Instant transfer

An instant transfer (Echtzeitüberweisung, instant payment) is a transfer that reaches the recipient in a maximum of 10 seconds – around the clock, 365 days a year.

What has changed (EU Regulation 2024/886):

• Since October 2025: all EU banks MUST be able to receive instant transfers
• From January 2026: all EU banks MUST also be able to send instant transfers
• Free of charge: may NOT cost more than a normal transfer
• Limit: up to €100,000 per transaction

Before vs. after:

• Normal SEPA transfer: 1 banking day (sent on Friday → arrives on Monday)
• Instant transfer: 10 seconds (even on Saturday at 11 pm)

Useful for:

• Transferring rent on the last day and it still arrives
• Sending money to friends/family instantly (instead of PayPal/Klarna)
• Buying a used car: instant transfer instead of the risk of carrying cash
• Self-employed: the customer pays immediately – liquidity improves

Security:

• IBAN verification (VoP, verification of payee): the bank checks whether IBAN and name match
• Protects against typos and certain scams
• Caution: instant = cannot be recalled! Once transferred = gone