"Pay by bank" allows you to make a payment securely and in real time from your bank account.

Instead of arranging payment with your bank, once your transfer is confirmed, you'll be connected to your bank. This means you can securely approve a payment in your online or mobile banking app in just a few steps. 

In this article, we'll cover:

• How to pay with "pay by bank"
• How long will my transfer take with "pay by bank"?
• My payment failed - what should I do?
• I need help finding the PayTo agreement in my banking app

How do I pay with "pay by bank"?

Choose the "pay by bank" payment option when you start your transfer. You'll be directed to your banking app to approve the payment before returning to Xe.

1. Start your transfer and choose "pay by bank" as your payment method
2. Add your recipient
3. Hit Confirm and send money when you reach the Transfer summary screen
4. Select your bank. To avoid delays, make sure the account is in your name. Save your choice for next time by clicking the Pay faster next time toggle.
5. You will now be directed to authorise the payment. 
   • If you are using the Xe app (personal account holders only): your banking app will open on your mobile device
   • If you are in your account on Xe.com: a new tab will open, so please allow pop-ups or scan the QR code on screen to open your mobile banking app.
     
     
     
      
6. If you're in Australia and are paying with PayTo - "pay by bank" you'll need to enter your PayID or BSB and account number. 
   
   You should receive a notification, email or SMS prompting you to review and approve the payment agreement in your internet or mobile banking app. 
   
   
7. Once you've approved the payment, you'll return to Xe. Track your transfer in Activity.
   
   

How long will my transfer take if I pay with "pay by bank"?

When you pay via "pay by bank", your payment will typically reach us within a few hours — significantly faster than traditional bank transfers. 

However, since processing times can vary between banks, it's best to allow up to 3 working days for your payment to reach us. For example, if you're in Portugal, you should allow up to 24 hours for your payment to be processed, as these types of payments are only processed once every 24 hours there.

We'll send your payment to your recipient when we receive it. The length of time it takes to get to your recipient depends on different things, including where they live, the delivery method you chose and the currency you're sending. Learn more. 
 

My payment failed, what should I do?

If your payment failed, it's likely due to an issue with your bank. We recommend contacting your bank to understand why it failed before trying to pay with "pay by bank" again. Alternatively, you could try a different payment method.

Here are the most common reasons why a payment might fail:

• There was a technical problem with your bank
• You have insufficient funds 
• Your bank has blocked the payment for another reason
• You have reached a transfer limit set by your bank
• The rate expired because the payment process took too long

Limits when paying by "pay by bank"

Your bank limits how much you can send in a single transfer online, and we can't control this. Exceeding your limit is one of the most common reasons that payments fail.

Limits vary but are usually between £5,000 and £50,000 (or local equivalent) per transfer. Many banks will also limit how much you can send per day. Check your bank's website for your limit.

We'll let you know if your payment has failed due to a limit issue. You'll receive an email explaining how to pay with a traditional bank transfer.

I need help finding the PayTo agreement in my banking app

As all banks are different, we recommend visiting your bank's Help Centre or FAQs section for support in finding the stored PayTo agreement in your banking app.