Paze is Bank of America's real-time payment network for moving money instantly between bank accounts
Paze is a payment system that lets you send money from your Bank of America account to another person's bank account in seconds, rather than the one to three business days an ACH transfer normally takes. Bank of America launched Paze in 2024 as part of a broader shift toward instant payments in the U.S. banking system. When you send money through Paze, it arrives immediately and the recipient can use it right away—no waiting for the funds to clear.
Paze works only between banks that have joined the network. Bank of America is one of the largest participants, but not every bank offers it yet. If you try to send money to someone at a bank that hasn't joined Paze, the transfer will fall back to a standard ACH transfer, which takes longer. You can check whether a recipient's bank supports Paze before you send, though most major banks have now signed on or announced plans to do so.
Key Takeaways
- Paze transfers arrive in seconds rather than one to three business days, and the money is available to spend immediately.
- You can only use Paze to send money to someone with a bank account at another participating bank—not to credit cards, PayPal, or other payment services.
- Paze transfers typically cost nothing, though your bank may charge a fee for expedited or special transfers in the future.
- If the recipient's bank is not yet on Paze, your transfer will process as a standard ACH transfer instead.
How to send money through Paze at Bank of America
To send a Paze transfer from Bank of America, log into your online banking or mobile app and look for the option to send money to another person. Enter the recipient's name, bank account number, and routing number—the same information you would use for a regular ACH transfer. Bank of America will check whether the recipient's bank is part of the Paze network. If it is, you will see "instant" or "real-time" as an option for the transfer speed.
Select the instant option and confirm the amount and recipient details. The transfer will process immediately. You will see the money leave your account right away, and the recipient will see it arrive in theirs within seconds. Both you and the recipient will receive confirmation of the transfer. If the recipient's bank is not yet on Paze, the system will offer a standard ACH transfer instead, which will take one to three business days.
Paze transfers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays—unlike ACH transfers, which process only on business days. This makes Paze useful if you need to send money urgently on a Friday evening or Sunday morning.
Paze versus other ways to send money from Bank of America
Bank of America offers several ways to move money: Paze (instant, bank to bank), wire transfers (fast but expensive), ACH transfers (slow and free), and Zelle (instant but only between enrolled users). The choice depends on speed, cost, and whether the recipient is set up to receive the payment type.
| Method | Speed | Cost | Who can receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paze | Seconds | Free | Anyone with a bank account at a participating bank |
| Zelle | Seconds to minutes | Free | Only people enrolled in Zelle |
| Wire transfer | Same day or next day | $15–$30 | Anyone with a bank account (domestic or international) |
| ACH transfer | 1–3 business days | Free | Anyone with a bank account |
Paze is faster than ACH and wire transfers and costs nothing, making it the best choice for most person-to-person transfers when the recipient's bank is on the network. Zelle is also instant and free, but it requires the recipient to have signed up for Zelle separately. Paze does not require any special enrollment—if you have a Bank of America account and the recipient has a bank account at a Paze member bank, you can send instantly.
Fraud protection and limits on Paze transfers
Bank of America monitors Paze transfers for fraud the same way it monitors other payments from your account. If you report a transfer as unauthorized, the bank will investigate. However, because Paze transfers are instant and irreversible, recovery is harder than with ACH transfers. Once the money reaches the recipient's bank, reversing it requires the recipient's bank to cooperate, and if the recipient has already spent the money, you may not recover it.
To protect yourself, verify the recipient's name and account number before sending. Bank of America will show you the name associated with the account you are sending to—if it does not match the person you intend to pay, stop and double-check. Do not send money to someone you do not know or trust, and do not send money in response to a request from someone claiming to be from your bank or the government.
Bank of America does not publish a specific daily or per-transfer limit for Paze, but your account may have limits based on your account type and history. Contact Bank of America directly to learn what your limit is, or try sending a transfer and the system will tell you if you have hit a limit.
Which banks accept Paze transfers
Most major U.S. banks now support Paze or have announced plans to do so. This includes Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, U.S. Bank, PNC, Capital One, and many regional and community banks. The list is growing, and new banks join regularly. You can check whether a specific bank is on Paze by asking the recipient or by looking at the list on the Paze website or in your Bank of America app when you enter the recipient's routing number.
If you try to send to a bank that is not yet on Paze, your transfer will not fail—it will simply process as a standard ACH transfer instead, taking one to three business days. This means you can always send money to anyone with a U.S. bank account, but you will only get the instant speed if both banks are on the network.
Paze and your Bank of America account type
Paze is available to most Bank of America customers with a checking or savings account. You do not need a special account type or to pay a fee to use it. If you have a basic Bank of America checking account, you can send Paze transfers. Business accounts, student accounts, and other specialty accounts may have different rules—contact Bank of America to confirm whether Paze is available on your specific account.
You must be enrolled in online banking to send a Paze transfer. If you have not set up online access to your Bank of America account, you will need to do that first. Once you are logged in, Paze will appear as an option when you go to send money to another person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a Paze transfer on a weekend or holiday?
Yes. Paze processes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. The money will arrive in seconds regardless of the day or time you send it. This is different from ACH transfers, which only process on business days.
What happens if I send a Paze transfer to the wrong account?
Contact Bank of America immediately. Because Paze transfers are instant and irreversible, recovery depends on whether the recipient's bank will cooperate and whether the money has been spent. The sooner you report the error, the better your chances of recovery. Bank of America can reach out to the recipient's bank, but there is no may provide the money will be returned.
Is Paze the same as Zelle?
No. Paze and Zelle are separate instant payment networks. Paze works between any two banks on the network without requiring special enrollment. Zelle requires the recipient to have signed up for Zelle separately. Both are instant and free, but they use different infrastructure.
Do I have to use Paze, or can I still use ACH transfers?
You can choose. When you send money through Bank of America, the system will offer you the option to use Paze if the recipient's bank is on the network, but you can also select a standard ACH transfer if you prefer. ACH transfers are free and work to any U.S. bank account, but they take one to three business days.
Will Bank of America charge me to use Paze?
Currently, Paze transfers are free. Bank of America has not announced plans to charge for basic Paze transfers, but fees could change in the future. Check your account terms or contact Bank of America if you want to confirm the current fee structure.