Most incoming payments arrive in your Relay Account within 1 to 3 business days, depending on the payment method and sender.
Timing varies by payment type. Business day rules mean weekends and U.S. federal holidays do not count toward the clock, and cutoff times at both the sending bank and Thread Bank, Member FDIC, can push a payment into the next processing window.
How long does each payment method take?
Timing below reflects typical arrival at your Relay Account once the sender initiates the payment. Actual timing depends on the sending bank's cutoff, batch schedules, and whether the payment triggers a compliance review.
Payment method | Typical arrival | Notes |
ACH credit | 1 to 3 business days | Depends on the sender's bank schedule and cutoff time. |
Domestic wire | Same business day, sometimes up to 1 business day | Typically settles within a few hours after the sending bank releases it. |
Card payment (via Invoices or Quick Requests) | 2 to 3 business days | Processing fees are deducted before deposit. |
Pay-by-bank (via Invoices or Quick Requests) | 2 to 3 business days | Timing starts after the payer authenticates with their bank. |
Mobile check deposit | 5 to 7 business days | 3:00 PM ET cutoff on the day of deposit. |
Same-day ACH is available for a subset of transfers when the sender initiates it before their bank's same-day cutoff.
What counts as a business day for incoming payments?
Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding U.S. federal holidays. A payment sent on a Friday afternoon may not start processing until Monday, and payments sent the business day before a federal holiday shift by an additional day. If you are waiting on a payment and think a holiday may be delaying it, check the current calendar in Holidays and bank closures.
Why do incoming payment timelines vary?
Three factors shape the arrival time of any incoming payment.
Payment method. Wires clear through a real-time settlement network; ACH clears in batches; checks require image processing and funds-availability holds. The rails determine the floor.
Sending bank cutoffs. Every bank has a daily cutoff after which the transaction rolls to the next business day. A wire initiated at 4:30 PM ET is usually released by the sending bank the next morning.
Compliance reviews. Thread Bank, Member FDIC, may hold an incoming payment briefly to verify it against fraud, sanctions, or Bank Secrecy Act rules. These reviews are usually resolved within one business day.
Weather events, ACH network issues, and high-volume periods (payroll days, tax deadlines) can also add delays.
How do card and pay-by-bank payments through Invoices or Quick Requests work?
Card and pay-by-bank payments received through Relay's Invoices or Quick Requests flow route through a processing account before landing in your deposit account, which is why they take 2 to 3 business days to appear. Along the way, you will see one of these statuses on the request:
Draft: you have not sent the invoice or quick request yet
Sent / Unpaid: the payer has received the request but has not paid
Scheduled: the payer scheduled the payment for a future date
Processing: the payment is clearing and has not been deposited yet
Paid: the payment has arrived in your deposit account
Overdue: the request is past its due date and remains unpaid
Cancelled (Expired): the request expired before it was paid
For processing fees and detailed settlement timing on this flow, see Invoices, Quick Requests: Processing Fees, Settlement Timelines, Limits.
What should you do if an incoming payment has not arrived?
Work through these checks in order before contacting support.
Confirm the expected timeline has lapsed. Compare today's date to the sender's initiation date, subtracting weekends and U.S. federal holidays. Most incoming payments land within 1 to 3 business days; checks and card or pay-by-bank payments through Invoices or Quick Requests can take up to 5 to 7 business days.
Check your Relay Account. Sign in and look for the payment in your transactions view. Include Processing and Pending items, not only Cleared.
Confirm the sender submitted the payment. Ask the sender for confirmation from their bank, including the exact date and time they released the funds.
Request sender details. For any late payment, ask for the sending bank name, the reference or trace number, and the date and time of submission. Wires use a Fed reference number; ACH uses a trace number.
Look for a return or failure. If a payment was returned, the sender's account is usually refunded within 1 to 2 business days, and the sender's bank should have a returned-item notification.
Rule out a holiday or weekend delay. A Friday-evening ACH will typically not appear until Tuesday if Monday is a federal holiday.
If you have completed these checks and the payment still has not arrived, contact Customer Experience with your Relay Account email, the payment method used, the sender's details, and any confirmation or reference numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an incoming ACH take to reach a Relay Account?
Standard ACH credits typically arrive in 1 to 3 business days after the sender initiates the transfer, depending on the sending bank's cutoff and batch schedule. Same-day ACH is available when the sender initiates it before their bank's same-day cutoff.
How long does an incoming domestic wire take to reach a Relay Account?
Domestic wires typically arrive the same business day, often within a few hours of the sending bank releasing the wire. If the sending bank releases the wire close to its daily cutoff, arrival can take up to 1 business day.
Why does a mobile check deposit take 5 to 7 business days?
Check deposits go through image capture, funds-availability holds, and clearance through the paying bank. The 3:00 PM ET cutoff means a check deposited later in the day starts the clock the following business day.
Can Relay speed up an incoming payment?
Relay cannot override the sending bank's release schedule or the settlement rails. If a payment is late, the fastest path is usually to work with the sender's bank on the sending side.
What happens if an incoming payment is delayed by a U.S. federal holiday?
Payments initiated the business day before a U.S. federal holiday shift by an additional day. Weekends and U.S. federal holidays do not count toward the business-day clock.
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