Personal Finance Money transfer

Westpac Transfer Times: Domestic and International Processing Speeds

Yadana Chaw

23.12.25

Read time 3 minutes

Sending a transfer with Westpac and wondering how long it’ll take to arrive? Don’t worry, we’re about to share what you need to know.

In this guide to domestic and international transfer speeds, we’ll break down what impacts the processing times, what Westpac says to expect, and the cut-off times you need to know about. You’ll also learn what might cause delays to your transfer arriving.

Table of contents
What affects Westpac’s transfer times? Westpac domestic transfer times To Westpac accounts To other domestic banks Direct debit payments Weekends and public holidays Westpac international transfer times Why your Westpac transfer might be delayed Get fast and low cost transfers with Wise

What affects Westpac’s transfer times?

There are different factors that can potentially impact the speed and processing times of a Westpac bank transfer.

Transfer cut-off times
Domestic or international destination
Weekend and public holiday delays
Security checks
Technical issues

Once the funds leave Westpac, the other banks involved in the transfer can also affect the overall transfer time. Intermediary and receiving banks have their own processing speeds and times which influence when the recipient will see the funds.

Westpac domestic transfer times

Westpac’s domestic transfer speeds can vary depending on how you send the payment, and which bank is receiving it. In general, the interbank transfer window is shorter than when you’re sending money to other NZ banks such as ANZ, BNZ, KiwiBank, or Co-operative Bank.

To Westpac accounts

Westpac to Westpac transfers are made immediately, provided you initiate the transfer before 10.00 pm.¹ If you make it after 10.00 pm, it will be processed the next day.

An exception to this is automatic payments.² Automatic payments are processed every day of the year at 7.30 am. If there’s insufficient funds, it will retry that night, and once more the next morning at 7.30 am.

To other domestic banks

Digital Westpac payments made to other banks in New Zealand have a different time frame.¹

Westpac payments initiated before 10.00 pm	Sent to other banks hourly between 9.30 am and 10.00 pm
Westpac payments after 10.00 pm	Sent to other banks at 9.30 am the next morning

Again, automatic payments are an exception, as these are sent at 7.30 am.²

Direct debit payments

If you have a direct debit payment due it will be processed on the day the account is charged.¹ There’s no set time of day, you just need to ensure there are sufficient funds available by 11.30pm at the latest, otherwise it won’t be processed or retried.

Weekends and public holidays

The Westpac weekend transfer times and public holiday transfer times are now generally the same as a business day transfer.³ This is because most Westpac domestic transfers are processed year-round, so unless the recipient’s bank doesn’t support it, money can arrive on Saturday, Sunday or on a public holiday.

Westpac international transfer times

There's no specified exact processing time for sending international transfers with Westpac, but international telegraphic transfers generally take around 1 to 5 business days to arrive. Factors that influence the speed include the destination, bank’s cut-off times, any intermediary banks involved, additional compliance checks, and how quickly the recipient’s bank processes incoming payments.

Unlike some of the other banks, Westpac chooses not to specify international transfer cut-off times by currency or destination.⁴ Instead, it is simply between 8am on Monday and 9am on Saturday. Outside of this period exchange rates aren’t available, so Westpac isn’t able to process the payment.

Why your Westpac transfer might be delayed

If a Westpac transfer doesn’t arrive when you expect it to, there's usually no need to worry, there are a few common issues that can cause delays.

Insufficient funds in the account
Technical problems on Westpac’s side
Processing delays at one of the other banks involved in the transfer
The transfer was initiated after the cut-off

These factors can slow things down, but the payment will typically continue to move through the system once the issue is resolved. If not, you can check your transaction history to see if it failed or speak to Westpac customer service to follow up.

Westpac’s transfer times can differ depending on how and when the payment is sent, so knowing the bank’s processing patterns can make it easier to plan ahead.

Get fast and low cost transfers with Wise

Wise is an easy way to save up to 6x when sending money overseas. You can make extra secure transfers to 140+ countries, which are easy to set up with no physical paperwork and completed usually in seconds.

With low, transparent pricing and the mid-market exchange rate for all your currency conversions for your foreign transfers, you'll usually get the best value for your money. Wise lets you see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get, with no hidden fees.

For managing foreign currencies even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in NZD and 40+ other currencies. Plus, you'll get local account details in 8+ currencies, making it easy to receive money from abroad whenever you need. You'll be able to track your transfers all in one place.

When it comes to international transfers, Wise makes things easier and cheaper.

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This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected New Zealand banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://payout-surge.live/nz/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Sources:

Date: 6 December 2025

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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