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

As part of normal operations, many UK businesses need to send large sums of money. Choosing a business bank account that reliably handles high-value payments is essential for keeping everything running smoothly.

Santander Business is a long-established high street banking provider in the UK, offering a range of services for businesses of different sizes. In this guide, we’ll look at how large payments work with Santander Business UK. This includes the payment methods available, processing times, fees and security considerations.

It’ll look at where Santander might fall short, particularly for businesses with frequent or complex international payment needs - and why some companies use a specialist provider like Wise Business alongside their standard business account.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Can you use Santander Business UK for large transfers?

Yes, Santander Business UK is well-suited for large transfers both in the UK and internationally. As a traditional high street bank, Santander provides access to all major domestic and international payment systems.

This makes it a popular choice for businesses that need to send high-value payments regularly including time-critical transfers and payments in multiple currencies.

That said, while Santander does offer broad payment options, its international payments can come with additional fees and longer processing times compared with specialist cross-border payment providers. ¹

How Santander Business handles large payments

Santander Business UK large transfers are sent using one of several payment methods including:

1. Faster Payments: These are commonly used for UK business transfers and are typically processed very quickly.² This makes them suitable for a range of everyday and high-value transactions within the UK banking system.

2. CHAPS: This is used for large and time-critical sterling payments such as property completions, corporate transfers or large supplier settlements. CHAPS payments are processed during UK banking hours,² and once completed, are usually irreversible. For this reason, it’s important to verify payment details carefully beforehand.

3. International payments: Santander also supports international payments via the SWIFT network. Businesses should note, however, that international SWIFT payments can involve intermediary banks which may result in additional charges and unpredictable delivery times.¹ What’s more, exchange rates and fees can vary depending on the destination and payment type.

When you create a transaction and fill in the appropriate information, Santander Business automatically chooses and routes the best payment method for your transfer. This will then determine any fees and provide you with an estimated timeline for your business transaction.

Is Santander Business UK safe for large payments?

Santander is a fully licensed and regulated UK bank,³ making it safe for domestic and international payments. Eligible business deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).⁴

Santander also uses a range of security controls to protect large payments.

This includes:

• Secure login and authentication methods
• Payment verification and authorisation checks
• Fraud prevention systems
• Monitoring accounts for unusual or suspicious activity.

In addition to this, businesses are encouraged to use their own internal controls such as dual authorisation for high-value payments and review of details before submitting a transaction.

For best practice, it’s recommended that time-critical and extremely valuable transfers are made in advance as timelines can vary.

How to make a large payment with Santander Business UK

Large payments with Santander Business can be made via online banking or in branches. The typical process includes:

1. Logging in to Santander Business Online Banking
2. Selecting the payment or transfer option
3. Entering beneficiary details
4. Choosing the payment amount and method
5. Reviewing and authorising the transaction

Santander will decide the appropriate payment route (Faster Payments, CHAPS etc) based on the transaction value and urgency. If any additional information is required, you will receive a notification before the transaction is approved.

How long do Santander Business UK large payments take?

Santander Business UK large transfer times vary and depend on the payment type and destination.

As CHAPS and international payments operate within specific cut-off times, time-sensitive transfers should be planned carefully - and in advance.

What are the Santander Business UK transfer limits?

Transfer limits with Santander vary depending on the payment method:⁷

What are the Santander Business UK large transfer fees?

Santander Business fees depend on the account type and payment method used.⁸

If you’re sending money overseas, remember that transaction fees may occur from intermediary banks, which can affect the total cost of the transfer. This is why it’s important to review fee information before sending large sums.

When Santander Business might not be suitable

There are some instances where Santander Business UK might not be the best choice for your business. This includes for businesses that:

• Send frequent large international payments and want predictable fees
• Require real-time FX rate transparency
• Prefer a fully digital and app-first banking experience
• Want to hold and manage multiple foreign currency balances in one platform.

In these scenarios, some businesses choose to use Santander for everyday core banking as well as a specialist provider for international payments.

Santander Business UK alternative: use Wise Business for large and international transfers

Santander Business UK is a robust option for businesses that need to send large payments both within the UK and internationally. However, for those that prioritise ease and cost transparency for international payments - its traditional banking model might feel limited.

That’s where a specialist provider like Wise Business comes in. 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 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.

See High Amount Transfer Comparison 2026 for more info.

For businesses that operate internationally, Wise Business is often used alongside a traditional business bank account like Santander thanks to its:

• High transfer limits suitable for large international transactions
• Transparent pricing using the mid-market exchange rate
• Ability to hold and manage multiple currencies in one account
• Faster international transfers without reliance on multiple intermediaries

Best of all, you can sign up for a Wise Business account online in minutes.

Register with Wise Business🚀

*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.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 26-Jan-2026