Answer
What is an RTP payment?
Quick answer
An RTP payment is an instant bank transfer sent over the RTP network, which The Clearing House launched in 2017. Money moves between participating US banks in seconds, 24/7, including weekends and holidays, and the payment is final once sent. The network allows up to $10 million per payment, within each bank's own limits.
Updated October 2026. Evergreen page — refreshed in place as facts change.
How an RTP payment works
RTP is push-only: the payer's bank sends the payment and the money in one step, the network settles it at once from the banks' prefunded balances in a joint account held at the Federal Reserve, and the recipient's bank credits the account and confirms. The whole round trip takes seconds.
Each payment carries ISO 20022 data, so an invoice number or a short note can travel with the money and reconciliation doesn't depend on guessing which payment is which.
RTP limits and hours in 2026
The network limit rose from $100,000 to $1 million in April 2022 and to $10 million in February 2025. Banks set their own, usually lower, limits by customer and account type. RTP runs 24/7/365; there is no cutoff, no batch and no 'next business day'.
Request for Payment: RTP's built-in invoice
Because RTP can't debit an account, it has a Request for Payment message instead. A business sends a request with the amount and details, the customer sees it in their own banking app, approves it, and their bank pushes the payment. It works only when the customer's bank supports it, which is why most businesses still offer card and ACH alongside.
RTP vs ACH
The two rails suit different jobs:
| RTP | ACH | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Seconds | Same day (in windows) or next business day |
| Hours | 24/7/365 | Business days |
| Direction | Push only | Push (credits) and pull (debits) |
| Reversible? | No, final | Returns allowed within Nacha's time frames |
| Network limit | $10 million | Same-Day ACH $1 million; standard ACH set by each bank |
| Best for | Urgent, off-hours and confirmed payments | Payroll, recurring bills, debits, large batches |
Who can send and receive RTP payments?
More than 1,000 banks and credit unions take part, including the largest US banks that own The Clearing House. A payment needs both banks on the network, and some institutions receive without sending. Business fintech accounts reach RTP through the banks they partner with.
Fraud: why finality cuts both ways
Finality is the feature: the recipient can spend the money immediately, and no one can claw it back. It is also why scammers like instant rails. Treat an RTP payment like a wire: confirm new payees, and verify any request to change bank details through a contact you already have.
RTP with an Anytime Capital business account
Anytime Capital business accounts receive RTP payments to account and routing numbers in the business's own name, and send RTP or FedNow transfers to any US bank account that receives instant payments, any day, with confirmation the moment the money lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does RTP stand for?
Real-Time Payments. It is the name of The Clearing House's instant payment network, though people also use 'real-time payments' for instant payments in general.
Is an RTP payment the same as a wire?
Both are final, but a wire runs on business days with cutoffs, while RTP settles in seconds at any hour. Wires remain the norm for international payments and for counterparties that require them.
Can I cancel an RTP payment?
No. Once sent, it is settled. You can ask the recipient's bank to request a return, but the recipient decides.
Does every bank accept RTP payments?
No. The recipient's bank must be on the RTP network. If it isn't, the payment can often go over FedNow instead, or over ACH or a wire.
How much does an RTP payment cost?
The network charges banks cents per payment; banks set their own customer pricing, and some include instant payments in the account.
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Important Disclosures
- Third-party fees, timings, and product details cited on this page are industry-typical figures as of the date shown and may have changed. Verify current details with the relevant institution.
- Additional identity verification may be required depending on transaction type and amount.
- Anytime Capital is a licensed money services business. Information on this page is educational and is not financial, legal, or tax advice.
- Anytime Capital is a fintech company, not a bank. Banking, card and payment services are provided by Anytime Capital's licensed partners, and each product's terms are shown at sign-up.