The fastest way depends on which bank holds both accounts
If both accounts are at the same bank, you can transfer money between them in minutes using online banking, a mobile app, or by calling the bank. Log into your account, find the transfer or move money option, select your savings account as the source and checking as the destination, enter the amount, and confirm. The money usually arrives within the same day, often within an hour.
If your accounts are at different banks, the transfer takes longer. You have three main routes: an ACH transfer (1–3 business days), a wire transfer (same day or next day, but costs $15–$30), or visiting a branch in person if both banks have physical locations near you. ACH is free and works for most people; wire is faster but expensive and best reserved for urgent moves.
The method you choose also depends on how much you need to move and how soon. Moving $50 between your own accounts at the same bank takes seconds. Moving $5,000 between different banks on a Friday afternoon requires planning, because ACH won't clear until Monday or Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
- Same-bank transfers happen within minutes to an hour using online banking or a mobile app, with no fee.
- Different-bank transfers via ACH take 1–3 business days and are free, but wire transfers arrive the same or next day for a fee of $15–$30.
- You need your savings account number and routing number to set up a transfer to a different bank; your checking bank will ask for both.
- Transfers initiated on weekends or holidays don't begin processing until the next business day.
- If you need cash immediately, withdrawing from savings at an ATM or teller and depositing to checking is faster than waiting for an ACH transfer.
Transferring between accounts at the same bank
Log into your bank's website or open the mobile app. Look for a button or menu labeled "Transfer," "Move Money," "Pay," or "Send Money." Some banks put this in the account details page; others have it as a main menu option. Select your savings account as the "from" account and your checking account as the "to" account.
Enter the amount you want to move and review the details before confirming. The bank will show you the source account, destination account, and amount one more time. Confirm the transfer. Most banks process same-bank transfers instantly or within an hour, even if you initiate it at 11 p.m. on a Friday.
If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch. A teller can move money between your accounts on the spot. You will need to provide your account numbers and the amount, but the transfer completes before you leave the counter.
Transferring to a checking account at a different bank
Before you start, gather your savings account number and your bank's routing number. The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank in the ACH system. You can find it on a check, in your online banking portal, or by calling your bank.
Log into the checking account at the receiving bank. Look for "Add Account," "Link Account," "External Transfer," or "Receive Money" — the exact wording varies. Enter your savings account number and routing number. The receiving bank will verify the account by depositing two small test amounts (usually under $1 each) into your checking account within 1–2 business days.
Once verified, you can initiate transfers from your checking account to pull money from savings, or you can go back to your savings bank and push money to the checking account. Both methods work; the difference is which bank you log into. Pulling from checking is often simpler because you are already there. Pushing from savings gives you more control if you want to move money on a specific schedule.
ACH transfers take 1–3 business days. If you initiate a transfer on a Friday afternoon, it will not begin processing until Monday, and it may not clear until Tuesday or Wednesday. Plan ahead if you need the money by a certain date.
When to use a wire transfer instead
A wire transfer moves money the same day or next business day, but your bank charges a fee of $15–$30 for outgoing wires. Use this method only when you need money urgently and cannot wait for an ACH transfer.
To send a wire, call your bank or visit a branch. You will need the receiving bank's name, routing number, your checking account number at that bank, and the amount. The bank will confirm all details and process the wire. Money usually arrives within hours on the same business day, or by the next morning if you initiate after 2 p.m.
Wire transfers are also harder to reverse if you make a mistake. Once the money leaves your account, the receiving bank has it. If you enter the wrong account number, you may have to contact the receiving bank and ask them to return it, which can take days or weeks. Double-check all numbers before confirming a wire.
What happens if you transfer on a weekend or holiday
Banks do not process ACH transfers on weekends or federal holidays. If you initiate a transfer on Saturday, it sits in a queue until Monday morning, when processing begins. A transfer started on Friday at 5 p.m. will not clear until Tuesday at the earliest.
Same-bank transfers often process instantly even on weekends, because they do not go through the ACH system. Check with your bank if you are unsure. Wire transfers also process on weekends at some banks, but you will pay the fee regardless of when you send it.
If you need money by a specific date, count backward from that date and account for weekends and holidays. If you need $500 in checking by Monday morning and today is Friday, do not rely on an ACH transfer started Friday evening. Either transfer on Thursday, use a wire, or withdraw cash from savings and deposit it to checking in person.
Limits on how much you can transfer
Your bank may set daily or monthly limits on transfers. A common limit is $10,000 per day or $25,000 per month for ACH transfers, though this varies by bank and account type. Some banks have no limit for same-bank transfers.
If you need to move more than your limit, you have a few options: initiate multiple transfers on different days, call your bank and ask them to raise your limit temporarily, or visit a branch and withdraw cash or request a cashier's check. A cashier's check is a bank-issued check drawn on the bank's own account, so it clears faster than a personal check and is safer to carry than large amounts of cash.
Wire transfers usually have higher limits than ACH, but the fee applies each time. If you are moving a large sum, ask your bank whether a wire or multiple ACH transfers makes more sense.
What to do if a transfer does not arrive
If you initiated a same-bank transfer and the money has not arrived within an hour, log back into your account and check whether the transfer shows as pending or completed. If it shows completed, the money is in your checking account; check your balance or recent transactions. If it shows pending, wait a few more hours.
If you initiated an ACH transfer to a different bank and it has been more than 3 business days, contact your receiving bank first. Ask them whether the transfer has arrived. If they have no record of it, contact your sending bank and provide the date, amount, and receiving account number. The bank can trace the transfer and tell you where it is.
If the transfer was sent to the wrong account by mistake, contact both banks immediately. The sending bank can sometimes recall an ACH transfer if it has not cleared yet. If it has cleared, the receiving bank may be able to reverse it, but this is not may provide and can take weeks. Wire transfers are much harder to reverse, so act fast if you made an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from savings to checking on my phone?
Yes, if your bank has a mobile app. Open the app, find the transfer or move money option, select savings as the source and checking as the destination, enter the amount, and confirm. Same-bank transfers usually complete within an hour. If your bank does not have an app, you can use the website on your phone's browser or call the bank.
Do I need to know my routing number to transfer between my own accounts at the same bank?
No. For same-bank transfers, you only need your account numbers, which the bank already has. You only need your routing number when transferring to a different bank, because the receiving bank uses it to identify where your money is coming from.
What if my savings account is at a credit union and my checking is at a bank?
The process is the same. Credit unions participate in the ACH system, so you can transfer between a credit union savings account and a bank checking account using ACH. Gather your credit union account number and routing number, add the account to your bank's system, verify it with the test deposits, and initiate the transfer. It takes 1–3 business days.
Is there a fee to transfer money from savings to checking?
No fee for ACH transfers or same-bank transfers. Wire transfers cost $15–$30 depending on your bank. Some banks charge a fee if you exceed a certain number of transfers per month from a savings account, but moving money to your own checking account usually does not count toward that limit.
Can I set up automatic transfers from savings to checking?
Yes. Most banks allow you to schedule recurring transfers. Log into your account, set up the transfer as you normally would, and look for an option to repeat it weekly, biweekly, or monthly. This is useful if you want to move a fixed amount to checking on payday or on a specific date each month. You can cancel or modify the schedule anytime.