Same-Day ACH is an ACH transfer that settles within the same business day rather than the standard 1-3 business day window. Available since 2016 (NACHA phased rollout), it carries a higher per-transaction fee but enables faster payroll funding, urgent vendor payments, and faster MCA disbursements.
NACHA introduced Same-Day ACH in three phases between 2016 and 2018. Phase 1 (September 2016): same-day ACH debits. Phase 2 (September 2017): same-day ACH credits. Phase 3 (March 2018): extended processing windows and higher per-transaction limits. The same-day dollar limit was raised to $1 million per transaction in March 2022. Same-Day ACH operates through multiple processing windows per day: Morning window (files submitted by 10:30 AM ET, credited by 1:00 PM ET) and Afternoon window (files submitted by 2:45 PM ET, credited by 5:00 PM ET), as of NACHA's current operating schedule. Standard ACH files received after those windows settle the next business day. Fees: NACHA's rules allow originating banks to charge a per-transaction fee for same-day ACH — currently capped at $0.052 per entry. Compared to standard ACH which may be free or under $0.01 per entry, same-day adds cost but remains far cheaper than wire transfers ($25-50 outgoing). For small businesses: same-day ACH is most valuable for (1) off-cycle payroll runs (a missed regular payroll can be fixed same-day), (2) urgent vendor/supplier payments where a wire feels excessive, (3) real-time invoice settlement, and (4) MCA and lender disbursements that can now fund same-day. NACHA data shows that business-to-business (B2B) and payroll are the dominant same-day ACH use cases.
As of March 18, 2022, the per-transaction limit for Same-Day ACH is $1,000,000 (one million dollars). Before that increase it was $100,000. This makes same-day ACH viable for most business payment needs — only very large transactions (real estate, M&A earnest money) still typically require wire transfer.
No. Same-day ACH is still a batch-processed transfer within the ACH network, settling at two specific cut-off windows during the day. Wire transfers are processed in real-time on the Fedwire system, settling within minutes for domestic wires. Wires cost $25-50 per outgoing transfer; same-day ACH costs pennies. For non-urgent same-business-day settlement, same-day ACH is the cost-efficient choice.
Yes — as of September 2019, receiving same-day ACH is mandatory for all RDFI (receiving financial institution) NACHA members. Sending same-day ACH (being an ODFI/originator) depends on your bank's capabilities. Virtually all major U.S. banks and larger credit unions support same-day ACH origination. Confirm with your bank if same-day origination is included in your treasury/cash management services.