Waiting for money to show up in your account can be stressful. You've been told the money has been sent, but your balance still says zero. So, how long does it really take for money to move from an FNB account to a TymeBank account?

The short answer is that it usually takes between 6 to 24 hours for the money to reflect. Sometimes it can be quicker, and other times it might take a little longer, up to 48 hours. The exact time depends on a few things.

What Affects the Transfer Time?

Not all bank transfers are instant. When you send money from one bank to another, like from FNB to TymeBank, it has to go through a clearing process. Several factors can change how long this takes.

• Weekdays vs. Weekends: Transfers made on a weekday (Monday to Friday) are processed much faster. If you send money on a Friday afternoon, a Saturday, or a Sunday, you will likely have to wait until the next business day for it to clear.
• Public Holidays: Just like weekends, public holidays will delay your payment. Banks are closed, so they don't process these transfers until the next working day.
• The Time of Day: Payments made before the bank's daily cut-off time (usually around 3 PM) will be processed on the same day. If you send the money after that time, it will only be processed the next day. I remember waiting for a payment from a client once. They sent it from their FNB account at 4 PM on a Friday, and I only saw it in my TymeBank account on Monday morning. I learned my lesson about cut-off times that day!
• Immediate Payment Option: FNB offers an "Immediate Payment" or "Pay and Clear Now" option for a small fee. If the sender uses this, the money should reflect in the TymeBank account within minutes, no matter the day or time.

My cousin once sent me money from her FNB account to my TymeBank for a concert ticket we were buying. She sent it on a Wednesday morning around 10 AM using the standard EFT option. I was a bit worried it wouldn't come through in time, but the money was in my account by 4 PM that same afternoon. This is quite different from transfers to other banks, for example, the FNB to Capitec transfer time can also vary.

So, while you wait for your funds to clear, you could be using that time to earn a little extra on the side. Did you know you can earn points by playing games and completing surveys on your phone? With the Points Castle app, you can redeem those points for vouchers, like airtime or Takealot vouchers, which is a nice way to make your money go further.