Marcus transfers to your bank account take one to three business days
When you move money from Marcus to an external bank account, the transfer enters the ACH (Automated Clearing House) system, which processes transfers in batches overnight. Marcus initiates the transfer the same day you request it if you submit before their cutoff time, usually 5 p.m. ET on weekdays. The actual movement of funds then depends on your receiving bank's processing speed—most banks post ACH transfers within one to three business days after Marcus sends them.
Weekends and federal holidays do not count as business days, so a transfer requested on Friday afternoon may not arrive until Wednesday or Thursday. If you request a transfer on a holiday, Marcus treats it as if you requested it the next business day. The three-day window is standard across most banks; some post transfers faster, but you should not count on receiving funds in less than one business day.
Key Takeaways
- Marcus processes transfer requests submitted before 5 p.m. ET on business days the same day; requests after that cutoff are processed the next business day.
- The receiving bank controls the final posting time, which typically ranges from one to three business days after Marcus sends the transfer.
- Weekends and federal holidays pause the clock, so transfers requested Friday or before a holiday will take longer to arrive.
- You can check the status of a transfer in your Marcus account under the transaction history or transfer details section.
What happens when you request a transfer from Marcus
When you log into your Marcus account and initiate an external transfer, you are sending an ACH instruction to your bank. Marcus collects these instructions throughout the business day and batches them for overnight processing. If you submit your transfer request before 5 p.m. ET, Marcus includes it in that night's batch. After 5 p.m. ET, your request waits until the next business day's batch.
Marcus then sends the batch to the Federal Reserve or a private ACH operator, which routes the transfer to your receiving bank's processing center. Your receiving bank receives the instruction and decides when to post the funds to your account—usually within one to three business days. Some banks post same-day or next-day for ACH transfers, but most use the full three-day window.
Why transfers take multiple days even though they are electronic
ACH transfers are not instantaneous because they move through a centralized clearing system designed to batch and reconcile thousands of transactions at once. The Federal Reserve operates two ACH windows per day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Marcus must submit your transfer during one of these windows, and the receiving bank must retrieve and process it during their own processing cycle.
Each step—batching, transmission, receiving bank processing, and posting to your account—takes time. This is different from a wire transfer, which moves directly from bank to bank but costs money and is typically used for larger or time-sensitive transfers. Marcus does not charge for ACH transfers, which is why they use the standard three-day window rather than paying for faster processing.
How to track a transfer you have already sent
Log into your Marcus account and navigate to your transaction history or the transfers section. You should see the transfer listed with a status indicator: pending, processing, or completed. Pending means Marcus has not yet sent it to the ACH system. Processing means it has been sent and is in transit. Completed means your receiving bank has posted it to your account.
If a transfer shows as completed in Marcus but has not appeared in your receiving bank account, contact your receiving bank directly—the delay is on their end. If it has been more than three business days since Marcus sent the transfer and it still shows as processing, contact Marcus customer service with the transfer confirmation number from your account.
Transfers that take longer than three days
If your transfer has not arrived after three business days, the most common cause is that your receiving bank is processing it slower than usual, often due to high volume or a system issue on their end. Contact your receiving bank and provide them with the ACH trace number (also called the transaction reference number), which Marcus can provide if you ask. Your receiving bank can then track the transfer through the Federal Reserve system.
Less commonly, the transfer may have been rejected by your receiving bank if the account number or routing number you entered was incorrect. Marcus will notify you of a rejection and return the funds to your Marcus account, usually within five to seven business days. Check your Marcus account for any notifications about rejected transfers, and verify the account and routing numbers before requesting the transfer again.
Transfers to accounts at other Marcus customers
If you are transferring money to another Marcus customer's account, the transfer may post faster because both accounts are at the same bank. Some transfers between Marcus accounts post within hours rather than days, though Marcus does not may provide this speed. The transfer still goes through the ACH system, so the standard one- to three-day timeline applies unless both accounts are flagged for faster processing.
To transfer between Marcus accounts, you will still need the receiving account holder's routing number and account number, just as you would for any external transfer. Marcus treats internal transfers the same way as external ones from a processing standpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a transfer after I have requested it?
If the transfer is still pending and has not been sent to the ACH system, you can usually cancel it through your Marcus account. Once Marcus has sent it to the ACH system (which happens the same day if you request before 5 p.m. ET), you cannot cancel it directly. Contact Marcus customer service immediately if you need to stop a transfer that has already been processed.
Why does my transfer show completed in Marcus but not in my bank account?
Marcus marks a transfer as completed once it has been sent to the ACH system, not when your receiving bank posts it. Your receiving bank may take one to three more business days to process and post the transfer. If it has been more than three business days since Marcus marked it complete, contact your receiving bank with the ACH trace number.
Do transfers from Marcus cost money?
No. Marcus does not charge for ACH transfers to external bank accounts. Your receiving bank also does not charge for receiving an ACH transfer. The transfer is free on both ends.
What if I entered the wrong account number?
If you entered an incorrect account number, the receiving bank will reject the transfer, and Marcus will return the funds to your Marcus account within five to seven business days. You will see a notification in your account about the rejection. Verify the correct account and routing numbers before requesting the transfer again.