The fastest way to transfer money from Chase
You can move money from Chase to another bank using external transfer, which takes one to three business days and works with any U.S. bank account. Log into Chase online or the mobile app, go to "Transfer & Pay," select "Transfer to another bank," enter the receiving bank's routing number and your account number there, and confirm the amount. Chase will ask security questions and may place a temporary hold on the transfer while it verifies the account.
If you need the money the same day, use a wire transfer instead—Chase charges $15 to $20 per wire, but it arrives within hours during business days. Wire transfers require you to call Chase or visit a branch with the receiving bank's name, routing number, account number, and the recipient's full name. Wire transfers are final once sent, so confirm all details before submitting.
For smaller amounts or frequent transfers, peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle (which Chase offers through its app) move money instantly to another person's bank account if both banks support it. Zelle is free and works between most major banks, but you can only send up to $1,000 per transaction and $5,000 per day through Chase's version.
Key Takeaways
- External transfers from Chase take one to three business days and are free, but require the receiving bank's routing number and your account number there.
- Wire transfers cost $15 to $20 but arrive the same business day if you initiate before the Chase cutoff time, usually 2 p.m. Eastern.
- Zelle transfers through Chase are instant and free but capped at $1,000 per transaction and $5,000 per day, and only work if the other person's bank supports Zelle.
- Chase may place a temporary hold on external transfers while verifying the receiving account, which can delay the money by a few hours even after the transfer is sent.
Setting up an external transfer in Chase online banking
Start by logging into Chase.com or the Chase mobile app with your username and password. Tap or click "Transfer & Pay," then select "Transfer to another bank." Chase will ask whether you want to transfer to an existing external account or add a new one. If this is your first transfer to that bank, you will need to add the account.
Enter the receiving bank's nine-digit routing number, your account number at that bank, and the account type (checking or savings). Chase will confirm the bank name once you enter the routing number. Double-check that the name matches the bank you intend—if you enter the wrong routing number, the money may go to a different bank entirely. Enter the transfer amount and the date you want it to go out. Chase allows you to schedule transfers up to 365 days in advance.
After you submit, Chase will send a verification code to your phone or email, depending on your security settings. Enter that code to confirm. The transfer will show as "pending" in your Chase account. Most transfers clear within one to three business days; Chase will notify you when the money leaves your account and when it arrives at the other bank.
Wire transfers for same-day money movement
Wire transfers are the only option if you need money to arrive the same business day. Call Chase at the number on the back of your debit card or visit a Chase branch in person. Have ready the receiving bank's name, routing number, account number, and the full legal name of the person or business receiving the money. The name on the receiving account must match the name you provide, or the receiving bank may reject or delay the transfer.
Chase charges $15 for domestic wire transfers sent online or through the app, and $20 if you call or visit a branch. The money leaves your account immediately after you confirm, and the receiving bank typically posts it within two to four hours on the same business day. Wires sent after 2 p.m. Eastern Time usually process the next business day instead. Once a wire is sent, Chase cannot recall it, so verify all details before authorizing.
Some Chase accounts include a limited number of free wire transfers per month—check your account terms or ask a Chase representative. If you wire money regularly, it may be worth comparing to external transfers, which are free but slower.
Using Zelle for instant transfers to other people
Zelle is a real-time payment network built into the Chase app that lets you send money instantly to another person's bank account. Open the Chase app, tap "Transfer & Pay," then "Send money with Zelle." Enter the recipient's email address or U.S. mobile phone number—they must have a bank account at a U.S. bank that supports Zelle. Most major banks do, but some regional or online banks do not.
Enter the amount you want to send (up to $1,000 per transaction through Chase) and a note if you want. The recipient will receive a notification and can accept the money into their bank account within minutes. Once accepted, the money is final and cannot be reversed. If the recipient's bank does not support Zelle, the money will be returned to your Chase account within one to three business days.
