but can take longer, depending on cut off times at the sending bank. Twenty-three (23) banks and building societies currently offer this service, and they can each set their own transaction limits and charges. The maximum transaction limit set by the Faster Payments operator is £250,000.

SWIFT payment

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is a network that allows banks to communicate financial information securely.

SWIFT payments are offered by most UK banks and building societies, for international money transfers, and involve a series of banks which work together to make sure your money arrives at your account. SWIFT payments are the most common choice for UK high street banks making international payments but they’re not necessarily the cheapest or fastest option.

If you transfer GBP from a financial institution outside of the UK, then you may be required to use a so called intermediary or correspondent bank to route the payment through, before the funds reach your account and this is called cross-border payments.

Wire transfers can take time to complete, particularly when it comes to cross-border payments. Clients are increasingly accustomed to a payments experience that feels instant. But making a payment to another country can be much more complex and time-consuming.

Processing wire transfers involves a number of steps – particularly for cross-border payments. These are sent via the correspondent banking network and typically pass between several different banks along the way. After being initiated, a wire transfer is sent by the debtor agent to an intermediary bank before moving on to the creditor agent. Once these steps are complete, the recipient will receive their funds.

There are a number of reasons why cross-border payments may be delayed or held up. Firstly, not all account balances can be updated outside the operating hours of local settlement systems. Delays can also arise if compliance checks need to be carried out, especially when a payment passes through different countries and jurisdictions.

What is the difference between the different payment methods?

Each of the different payment types has specific advantages and limits.

• SWIFT payments are used to make international bank transfers from the UK OR from financial institutions located outside of the UK
• Faster Payments are usually used for regular customers who need to transfer smaller amounts of money quickly within the UK.
• BACS payments are used for UK payments, but take a little longer to process than Faster Payments.
• CHAPS payments are processed immediately, and used mainly when transferring amounts worth over £10,000, within the UK.

How much does a CHAPS, BACS, SWIFT or Faster payment cost?

The costs of using different payment methods varies quite widely. Usually the most expensive type of transfer is a SWIFT payment, used for making international bank transfers.

For payments within the UK, the costs vary depending on the type of payment. BACS payments are usually quite slow, but free or only a few pennies to process. Faster Payments may cost a little more, but are still cheap - and a lot quicker than BACS. CHAPS payments are more expensive again - but can be used for high volume, time critical payments, when it’s essential your money is received on the same working day.

We advise you to consult your bank on the fees they charge you for each offered transfer method and the time for processing on their end.