Payment limits: your guide to UK bank transfer limits

Moving money from one account to another can feel complicated, especially when you want to send a large sum without hassle or high fees. If you're buying a car, putting down a deposit on a house, or consolidating debts, hitting a restrictive bank transfer limit can be frustrating and cause delays. UK financial institutions, both traditional and modern, impose caps for security and regulatory reasons, but these limits vary depending on the provider and the transfer method you choose.

In this guide, we break down the essential mechanics of transfer limits, explain why they exist, and how the main providers in the UK compare. Whether you're dealing with a daily limit or figuring out how to send large amounts of money, we aim to provide the clarity you need to move your money swiftly and affordably.

Exchange and global transfer fees, fair usage limits, and T&Cs apply.

This comparison is based on publicly available information published by other providers as of 14 May 2026.

You should visit their websites for confirmation of their most updated costs and charges.

Please note that actual charges and services offered may change and vary depending on individual circumstances. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend visiting each provider’s official website.

This article and the information provided herein are not intended to constitute legal, regulatory advice.

Understanding UK transfer limits

Most UK providers have daily limits for standard online Faster Payments, often clustering between £20,000–100,000. For amounts exceeding this, you'll usually need to use a high-cost CHAPS payment or visit a branch in person, which can be time-consuming and disruptive.

Our app offers a different approach. We aim to keep domestic transfer limits high, often allowing customers to send significantly larger amounts than many traditional high-street banks, all through the convenience of the in-app experience. This means less friction and better control when you need to move serious money.

What are payment limits and why do they exist?

Payment limits are a necessary security and regulation tool used by financial institutions to cap the total amount of money you can send from your account within a specific timeframe.

The purpose of daily limits

The question of transfer limits is critical, and the answer is almost always yes. These caps aren't arbitrary — they exist primarily for security reasons, but they're also shaped by the underlying payment technology used.

• Protecting your money: limits act as a critical fraud prevention measure. By capping the amount you can transfer daily, institutions limit the potential financial damage if your account details are compromised.
• Following regulations: financial institutions are legally obliged to adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations. Monitoring large transfers is a key part of these regulations. Setting limits helps control the volume of high-value transactions that need scrutiny.

How limits are reset

For most UK accounts, including ours, the limit is applied per account and is based on a 24-hour cycle. The overall daily limit typically resets at midnight (11.59pm UK time) each day.

Money transfer limits to external accounts

The amount you can send to an external account (i.e. someone who has an account with another provider) is determined by the transfer type and the channel you use.

Understanding payment methods and caps

The method you choose dictates the underlying cap:

Faster Payments (FPS)

Payments to another UK account will normally be sent this way. While the Faster Payment System itself can handle payments of up to £1 million, most providers restrict personal accounts to £25,000–100,000. Your daily limit includes:

• One-off payments to new or existing payees
• Standing orders (the date the payment is due counts towards the limit)
• Future-dated payments and increases to existing future payments
• Some Open Banking payments

CHAPS payments (high-value)

This system is designed specifically for high-value payments, often over £100,000, and is generally used for things like property purchases. Unlike Faster Payments, CHAPS payments often don't have an upper limit. However, they're processed only during working hours and always incur a fee, usually ranging from £20–35, depending on the provider.

We don't set a hard upper limit for UK domestic transfers. This means you can handle significant financial commitments entirely in-app, without paying CHAPS fees or needing to schedule a trip to a physical branch. Your payments are subject only to our internal security checks and those of our payment partners.

Special transfer limits

Beyond the daily transfer cap, other products and services have specific limits designed to manage risk.

International payments

When transferring money overseas, the question of whether there's a bank transfer limit becomes more complex. While there's no legal limit set by the UK government on how much money you can send abroad, individual providers impose their own limits.

Many providers apply lower international transfer limits than their domestic limits, often around £25,000–100,000 per day.

At Revolut, we don't impose an upper limit on the amount of money you can send internationally. However, we do have fair usage limits on currency exchange, depending on your plan.

• Standard and Plus: a fair usage fee applies once you exceed your monthly allowance for exchanging currency
• Premium, Metal, and Ultra: you can exchange unlimited amounts of money at a competitive rate without incurring an additional fair usage fee

This policy ensures that you have the flexibility to move your money, with costs clearly shown before you commit. You can compare our Plans benefits and limits to find the solution that fits your financial needs.

Paid Plan Terms apply.

Cash withdrawals

While not a transfer limit, cash withdrawal limits are another common daily cap you'll face. Most UK cash machines limit withdrawals to around £300–800 per day. For unlimited cash withdrawals, you'd typically need to visit a branch, though large amounts often need to be ordered in advance.

With Revolut, you can withdraw up to £3,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) within 24 hours. The daily limit can't be increased. Keep in mind that you have a monthly free ATM withdrawal limit based on your plan (up to £2,000 on Ultra).

No fees within plan limits. T&Cs apply. Third parties may charge ATM fees.

Understanding fraud and security checks

Financial institutions are constantly monitoring for unusual activity. Large, sudden transactions, especially to new payees, can trigger an automated security check. This isn't necessarily an attempt to restrict you, but rather a vital safeguard against potential fraud and scams.

When you send a very large sum, our advanced security systems may automatically flag the payment for an additional review. This process is designed to ensure the payment is legitimate before the money leaves your account. This is a common practice across the industry and is one of the key reasons why even providers with high limits still reserve the right to review transfers.

Move money easily with Revolut: high limits, clear fees

We know that when you have a large amount of money to transfer, you need simplicity, speed, and confidence. Our unlimited domestic limits and seamless in-app experience are designed to deliver exactly that, contrasting sharply with the restrictive, fee-laden processes of traditional payment methods.

Here's a summary of our key advantages:

• No domestic limits: we generally don't impose maximum transfer limits for most currencies and destination countries, meaning you can send transfers of all sizes. This removes the need for expensive, time-consuming CHAPS payments for the vast majority of large transfers.
• Clarity on fees: UK domestic and SEPA zone transfers don't incur transfer fees. For international transfers, the cost is clearly displayed before you press send, so you'll always know the total amount your recipient will get.
• Total convenience: manage all your finances, from your daily spending to your largest transfers, entirely in-app. There's no need to visit a branch or wait on hold to move your money.

We're focused on giving you control over your money, allowing you to move it when and where you need to, without facing arbitrary caps or additional fees.

Your account can still reach its maximum balance limit, and transfers may be affected. We will alert you if any action is required.

Start sending without limits

We know that dealing with transfer limits can be stressful, especially when time is of the essence. Our goal is to eliminate the friction and unnecessary fees associated with moving large sums of money, putting you back in control.

To start enjoying high limits and easy, in-app transfers, follow these steps to sign up for Revolut:

1. Download the Revolut app from the App Store or Google Play and verify your identity in a matter of minutes.
2. Choose the plan that suits your needs, whether that's Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, or Ultra.
3. Add money to your account and you're ready to make a transfer. Go to Payments, tap the + symbol, and follow the clear steps to send your money.