How long does a bank transfer take?

• SEPA transfer: A SEPA transfer is a money transfer between bank accounts in countries within the SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) zone. According to EU regulations, SEPA transfers must be processed within one banking day and are usually completed within 1 to 2 working days. 
• International money transfers (outside the SEPA zone): Transfers outside the Eurozone or in other currencies can take more than 5 working days. With these, the duration greatly depends on the banks and currencies that are involved.

• SEPA instant payments: With instant payments, the credit is made within 10 seconds after the transfer, and the money is immediately available in the recipient's account, even on Sundays and public holidays. This applies to payments within the entire SEPA area. Since January 9, 2025, all banks and savings banks in the European Union will be obliged to enable the receipt of instant payments in euros. This means that incoming payments must be credited to the recipient's account within ten seconds, regardless of the time of day or day of the week. 
• SEPA standard transfer: A standard transfer usually takes 1 to 2 business days depending on the bank and the time at which it is executed.

A standard transfer from one BBVA account to another BBVA account also happens immediately, while standard transfers to other banks in the Euro Payments Area can take 1 to 2 working days. When you initiate a transfer, we will show you the date upon which the money will arrive.

Online transfers are a quick and convenient way to make payments via the bank app or online banking. A paper-based transfer, however, takes longer since it has to be done at the bank counter or using a form. According to EU regulations, paper-based transfers must be processed within two banking days.

A paper-based transfer is a traditional transfer where you enter the transfer details on a transfer form (known as the transfer slip). You then submit the form to your bank to process the payment.

Transfers that have already been executed cannot be canceled. However, if the payment was not authorized or was executed incorrectly, you have the option to request a refund within a maximum of 13 months.

If the transfer has not yet been completed, you can contact your bank as soon as possible and try to stop the transaction. However, this is only possible for transfers that have not yet been executed.

Real-time transfers (which are known as instant payments) are immediately available in the recipient’s account and cannot be reversed. If an error has occurred, the only option is to contact the recipient directly and request a refund.

It is therefore advisable to take great care when entering bank details and transfer amounts so that you can avoid any errors being made. In addition, from the beginning of October 2025, banks will be required to check whether the name of the payee and the IBAN that has been entered match the details of the destination account before authorizing transfers within the eurozone (Verification of Payee, or VOP for short). This makes transfers even more secure for you.

The duration of a transfer varies depending on the type of transfer and the banks that are involved. While standard transfers usually take 1 to 2 working days, SEPA instant payments will arrive almost immediately.

At BBVA, you can make transfers around the clock using the BBVA app or your online banking. In addition, the BBVA current account offers many other free services that allow you to efficiently manage your finances.