ACH Transfer Timing and Cancellation Windows

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Overview

If a transfer was created in error, you can cancel before it is batched and sent to the Federal Reserve. Astra batches and releases ACH transfers throughout the business day. Account for all cancellations prior to the top of the hour, or prior to the next batching time.

When you can cancel

Transfers can be cancelled via the API cancel transfer endpoint. Cancel a transfer 10 minutes before the top of the hour or before its next batching. Once a transfer has been batched and released, it can no longer be canceled.

For Same Day transfers, account for Astra's specific release windows. For example, a Same Day transfer created at 10:40 AM ET would need to be canceled before the 12:00 PM ET Same Day release (by 11:50 AM ET at the latest). Apply the same approach to any transfer: cancel before its next scheduled release.

Same day ACH processing timeframes

Astra batches distributions for submission at the top of every hour. The following Same Day windows apply:

  • 10:30 AM ET: Batch created at 10:00 AM and released. Transactions presented after this time are honored in the next available Same Day window (Second Same Day window).

  • 2:45 PM ET: Batch created at 2:00 PM and released. Transactions presented after this time are honored in the next available Same Day window (Third Same Day window).

  • 4:45 PM ET: Batch created at 4:00 PM and released. Transactions presented after this time are honored as Same Day on the next available release window, based on the client's processing intentions.

See more on ACH windows and cutoff times here: ACH Window & Cutoffs.

Settlement schedule

The Federal Reserve's ACH Network processes payments 23ΒΌ hours every business day and settles four times a day. Settlement occurs when the settlement service is open. The settlement system is closed on federal holidays and weekends, and on business days from 6:30 PM to 7:30 AM ET.