Send money instantly — and know it arrived. Real-time payments (RTPs) are electronic transfers that complete in seconds, 24/7/365, giving you more certainty and cash flow clarity, while helping you avoid follow-ups and late fees. This article explains how sending RTPs works on Mercury.
What is a real-time payment (RTP)?
In the U.S., real-time payments (RTPs) move funds over networks operated by The Clearing House (the RTP® network) and the Federal Reserve (the FedNow service). Because RTPs settle instantly, these payments are typically irreversible once submitted.
When might a real-time payment not arrive instantly?
- The recipient’s bank does not accept real-time payments
- The recipient’s bank is experiencing delays or a maintenance window
- Network delays between participating institutions or payment processors
How to send a real‑time payment
As with any payment, real-time payments should only be sent to people or businesses you know and trust – always double-check recipient account details before sending:
- Go to Move Money > Send (on web) or tap the ⇄ icon in the bottom navigation bar (on mobile)
- Create a new recipient or select an existing one
- Select Real‑Time Payment as the payment method
- Add or confirm your recipient’s account details (routing and account number)
- If the receiving account can’t receive RTPs, you’ll be prompted to choose another method
- Enter the payment amount, set the send date or schedule a recurring payment (optional), and add any optional details (like memos or internal notes)
- You can schedule a payment for a future date, and we will attempt delivery on that date, subject to bank/network availability.
- You can also set up a recurring payment that repeats on a weekly, monthly, or custom schedule.
- Review and confirm the payment
Once your recipient’s bank receives your real-time payment, it may be coded as a real-time payment, “instant payment”, “instant transfer”, or something similar.
How to view outgoing real-time payments
You can check the status of your real‑time payments anytime from your Transactions page. Use filters and select Real-Time Payment Out as the payment method. The statuses include:
- Sent: The payment was delivered successfully. You’ll see the delivery timestamp in the transaction details.
- Pending: The payment has been submitted and is still processing. Status will update once it’s delivered or fails.
- Failed: The payment didn’t go through. If a failure reason is available, you’ll see it in the transaction details.
Troubleshooting
Payment failure reasons
If a real-time payment fails, a failure reason will be stated when available. Common failure reasons include:
- Recipient’s bank account does not support real‑time payments
- Recipient’s account is closed
- Account or routing numbers were entered incorrectly
Here are some best practices to help you avoid real-time payment failures:
- Double-check your recipient’s account and routing numbers before you confirm a payment
- Save recipients only after you verify their details
- Confirm that your recipient’s bank can receive real-time payments before sending one
Payments sent in error
Real‑time payments are designed to be final and irrevocable once submitted. In general, since settlement happens immediately, they cannot be canceled or reversed by the sender.
If an RTP was sent in error:
- Try to resolve the issue directly with the recipient
- If that’s not possible, contact Mercury support
While we can’t revoke or recall an RTP once it has been submitted, we can send a request through the payment network to ask the recipient’s bank to return the funds. Return requests are not guaranteed and depend on the recipient bank’s response.
FAQs
I don’t see the option to send a real-time payment. Why?
Real-time payment sending is currently in closed beta and only available to a limited group of accounts. We’ll share updates as it becomes more widely available to Mercury customers with accounts provided through our partner bank, Column N.A.
Will recipients always receive their funds instantly?
In most cases they will, but instant delivery is not guaranteed. Processing times can vary and some transfers may take longer to complete. Once your recipient’s bank receives your real-time payment, it may be coded as a real-time payment, “instant payment”, “instant transfer”, or something similar.
Can I cancel an RTP after it’s sent?
RTPs are designed to be final once submitted. If you made an error, contact the recipient first to resolve it directly, and then Mercury support. We can request a return/recall request to the recipient’s bank, but returns are not guaranteed.
Are real-time payments only for U.S. accounts?
Yes — real-time payments move funds between U.S. banks/payment providers that participate in the RTP® network and/or the FedNow service.
Does Mercury support receiving real-time payments?
You can read more about receiving RTP here.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.