NPSB provides instant eligible bank transfers through supported banking channels. RTGS settles large transfers individually during operating hours, with a Tk1 lakh (Tk100,000) minimum for customer taka payments. BEFTN processes everyday and bulk payments in three sessions on working days. The rail, submission time and bank's processing determine when the recipient gets the money.
What NPSB, BEFTN and RTGS mean
NPSB means National Payment Switch Bangladesh. It connects participating banks for card, ATM and eligible instant bank transfers.
BEFTN means Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network. It processes everyday and bulk payments between banks in settlement batches.
RTGS means Real Time Gross Settlement. Bangladesh's RTGS system settles high-value transfers individually during operating hours.
The three systems at a glance
BEFTN | NPSB | RTGS | |
|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network | National Payment Switch Bangladesh | Bangladesh Real Time Gross Settlement |
Speed | Three batch sessions on working days | Instant | Real-time settlement during operating hours |
When it runs | Three sessions; customer cutoff set by the bank | Hours set by your bank | Working days during banking hours |
Amount | Suited to everyday and bulk payments | Individual bank transfers: ceiling Tk3 lakh per transaction; bank channel limits can be lower | Minimum Tk1 lakh for customer transfers |
Charge | Set by your bank | Set by your bank | Up to Tk100 per transaction |
Typical use | Salaries, bill payments, incoming remittances | Instant eligible transfers between bank accounts | Large, urgent payments |
Sources: Bangladesh Bank's payment systems overview and its BEFTN, NPSB and RTGS circulars; Islami Bank's digital banking schedule of charges.
BEFTN: the everyday batch system
Bangladesh Bank launched BEFTN in February 2011 as the country's first paperless interbank transfer system. It handles credit transfers such as payroll, remittances and social payments, and debits such as utility bills and insurance premiums.
BEFTN transfer time
BEFTN has three settlement sessions on working days. A transfer accepted before the bank's cutoff enters that session; one received after the final cutoff waits for the next working day. Each bank sets its customer cutoff. The February 2026 circular kept the three sessions unchanged during Ramadan. Its 11:30 AM to 3 PM timings refer to cheque clearing through BACPS.
Payments submitted on Friday, Saturday or a public holiday wait for the next working day's processing.
NPSB: the instant option
NPSB has connected banks since 2012 for ATM, card and internet banking transfers.
Eligible NPSB transfers are processed in real time. Both banks must support the route, and the sending bank's channel must be available.
NPSB transfer limit
For individuals, Bangladesh Bank sets a ceiling of Tk3 lakh per internet banking transfer and Tk10 lakh per day. Its April 28, 2022 circular removed the network's daily transaction-count cap. Banks set their own channel limits within those ceilings. Islami Bank's digital schedule lists Tk50,000 per NPSB transfer through iBanking and CellFin, with a Tk10 fee plus 15% VAT: Tk11.50 in total.
Use NPSB for an eligible bank-to-bank payment within your app's transaction limit. The bank's displayed channel limit applies even when it is lower than Bangladesh Bank's ceiling.
RTGS: large and urgent payments
RTGS was introduced in October 2015 for high-value transfers.
Bangladesh Bank sets a Tk1 lakh minimum for customer taka transfers and a maximum charge of Tk100 per transaction. Government payments and foreign currency transfers have no minimum.
On working days, BDT customer RTGS transfers run from 10 AM to 5 PM Bangladesh time. From 4 PM to 5 PM, only customer transfers made through online banking, apps and corporate platforms are allowed. Foreign currency customer transfers end at 4 PM. Banks can close customer submission earlier than these settlement cutoffs.
Use RTGS for large, time-sensitive payments such as a property deposit.
How this affects your freelance income
A platform's quoted delivery window covers its withdrawal processing, local payout arrangements and final bank credit. It cannot be calculated from BEFTN or NPSB speed alone.
Receive USD from clients and platforms by ACH for free with Elevate Pay. Send money to your Bangladeshi bank for $1.50. Bank payouts sent before 12 PM Sunday to Thursday arrive the same business day; later payouts arrive the next business day. bKash payouts with correct recipient details arrive in real time.
BEFTN and RTGS process on Bangladeshi working days, normally Sunday to Thursday. US ACH banking days run Monday to Friday. A cross-border payout can therefore cross different weekends before its local bank credit.
Enter the account and branch details required by the chosen transfer method. BEFTN and RTGS instructions use bank and branch routing information. Incorrect account or routing details can delay a payment or cause it to be returned.
Bloom Financial Technologies Inc, trading as Elevate Pay, is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Merchants Commercial Bank, Member FDIC.
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, BEFTN or NPSB?
NPSB credits the other bank instantly, within your bank's service hours. BEFTN settles in batches on working days.
Why did my transfer not arrive the same day?
A same-day transfer can miss its bank cutoff, wait for the next batch, or be held for incorrect details or checks. The receipt identifies the transfer method and status. If the sender's delivery deadline has passed, send support the transaction ID, amount, submission time and recipient details so the payment can be traced.
Is there a limit on sending money from my bank to bKash?
Yes. Bank-to-bKash Add Money has separate transaction, daily and monthly limits. For the Premier Bank and Woori Bank linked-account routes, bKash publishes Tk50,000 per day and Tk3 lakh per month. These are the limits for those two routes.
Can I use RTGS for small amounts?
For customer taka transfers, RTGS starts at Tk1 lakh. Use NPSB or BEFTN for smaller amounts.
Plan your next transfer
Use RTGS for eligible taka payments of Tk1 lakh or more during operating hours. Use NPSB for smaller eligible instant bank transfers. Allow for the bank's session cutoff when sending through BEFTN.
How we checked this
We reviewed Bangladesh Bank's payment systems overview, April 28, 2022 NPSB circular, September 28, 2025 RTGS circular and February 16, 2026 Ramadan clearing circular on October 2, 2026. The RTGS circular resolves the branch-versus-online cutoff. Islami Bank fees come from its digital banking schedule. We did not make test transfers.
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