Chase limits Zelle transfers to $5,000 per day and $20,000 per month from most checking accounts. Business accounts and some premium accounts may have higher limits. Zelle is free and works only between people, not for paying businesses or bills—for those, use external transfer or bill pay.
What happens when Chase verifies a new external account
The first time you transfer money to a new bank account, Chase may place a temporary hold while it verifies the account is real and belongs to you. This verification usually takes a few hours but can take up to 24 hours. During this time, the money sits in your Chase account and has not yet left. You will see the transfer listed as "pending" or "verifying" in your transaction history.
Chase verifies by sending small test deposits (usually under $1) to the receiving account, then asking you to confirm the amounts. Some banks credit these test deposits immediately; others take one to two business days. Once you confirm the amounts, Chase will release the transfer. If you do not confirm within a set time (usually 10 days), the transfer will be canceled and the money returned to your Chase account.
After the first transfer to an account is verified, future transfers to that same account will not require re-verification. Chase will remember the account and process transfers faster.
Timing and cutoff times for different transfer types
External transfers initiated before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day (Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays) will usually process the next business day. The money then takes one to two additional business days to arrive at the receiving bank, for a total of two to three business days from the time you initiate. Transfers initiated on weekends or holidays will not process until the next business day.
Wire transfers have an earlier cutoff: transfers initiated before 2 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day will process the same day and arrive within two to four hours. Transfers after 2 p.m. will process the next business day. Wire transfers do not process on weekends or federal holidays.
Zelle transfers are instant during business hours (roughly 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, seven days a week), though some banks may delay acceptance slightly. Transfers initiated outside business hours may not be accepted until the next business day, depending on the receiving bank.
Troubleshooting transfers that do not arrive
If an external transfer does not arrive within three business days, log into your Chase account and check the transaction status. If it shows "completed" or "sent," the money has left Chase and the delay is at the receiving bank. Contact that bank's customer service with the transfer date and amount; they can trace the transfer using Chase's routing number and your account number. The receiving bank can usually locate the money within one business day.
If the transfer shows "failed" or "canceled" in your Chase account, the money has been returned to your Chase account. This usually happens because the receiving account number was incorrect, the account was closed, or the receiving bank rejected it for a mismatch in account holder name. Correct the account details and try again. If you are unsure why it failed, call Chase at the number on your debit card.
For wire transfers, ask Chase for the wire confirmation number immediately after sending. If the money does not arrive within four hours, provide that number to the receiving bank so they can search their incoming wires. Wire transfers can be delayed if the routing number was incorrect or if the receiving bank's name does not match their records exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from Chase to a savings account at another bank?
Yes. External transfers and wire transfers work to any account type—checking, savings, or money market. Enter the correct account type when you set up the transfer so the receiving bank routes the money to the right account. Zelle also works to savings accounts at banks that support it.
What if I enter the wrong account number?
If the account number does not exist or belongs to a different person, the receiving bank will reject the transfer and it will bounce back to your Chase account within one to three business days. You will not lose the money, but you will need to correct the account number and send it again. For wire transfers, the receiving bank may hold the money temporarily while investigating; contact them immediately with the correct account information.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer out of Chase?
Chase does not publish a single transfer limit—it varies by account type and your account history. Most checking accounts can transfer several thousand dollars per day through external transfer. Wire transfers have no published daily limit, but Chase may flag unusually large wires for review. Call Chase if you need to transfer more than $10,000 in a single transaction.
Do I need to tell the other bank I am sending them money?
For external transfers and wire transfers to your own account at another bank, no—the receiving bank will recognize your account number and deposit the money automatically. For transfers to someone else's account, it is courteous to let them know the money is coming, especially if they are not expecting it, so they do not mistake it for fraud.
Can I cancel a transfer after I send it?
External transfers can usually be canceled within a few hours of sending, before the money actually leaves Chase. Log into your account and look for a "cancel" option next to the pending transfer. Wire transfers cannot be canceled once sent—the money is gone. Zelle transfers cannot be canceled once the recipient accepts the money.