Guide to sending large payments with HSBC Business UK, including transfer limits

It’s common practice for UK businesses to need to move large sums of money - whether for paying suppliers, managing international operations, settling invoices, funding acquisitions or transferring capital between accounts.

As one of the UK’s largest and most internationally connected banks, HSBC Business UK is a popular choice for businesses making high-value domestic and international payments.

With access to systems such as Faster Payments, CHAPS, SEPA and SWIFT, HSBC offers a range of options for handling large transfers.

In this guide, we’ll explain how large payments work with HSBC Business UK, including info on transfer limits, fees, processing times and security features.

We’ll also show you some situations where an alternative payment provider like Wise Business may offer a more cost-effective solution for cross-border accounting.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Can you use HSBC Business UK for large transfers?

Yes, HSBC Business UK can be used for both domestic and international large transfers. This makes it a suitable choice for businesses that regularly move high-value payments.

HSBC is a fully licensed UK bank¹ and provides access to all major UK and international payment networks. This includes:

• Faster Payments and BACS for everyday domestic payments
• CHAPS for same-day, high-value sterling transfers
• SEPA for euro payments within Europe
• SWIFT for international payments in a wide range of currencies

HSBC also supports outbound international payments to most countries, making it a practical option for those businesses with overseas suppliers and customers.

How are HSBC Business UK large transfers handled?

HSBC works alongside several payment methods, each of which are suited to different types of large payments:

• Faster Payments: Typically used for domestic GBP transfers. These are usually instantaneous but may be subject to daily online limits.
• CHAPS: Designed specifically for large Sterling payments within the UK. CHAPS payments are used for amounts above standard Faster Payments thresholds and are processed on the same business day.
• SEPA (EUR): Euro transfers within the Single Euro Payments Area. These are often used for large payments to European suppliers or partners.
• SWIFT (international): Used for large international transfers in currencies such as USD, INR, PHP, JPY and BRL, among many others.

While HSBC Business UK large payments capabilities are strong, costs and limits can differ depending on the channel used.

💡 See: how to open an HSBC business account

Is HSBC Business UK safe for large payments?

Yes, HSBC is widely regarded as a secure option for high-value transfers. It’s authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).¹

As a UK bank, eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per depositor.²

In addition to this, to protect HSBC large transfers, the bank uses:

• Multi-factor authentication for online banking
• Secure payment authorisation tools
• Transaction monitoring and fraud detection systems
• Beneficiary verification checks, especially for new payees.

For particularly large or unusual payments, HSBC may carry out additional checks or request confirmation. While this can add time, it helps ensure payments are legitimate and secure.

There are also proactive steps businesses can take to reduce risk when making a HSBC Business UK large payment. This includes:

• Verifying beneficiary details carefully
• Setting appropriate daily payment limits
• Using dual authorisation where available
• Avoiding making last-minute changes to high-value payments

These steps are especially important for CHAPS and SWIFT payments, which are typically difficult or impossible to reverse once processed.

How to make a large payment with HSBC Business UK

There are several ways you can make a large payment with HSBC, but one of the easiest ways to do it is online. Here’s how:

1. Log in to HSBC Business Internet Banking or the HSBC mobile app
2. Select the relevant payment type (domestic or international)
3. Enter beneficiary details
4. Enter the payment amount and currency
5. Review fees and exchange rates
6. Authorise the payment using your security device or app

For large GBP payments, you’ll typically need:

• Beneficiary name
• Sort code
• Account number
• Payment reference

For international payments, additional details may be required:

• IBAN
• SWIFT/BIC code
• Beneficiary bank name and address
• Purpose of payment (for compliance)

Remember, for very large payments, especially international ones, HSBC may prompt additional checks or approvals.

How long do large transfers take with HSBC Business UK?

The HSBC Business UK large transfer time depends on the destination, currency and payment network used:

Destination or payment type	Typical processing time
UK Faster Payments	Same day³
UK CHAPS	Same business day (before cut-off of 3pm)⁴
SEPA (EUR)	1 to 2 business days⁵
SWIFT international	Up to 4 business days⁶

International SWIFT payments may take longer if intermediary banks are involved or if additional compliance checks are required.

