How Do I Transfer Money Into Another Person's Bank Account?

The methods for transferring funds from one person’s account to another are more varied with the increase of electronic banking options. You can perform the transaction in-person at the bank or use online banking services that allow you to make the transfer via the Internet or telephone. Fees and transfer time depend on several variables, including whether you use a personal check or an ATM machine.

Find out which online banking options your bank offers for electronic transferal of funds to another person’s account. Your bank may require you to register your account to use online banking services. Fund transfers to other banks might be limited to financial institutions within an established network of participating banks.

Online accounts provide options for transferring funds to another person’s account at the same bank. Log in to your account, select the transfer option and follow instructions to transfer funds to an account with your bank. You might have the option to enter the information one time or to save the information for future use.

Bank-to-bank transfers move funds electronically between accounts at different banks. Sign in to your account, select the bank-to-bank transfer option and enter the routing number of the other bank. Your bank will verify the other bank’s information, after which you can set up a one-time transfer or schedule recurring transfers. Once you establish the other account, it remains available for future use until you choose to delete it.

Mobile banking allows you to use a mobile banking application downloaded to your mobile device to transfer funds between accounts. Send mobile transfers using mobile telephone numbers or email addresses. Transfers to accounts at other banks require adding the other person’s account information to your online banking profile and completing a verification process. If you are transferring to a different bank, your bank might restrict transfers to accounts at in-network banks. Sign in to your online account to access the mobile application and instructions for setting up the mobile and email transfer options.

Automatic Teller Machines, or ATMs, can be used to transfer funds to another account at your bank or at a different bank. The ATM provides a “transfer” option and will prompt you for the required information. Check with your bank about the options available at ATM machines.

Use a live or an ATM machine with a live teller on the screen to perform a funds transfer at one of your bank’s physical locations. Automatic teller machines, which are located inside the bank and at drive-through lanes outside of the bank, provide many of the same services as traditional tellers. The teller assists with the transaction, prompting you to enter the relevant account numbers and transfer amount. Another option is to, in lieu of an actual transfer of funds, make an in-person deposit to an account at a different bank, if you prefer. Use a live teller or ATM with live teller to deposit the funds to the member’s account.

Call your bank’s customer service number and use the automated system or speak to a representative to complete the transfer. Generally, you can conduct the same transactions through the customer service number as you would through other methods, such as online or mobile.

Your bank probably will not charge a fee to transfer funds to a same-bank account. However, your bank might charge a fee to transfer funds to a different bank, unless you have signed up for options that include fee waivers. Some banks waive fees when you use in-network banks or when you register to use mobile banking.

Transaction times vary based on the type of transfer performed and whether the account is at a different bank. Bank-to-bank transfers require a verification process that can take 2 to 3 days, after which the transfer can take another few days. Some online applications allow you to control the date the transaction begins to process by letting you choose to transfer the funds immediately or schedule the transfer for a future date.