Traditional Transfer vs Instant Transfer

Traditional transfers (also called wire transfers) move money electronically from one bank to another using networks like SWIFT and Fedwire. You can also send money through non-bank services such as Western Union or Wise.

If both sender and receiver are in the same country, the payment can arrive on the same day. For international transfers, it usually takes 2–10 days, depending on the bank and location.

Why traditional transfers take longer

Banks process payments in batches. That means your transfer waits until the bank's next scheduled processing window — even if the sender made the payment hours earlier.

Common reasons for delays:

• Local or international bank holidays
• Weekends
• Time zone differences
• Missing or incomplete information

Information needed for a traditional wire transfer

Requirements vary by bank, but most transfers need:

• Bank name
• IBAN or account number
• Routing number or SWIFT code

Instant Transfers

Instant transfers move money in real time — typically within seconds.

The key difference is the processing system:

• Traditional transfers: processed in batches
• Instant transfers: processed in real time

Comparison Table