Most Indians still behave as if NEFT and RTGS are “bank-hour” services. They rush transfers before 4 PM, panic on weekends, and assume money sent at night will move only the next working day.
That mental model is obsolete in 2026.
NEFT and RTGS are officially 24×7 systems now. But here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody explains clearly: just because a transfer is accepted 24×7 doesn’t mean it will be credited instantly every time.
So people send money at 11:30 PM, see “success,” and then panic when the beneficiary doesn’t receive it until morning.
This guide breaks down the real NEFT and RTGS timings in 2026, what “cut-off” actually means now, why some transfers get delayed, and the best time windows to move money if timing really matters.
Are NEFT and RTGS Really 24×7 in 2026?
Yes. Formally and technically, both systems run round-the-clock.
That means:
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You can initiate NEFT any time
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You can initiate RTGS any time
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Weekends and holidays don’t block initiation
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RBI settlement rails stay live 24×7
So the old “bank working hours only” rule is dead.
But here’s the catch.
Settlement rails are live 24×7.
Individual bank processing layers are not.
That gap is where most confusion and delays are born.
What “Cut-Off Time” Actually Means Now
In 2026, cut-off time no longer means “you can’t send money after this.”
It means:
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The time after which your bank stops same-day internal processing
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The time after which manual compliance checks pause
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The time after which corporate batch queues freeze
So the concept of cut-off has shifted from RBI to individual banks.
Every bank now runs its own invisible processing windows.
That’s why two people can send NEFT at 9 PM from two different banks and get completely different credit times.
Why Some NEFT Payments Get Delayed Even in 24×7 Mode
This is the core reality most users never see.
NEFT delays in 2026 usually happen because:
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Sender bank holds transaction for internal validation
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Beneficiary bank queues credit for next batch
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Compliance filters flag transaction for review
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Large value triggers manual checks
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Corporate NEFT files run only during office hours
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Core banking batch jobs are offline overnight
So even though RBI settlement happened, your bank didn’t finish its part.
That’s why status shows “successful” but money isn’t usable yet.
Why RTGS Still Feels Faster Than NEFT
RTGS is technically real-time gross settlement.
So why does it still sometimes lag?
Because:
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Banks still apply fraud and AML filters
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High-value transfers trigger compliance checks
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Manual verification may kick in
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Beneficiary bank may credit only during batch window
So RTGS is faster than NEFT — but not immune to bank-side delays.
Typical Credit Timelines in 2026
These are real-world averages, not brochure promises.
For NEFT:
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Normal daytime transfers: 5–30 minutes
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Evening transfers: 15–90 minutes
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Late-night transfers: 30 minutes to next morning
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Holiday transfers: 15 minutes to next working day
For RTGS:
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Normal daytime: 2–10 minutes
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Evening: 5–30 minutes
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Late-night: 10 minutes to next morning
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Holiday: 5 minutes to next working day
Yes — next morning delays still happen.
Why Late-Night Transfers Are Risky If Timing Matters
Late-night transfers are legal.
They are not reliable for urgent needs.
Reasons:
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Bank core systems run maintenance jobs
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Batch crediting pauses
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Manual teams are offline
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Fraud filters become conservative
So if you must have money credited urgently:
Do not send it after 8–9 PM.
Best Time to Transfer Money Using NEFT or RTGS in 2026
This is the money zone.
The safest windows are:
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9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
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3:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Why?
Because:
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All banks are fully staffed
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Core systems are stable
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Compliance teams are active
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Batch jobs are not running
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Settlement queues are shortest
This window minimizes surprise delays.
What Happens on Weekends and Bank Holidays
This confuses everyone.
On weekends and holidays:
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RBI rails are live
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You can initiate transfers
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Settlement technically happens
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But bank back-offices are closed
So:
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Small transfers often credit normally
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Large transfers often get queued
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Corporate transfers often pause
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Manual reviews are delayed
So don’t assume “24×7” means “zero friction.”
Why Corporate NEFT and Salary Transfers Still Follow Office Hours
This is a hidden trap.
Most companies still process:
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Salary NEFT
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Vendor payments
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Bulk transfers
Only during office hours.
So even if RBI is live:
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The company file doesn’t get uploaded
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The bank doesn’t process it
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The credit doesn’t happen
So corporate payments still behave like 2018.
Why Transfers Show ‘Success’ But Balance Doesn’t Change
Because:
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Settlement completed
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Credit entry not posted
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Core banking batch pending
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Beneficiary bank not refreshed
So technically the money moved.
Practically it isn’t usable yet.
What To Do If NEFT or RTGS Is Delayed
Do not panic in the first 2 hours.
Do this instead:
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Check sender bank debit
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Check UTR number
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Wait 2–4 hours
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Check beneficiary account
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Contact sender bank support
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Share UTR with beneficiary bank
99% of delays auto-resolve.
When You Should Actually Escalate
Escalate only if:
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More than 24 hours have passed
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Amount not credited or reversed
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Status still “successful”
At that point:
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Contact sender bank
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Raise NEFT/RTGS complaint
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Share UTR
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Ask for tracking
Common Myths About NEFT and RTGS Timings
Let’s kill them.
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Myth: NEFT doesn’t work at night
Wrong. -
Myth: RTGS is always instant
Wrong. -
Myth: Bank holidays stop all transfers
Wrong. -
Myth: Cut-off times don’t exist anymore
Wrong. They just moved inside banks.
Conclusion: NEFT and RTGS Are 24×7 — Banks Aren’t
In 2026, NEFT and RTGS run all the time.
Banks do not.
That mismatch is the entire story.
If you understand:
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Settlement rails vs bank processing
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Cut-off windows vs initiation rights
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Human hours vs machine hours
You stop panicking over “delays” that aren’t actually failures.
If timing matters:
Send money during daytime windows.
If timing doesn’t matter:
Send anytime and relax.
That’s the real rulebook in 2026.
FAQs
Are NEFT and RTGS really 24×7 in 2026?
Yes. You can initiate both anytime, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Why does NEFT sometimes get delayed even though it’s 24×7?
Because banks still apply internal processing, compliance checks, and batch crediting that can pause overnight.
What is the best time to transfer money using NEFT or RTGS?
Between 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM for fastest and most reliable credit.
Do NEFT and RTGS work on bank holidays?
Yes. But beneficiary banks may delay crediting due to closed back-office operations.
Why does my transfer show success but money isn’t credited yet?
Because settlement happened but your bank hasn’t posted the credit entry yet.
When should I raise a complaint for delayed transfer?
If money is not credited or reversed after 24 hours despite a successful status.