How to transfer money to another bank account

You can easily transfer money to another bank account online in a matter of minutes. Before you can transfer money online, you'll need to make sure you're registered for your bank's Internet banking service or have the mobile banking app downloaded and ready to go. Once that's taken care of the process of sending a transfer to another Australian bank account is quick and easy. Here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to transfer money to another bank account.

How to transfer money to another account

1. Log in to your Internet banking account or mobile banking app
2. Select the “Payments” or “Payments and Transfers” or "Pay" menu option.
3. Select the type of transfer you'd like to make, whether you'd like to transfer money between your own accounts or pay someone else's account.
4. Select the account the funds will be transferred from (e.g. your everyday banking account or your savings account).
5. If you haven't transferred money to this person yet select 'New payee' and provide your recipient’s bank account details (name, BSB and account number). If you’ve transferred money to the this account before, it may be saved in your list of payees.
6. Enter the amount you wish to transfer and write a description (if you wish).
7. Review the details of your transfer and submit your payment.

Done! You will be given a receipt for the transaction and you'll also see the transaction in your transaction history.

How long will it take to transfer money to another account?

In a lot of cases the money will be sent instantly, and will appear in their account in a few minutes or less. If you're sending money to a business, sending money internationally or paying via another method (such as BPAY), it could take 2-5 business days.

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What bank account details do I need to send a domestic transfer?

You only need minimal details in order to send a transfer to someone else’s bank account. The only information your bank will require is:

• Your recipient’s BSB (Bank State Branch) and account number or their PayID (learn what a PayID is and how to use it).
• Your recipient’s name for the account.

Although the exact process for sending a domestic transfer will vary slightly from one bank to the next, you will typically have the option to either send a one-off transfer or save your recipient’s details for future transactions.

FAQs on transferring money to another bank account

Can I set up a recurring transfer?

Yes. Your bank will most likely provide the option of setting up a recurring transfer amount, for example, to take place every week, fortnight or month.

What information will appear on my recipient’s statement?

The information you enter into the “description” field when you lodge your transfer will appear on your recipient’s statement, so use this to enter details that will identify the transaction.

Can I send a transfer from my smartphone?

Yes. You should be able to access your bank’s website with your mobile, but many major banks also offer a dedicated smartphone app, which you can use to send transfers with a few taps.

How do I transfer money using a phone number?

PayID allows you to use your phone number or email address instead of your BSB and Account Number to receive money. If you want to send money to someone using their phone number, you first need to ask if they've got their phone number set up as their PayID for their bank account. If they do, simply select the 'Pay using PayID' option when making your transfer, and enter in their phone number. Their name will come up so you can confirm you've got the phone number correct before hitting send.

Can I transfer money between my own accounts as well as to accounts with other banks?

Yes. You can use the “Payments and transfers” feature of your online banking account to, for example, transfer funds between your transaction and savings accounts or pay off your credit card.

Can I use the “transfer money” feature to pay off my credit card?

Yes. You can use this feature to transfer money from a transaction or savings account to pay off your credit card.

Is there a maximum limit on the amount I can transfer?

Yes. Your bank will impose a limit on the maximum amount you can transfer to each recipient per day. However, you can apply to have this limit raised if you wish. There will likely also be a cumulative limit on the total amount you can transfer each day.

Can I cancel or change a transfer request once I have lodged it?

A payment request typically cannot be stopped or cancelled once it has been confirmed via your Internet banking account. However, you may wish to contact your bank about the possibility of initiating a recall or a trace.

What fees and charges apply to domestic transfers?

None. You will typically not have to pay any fees when you send a domestic transfer, but check with your bank for confirmation before submitting a transfer request.

Can I send money overseas?

Yes, you can send money overseas from your bank account. However, transfer fees and exchange rates apply to the transaction, so it’s worth comparing specialist online money transfer companies to see if you might be able to find a better deal.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

Co-written by

Alison Banney

Editor

Alison Banney is the money editorial manager at Finder. She covers all areas of personal finance, and her areas of expertise are superannuation, banking and saving. She has written about finance for 10 years, having previously worked at Westpac and written for several other major banks and super funds. See full bio

Alison's expertise

Alison has written 625 Finder guides across topics including:

• Superannuation
• Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
• Budgeting and money-saving hacks
• Managing the cost of living