Article facts
| Rail | Generally appropriate for |
|---|---|
| SEPA | Standard EUR transfers within the SEPA area |
| SEPA Instant | Eligible time-sensitive euro payments |
| Faster Payments | Eligible domestic GBP payments |
| ACH | Eligible US domestic USD payments |
| SWIFT | International payments where no local or regional network applies |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-09 |
The decision in order
- What currency is the payment in? That narrows the options immediately.
- Is the destination domestic or regional for that currency? A local network is normally the appropriate route when one exists.
- Does timing genuinely matter? SEPA Instant is for eligible time-sensitive euro payments — not for every euro payment.
- Is the rail enabled for your account? Availability is part of your approved configuration.
Cost and predictability
The rails differ in more than speed. A SWIFT payment can pass through intermediary or correspondent institutions, each of which may apply charges, so the amount that reaches the beneficiary can be less than the amount sent. A local network generally does not have that characteristic.
Where a local network is available and appropriate, it is usually the more predictable choice for both timing and final amount.
What can still slow a payment
The rail is not the only factor. Payment information that is incomplete or inconsistent, compliance requirements, provider requirements and network rules can all affect a payment on any rail. See Why can a payment be delayed or rejected?.
Frequently asked questions
Should we default to SEPA Instant for all euro payments? No. It is for eligible time-sensitive payments, and instant processing depends on both institutions and the transaction being eligible.
Can we choose the rail per payment? Within the rails enabled for your account, the appropriate route depends on the currency, destination and payment type.
Is SWIFT always slower? Processing depends on banks, correspondent routes and compliance checks. It is less predictable than a domestic network rather than uniformly slow.
Which rails do we have? The rails enabled for your company are stated in your individual offer.
This article is explanatory and is not payment, tax or legal advice. The individual offer and applicable agreements prevail.