Current network limit
The Federal Reserve currently states that the Same Day ACH value limit is $1,000,000 per individual eligible item. Transactions above that amount are not eligible for same-day settlement.
Three principal same-day windows
| FedACH transmission deadline | Target distribution | Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 a.m. ET | Target distribution noon | Settlement 1:00 p.m. ET |
| 2:45 p.m. ET | Target distribution 4:00 p.m. | Settlement 5:00 p.m. ET |
| 4:45 p.m. ET | Target distribution 5:30 p.m. | Settlement 6:00 p.m. ET |
Bank cutoffs can be earlier
The Federal Reserve windows are network deadlines, not promises that your bank will let you submit until those exact times. Banks may set earlier cutoffs for validation, approvals and file processing.
What is not eligible
Federal Reserve material excludes international ACH entries, automated enrollment entries and transactions above the $1 million value limit from Same Day ACH eligibility.
Good use cases
Same-day payroll corrections, urgent vendor credits and time-sensitive business-to-business payments can fit well when the business wants ACH economics and same-day settlement but does not require a wire.
Primary sources and reference material
Design treasury around controls and exceptions, not only speed.
The strongest treasury setup combines the right payment rail with role separation, verification, reconciliation and enough visibility to catch unusual activity before it becomes a loss.