Auto-transfer rules help you move money between accounts automatically so you can manage cash flow, fund specific accounts, or streamline distribution of deposits without manual effort. You can create rules from scratch or use templates to get started faster.
How to find and manage rules
- On the left-hand side of your dashboard, select Accounts
- Click the Auto transfer rules tab
- From here, you can:
- Create new rules
- View active rules
- Edit or remove existing rules
- Review your rule configuration
- Optional: Add a nickname
- Click Create rule to save
A few notes on rule creation:
- Currently, you can only set up auto transfer rules between Mercury accounts
- Only admins can create, edit, or remove rules. Bookkeepers and custom users will need to ask an admin for help
Creating a new rule
Choose from four suggested rule types designed around common goals, like distributing funds or maintaining a specific account balance. These give you a structured framework with fill-in-the-blank settings, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Alternatively, click + Custom Rule to create an auto-transfer rule from scratch.
Using templates
Choose from four suggested rule types for common goals — structured starting points you can customize.
1 - Distribute funds across accounts
Split funds across multiple accounts on a schedule.
- Choose to transfer by set amount or percentage
- Decide if the rule runs on incoming funds or on a schedule
- Add your destination accounts
Great for: Profit-first accounting, setting aside funds for taxes, or automating budgeting
2 - Maintain a target account balance
Move funds into or out of an account to stay within set limits.
- Select a minimum, maximum, or both
- Choose a supporting account
- Set a frequency
Ideal for: Payroll accounts, keeping operational balances steady.
3 - Schedule recurring transfers
Send a set amount to a destination on a regular basis.
- Choose your source and destination
- Set the transfer amount
- Pick a frequency
Helpful for: Vendor payments and routine funding.
4 - Redirect incoming funds
Clear the account by moving out 100% of incoming funds.
- Automatically distributes all incoming funds (including internal transfers) to a chosen destination account
Useful for: Reducing account exposure, consolidating funds.
Custom rule options
Build rules from scratch with full flexibility — best if you have a specific setup in mind.
Maintain a target account balance
Automatically keep a selected account within a minimum, maximum, or target balance range.
- Choose the target account to monitor
- Set the desired behavior:
- Keep the balance above a minimum: Funds will be added from another account whenever the balance falls below the set minimum.
- Keep the balance below a maximum: Funds above the maximum will be moved into another account.
- Keep the balance within a range: Funds will be added or removed whenever the balance falls outside the specified range.
- Choose the supporting account to add funds from or move excess funds into
- Set your frequency. Rules can run daily, weekly, monthly, or on specific days. If the scheduled date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the transfer will occur on the previous business day.
Transfer funds to one or more accounts
Automatically move money to other accounts. Commonly used for budgeting or the profit first method.
- Choose whether to move:
- A set amount
- A percentage of account balance
- A percentage of incoming funds
- Select the source/starting account
- Input the amount or percentage that should be transferred
- Add one or more destination accounts
- Choose your frequency/how often you want the rule to run
Transfer settlement timing
- Transfers between checking/savings happen instantly when triggered.
- Transfers to/from Treasury settle in 0–2 business days depending on your portfolio.
- Auto transfers from Treasury are limited to two transfers per month and the selected dates must be at least 7 calendar days apart.
FAQs
Can I set up multiple rules per account?
Yes. If you’re setting up multiple percentage-based rules on one account, ensure that the combined percentage to be transferred does not exceed 100%, or else some rules will fail. Learn more about how percentage-based auto-transfer rules are calculated.
When do auto-transfer rules run?
Rules on a schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) run at 15:00 UTC (6:00 AM PT) on business days (Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays). If the chosen date falls on a weekend or holiday, the rule will occur on the preceding business day.
Rules based on incoming funds run in real time whenever funds are deposited into the rule account.
You can view when a transfer is next scheduled to run from your Auto Transfers page.
Can I pause an active auto transfer rule?
Yes. You can pause existing rules from the main Auto transfer rules page. Click the pause toggle next to any active rule to pause it immediately — no deletion or reset required. Click the toggle again to resume right where it left off.
For more control, click the rule to open a details panel where you can set a specific auto-resume date so the rule restarts automatically when that date arrives.
Can I set up auto transfer rules with linked external accounts?
No. Auto transfers can only be created between your company’s Mercury accounts. If you have Mercury accounts powered by multiple partner banks, you’ll only be able to transfer funds between accounts within that respective partner bank.
What happens if my account doesn't have enough money for a scheduled transfer?
If there aren’t enough funds to run a scheduled rule, we will simply skip it. You’ll receive an email notification, and the rule will continue running as usual for future auto transfers.
When creating a rule, how many accounts can I distribute funds to?
You can distribute funds into up to 20 accounts within a single rule.
How do I set up a Treasury rule to maintain a target balance?
You can use a Treasury rule to automatically manage the balance of a checking or savings account. This helps ensure you always have enough cash available for operations while putting excess funds to work.
To set it up, select “Maintain a target account balance” as the rule type. Then choose your rule account, set your balance parameters (minimum, maximum, or both) and select your Treasury account as the supporting account. Under "Repeat", choose which dates to run the transfer — you can pick any two monthly dates.
What if I need to fund an account that has a “distribute incoming funds” rule?
Because internal transfers also count as incoming funds, sending money into an account with an active distribution rule will trigger funds leaving the account. You have two options:
- Temporarily remove the rule: Delete the distribution rule, make the internal transfer, then recreate the same rule.
- Leave some funds behind: Set your distribution rule to less than 100% so the account keeps a small balance from each deposit. You can then manually transfer any excess funds as needed.
Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.