What a Link Payment Is
A Link payment is a transfer of money from one person's bank account to another person's bank account using the Link network, a real-time payment system run by The Clearing House. When you send a Link payment, the money moves directly between banks in seconds or minutes, not hours or days. The recipient's bank account is credited almost immediately, and they can use the funds right away.
Link is designed for person-to-person transfers, bill payments, and business transactions where speed matters. You initiate a Link payment through your bank's app or website by entering the recipient's name and account number (or sometimes just their phone number or email, depending on your bank). The system verifies the recipient's identity before the money moves, which reduces fraud risk compared to older payment methods.
Link payments are different from ACH transfers, which take one to three business days, and different from wire transfers, which are expensive and irreversible. Link sits in the middle: fast like a wire, but cheaper and with some built-in protections.
Key Takeaways
- Link payments move money between bank accounts in seconds to minutes, not hours or days like ACH transfers.
- You send a Link payment through your bank's app or website by entering the recipient's account details or contact information.
- The receiving bank verifies the recipient's identity before accepting the payment, which reduces the risk of sending money to the wrong person.
- Link payments cost less than wire transfers and work for person-to-person transfers, bill payments, and some business transactions.
- Not all banks offer Link yet, so check with your bank whether it supports real-time payments before you need to send one.
How Link Payments Move Through the Banking System
When you send a Link payment, your bank connects to The Clearing House network and sends the payment instruction to the recipient's bank. The recipient's bank receives the instruction, verifies that the account exists and the account holder's name matches what you entered, and then credits the account. This verification step is called Confirmation of Payee (CoP), and it stops payments from landing in the wrong account even if you type a number wrong or a scammer gives you a fake account number.
The entire process takes seconds to a few minutes. Your bank deducts the money from your account immediately, and the recipient's bank adds it to their account immediately. There is no waiting period, no clearing house delay, no "business days" language. If the recipient's bank rejects the payment (because the account doesn't exist or the name doesn't match), the money returns to your account within minutes.
Link is a push payment, meaning you initiate the transfer and the money moves at your command. This is different from a pull payment like a check or ACH debit, where the recipient asks for the money and your bank has to approve it. With Link, you control when the money leaves your account.
Which Banks and Payment Services Offer Link
The Clearing House operates Link, but individual banks decide whether to offer it to their customers. As of now, major banks including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Citibank support Link payments. Many regional banks and credit unions also offer it, but not all. Smaller online banks and some fintech apps may not yet support Link, or they may support it only for receiving payments, not sending them.
To find out whether your bank offers Link, log into your banking app or website and look for "real-time payments," "instant payments," or "Link" in the transfer options. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask directly. If your bank does not offer Link yet, you can still send money using ACH (which takes one to three business days) or a wire transfer (which is faster but costs $15 to $50).
Some payment apps and bill payment services are beginning to support Link as well, though adoption is still rolling out. Check the app's help section or contact support to see whether Link is available for your transfer.
When to Use a Link Payment Instead of Other Methods
Use a Link payment when you need money to arrive the same day or within minutes and you want to pay less than a wire transfer costs. Common scenarios include sending money to a friend or family member who needs it urgently, paying a contractor or freelancer who requires fast payment, or paying a bill where the due date is today or tomorrow.
Link is also useful when you want to avoid the risk of a check getting lost in the mail or an ACH payment bouncing because the recipient's account details changed. Because Link verifies the recipient's identity and account before the payment goes through, you have more confidence that the money will land in the right place.
Do not use Link for large business transactions where you need a paper trail or a receipt that a court would accept as proof of payment. Wire transfers and ACH transfers generate more formal documentation. Also, do not use Link if your bank does not offer it yet — you will need to choose ACH or wire instead.
Link Payment Fees and Limits
Most banks do not charge a fee for sending or receiving a Link payment, especially for person-to-person transfers. Some banks may charge a small fee (typically $1 to $3) for business Link payments or for customers who use Link very frequently, but this is not yet standard. Check your bank's fee schedule or ask customer service whether Link transfers are free for your account type.
Banks set their own limits on how much you can send in a single Link payment and how much you can send per day. These limits vary widely — some banks allow up to $100,000 per transaction, while others cap it at $10,000 or $25,000. Your bank's app will show you the limit when you start a transfer, or you can call customer service to ask.
If you need to send more than your bank's Link limit allows, you can split the payment into multiple transfers (if you have time) or use a wire transfer instead. Wire transfers do not have the same daily limits, but they cost money and cannot be reversed once sent.
What Happens If a Link Payment Goes Wrong
If you send a Link payment to the wrong account number, the receiving bank's verification system should catch the mismatch and reject the payment. The money will return to your account within a few minutes. You will see the rejection in your transaction history, and you can then send the payment to the correct account.
If the receiving bank accepts the payment but the recipient says they never got it, contact your bank immediately with the transaction confirmation number. Your bank can trace the payment through The Clearing House network and confirm whether the recipient's bank received and credited it. If the recipient's bank received it but the recipient's account was closed or frozen, your bank may be able to recover the funds, but this takes time.
If you suspect fraud — for example, you were tricked into sending money to a scammer — report it to your bank right away. Link payments are not reversible like ACH transfers, so recovery depends on whether the receiving bank will cooperate. Your bank can file a claim with the receiving bank and The Clearing House, but there is no may provide the money will come back. This is why it is important to verify the recipient's identity before you send a Link payment, especially if you do not know them personally.
Link Payments vs. Other Fast Payment Methods
| Payment Method | Speed | Cost | Reversibility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link (Real-Time Payment) | Seconds to minutes | Usually free | Not reversible | Urgent person-to-person transfers, same-day bills |
| Wire Transfer | Same day or next day | $15–$50 | Not reversible | Large amounts, formal business payments |
| ACH Transfer | 1–3 business days | Usually free | Reversible within a window | Routine bill payments, payroll, no rush |
| Debit Card or Digital Wallet | Seconds to minutes | Usually free | Varies by service | Small amounts, retail or app-based transfers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a Link payment after I send it?
No. Link payments are not reversible once the receiving bank accepts them. If you need to cancel a payment, you must contact your bank immediately and ask them to reach out to the receiving bank to request a reversal. The receiving bank is not required to agree, so cancellation is not may provide. This is why you should double-check the recipient's account details before you hit send.
Do I need the recipient's full account number to send a Link payment?
It depends on your bank. Some banks allow you to send a Link payment using just the recipient's phone number or email address if they have registered those with their bank. Other banks require the full account number and routing number. Your bank's app will tell you which information is required when you start the transfer.
What if the recipient's bank does not support Link?
If the recipient's bank does not support Link, the payment will be rejected and the money will return to your account. You will then need to use a different method, such as ACH (which takes one to three business days) or a wire transfer. Ask the recipient which payment methods their bank supports before you send money.
Is a Link payment safer than a wire transfer?
Link has one safety advantage over wire transfers: the receiving bank verifies the recipient's identity and account before accepting the payment, which reduces the risk of sending money to a scammer's account by mistake. However, Link payments are not reversible, just like wire transfers. If you send money to a scammer intentionally (because they tricked you), you have limited recovery options with either method.
Can I send a Link payment to someone at a different bank?
Yes. Link works across all banks that are connected to The Clearing House network. As long as both your bank and the recipient's bank support Link, you can send money between them. If either bank does not support Link, the payment will fail and you will need to use a different method.