What’s the HSBC Business UK transfer limit?

There isn’t a single maximum transfer limit when it comes to HSBC. Instead, HSBC transfer limits depend on:

• Payment method
• Account type
• Channel used (online, app, branch, HSBCnet)
• Security and authorisation settings

Currency or method	Approximate limit
Online Faster Payments	Around £50,000 per day⁷
CHAPS (GBP)	No formal maximum limit
SEPA (EUR)	High limits, subject to account
SWIFT international	High limits, subject to compliance

With this in mind, businesses that need to send very large payments online may need to use CHAPS or register for HSBCnet, which offers higher and customisable limits for larger organisations.

What are the HSBC Business UK large transfer fees?

HSBC Business UK large payment fees vary depending on the payment type and account package.⁸ Often, there’s no transfer charge to HSBC customers, but international banks may charge the recipient an incoming transfer fee.⁹

There may also be exchange rate mark-ups to consider. These costs can add up significantly for large international payments, making total fees less predictable.

Payment type	Typical fee
UK Faster Payments	Free¹⁰
CHAPS	Free¹¹
SEPA (EUR)	Free⁵
SWIFT international	£20⁵

💡 Read more about: HSBC's Business Currency Account

Does your HSBC account set-up affect large transfers?

Yes, your HSBC account type and banking set-up can influence how easily you can send large payments. This is because businesses with standard online banking might face daily payment caps while those using CHAPS or HSBCnet accounts often have access to higher limits.

HSBC may also apply temporary restrictions if a payment falls outside your usual activity pattern. So, if you’re planning a particularly large or time-sensitive transfer, contacting HSBC in advance can help ensure the payment is processed smoothly.

💡 You may also like: HSBC vs Barclays business banking comparison

HSBC Business UK alternative: use Wise Business for large transfers

While HSBC can be a good choice for businesses looking to send large domestic payments and for global banking needs, international transfers can become expensive due to FX mark-ups and intermediary fees.

This is why so many businesses use a bank like HSBC for domestic banking and alternative solutions like Wise Business for transferring money internationally.

Wise Business has a dedicated secure service for sending large payments. Transfer limits depend on what currency is being sent, here's a few of the most popular:

• GBP - £20 million GBP per transfer
• EUR - €20 million EUR per transfer
• USD - $20 million USD when paying from your USD account, $1.6 million per SWIFT transfer.

It’s also worth knowing that Wise offers discounts for sending large amounts over £20,000 (or the currency equivalent). The more you send, the more you save.

You can open an account for £50 (Advanced plan) or for free (Essentials plan), with no ongoing monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. All accounts can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and Wise Business Advanced accounts let you receive payments like a local with major currency account details.Whenever you need to convert currencies, to send a payment or spend with your Wise debit card, you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate and low conversion costs from 0.33%.

💸 On a £50k transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank 💸

See High Amount Transfer Comparison 2026 for more info.

Want more? Here are some of the many brilliant Wise Business features you can access:

• Send money quickly or instantly to bank accounts in 140+ countries
• Issue business debit and expense cards for you and your team with no foreign transaction fees, and low conversion costs from 0.33%
• 0.5% cashback on eligible card spending
• Connect seamlessly to your accounting software
• Generate invoices and payment links to receive money easily from customers
• Automate payouts with the powerful Wise Business API.
• Make your money work harder with Wise Interest (capital at risk, growth not guaranteed)

So, if you’re looking for an efficient and transparent way to send large international transfers, you can sign up for a Wise Business account online in minutes.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

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Sources used:

1. HSBC - Website Terms
2. HSBC- FSCS
3. HSBC - Faster Payments
4. HSBC - Business Internet Banking (BIB) - Managing Service Guide
5. HSBC - SEPA
6. HSBC - Sending money abroad
7. HSBC - Making payments
8. HSBC - International payments
9. HSBC - Global transfers
10. HSBC - Faster Payment fees
11. HSBC - CHAPS

Sources last checked on date: 20-Jan-2026