Settlement desk / US payment tools
Same Day ACH windows and cutoff tool
Data as of 2026-10-05
The official FedACH windows
This tool finds the next published Same Day ACH window for the time you enter. Eastern Time is the reference for the operator schedule. You can enter a local time in any supported zone; the result shows the converted Eastern date and time. A local evening can belong to the next date in Eastern Time, so the date conversion matters as much as the clock conversion.
The published schedule separates transmission, target distribution, and settlement. Transmission is when the sending bank must finish delivering the complete file. Distribution is a target for making the processed file available to receiving institutions. Settlement is the scheduled network settlement time. These are different stages, so a distribution target should not be read as a consumer account posting promise.
| Complete file received by | Target distribution | Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 a.m. ET | Noon ET | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| 2:45 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. ET | 5:00 p.m. ET |
| 4:45 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. ET | 6:00 p.m. ET |
How the window selection works
The calculation chooses the first deadline that has not passed on an open settlement day, then displays that row's settlement time. An input exactly at a deadline remains in that window only under the complete-receipt assumption. Starting a transfer at the deadline does not establish that the operator has received it. The Federal Reserve states that transmission must be fully concluded by the deadline.
If the input is after the final deadline, the tool moves to the first Same Day window on the next settlement business day. It makes the same move from a weekend or holiday. The result describes the next Same Day opportunity if the bank submits an eligible file for it. It does not determine what a bank will do with a payment that missed its own cutoff. Read the FedACH schedule and deadline footnote.
Eligibility comes before speed
Nacha's developer guide says Same Day ACH can include credits and debits. It also excludes International ACH Transactions, requires receipt by the originating bank's deadline, and states a per-payment amount limit. Use the separate limit checker to examine amount and IAT status for the planned date. That checker covers those two conditions only. Other applicable requirements still need bank confirmation.
A bank can give its customers an earlier deadline than the operator deadline. The tool has no access to a bank's queue, file acceptance status, or effective date selection. Before planning a time-sensitive payment, confirm that the bank offers Same Day ACH for the payment and ask which window it expects to use.
For a standard transfer, use the homepage estimator and read its next-day assumption. Changing from standard to Same Day changes the modeled service; it does not upgrade a payment already sent. Save the result as a planning reference and confirm the actual transfer status through the institution that originated it.
Frequently asked questions
Is my bank cutoff the FedACH deadline?
The published time is an operator file transmission deadline. Nacha also requires receipt by the originating bank's deadline. Confirm your customer deadline with the bank.
Can I use a debit in Same Day ACH?
Nacha's developer guide describes Same Day ACH for credits and debits. Amount, entry type, authorization, and timing requirements still apply.
Sources and verification
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: FedACH schedule
- Nacha: ACH developer guide
- Federal Reserve: K.8 holiday schedule