The Abi initiative

Instant credit transfer: what is it? When is it useful to use it? Is it safe? The vademecum in questions and answers

The ABI, together with the banks and consumer associations participating in the Transparency Simple project, has developed a guide in digital format, with all the information needed to know and then use the instant credit transfer safely

29 July 2025

2' min read

The ABI, together with the banks and consumer associations participating in the Transparenza semplice project, has developed a guide in digital format, with all the information needed to know and then use the instant credit transfer safely, putting into practice for the Italian reality the ideas shared at European level in the Euro Retail Payments Board (Erpb). The vademecum, available on the ABI website under the link "Le Guide Abi per approfondire - ABI - Associazione Bancaria Italiana", is at the disposal of banks, consumer associations that have collaborated in its production (Acu, Adiconsum, Adoc, Altroconsumo, Assoutenti, Casa del Consumatore, Centro Tutela Consumatori Utenti, Cittadinanzattiva, Codacons, Confconsumatori, Federconsumatori, Lega Consumatori, Movimento Consumatori, Movimento Difesa del Cittadino, U.Di.Con, Unc) and all those who use the channels of those involved.

What is the instant transfer?

It is a payment service already widely offered by banks operating in Italy. It is used to make euro transfers between payment accounts within the Single Euro Payments Area in less than 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with immediate availability of funds.

As stipulated by a special European Regulation, as of 9 January 2025 all banks in the euro area that process traditional credit transfers will also accept instant credit transfers; by 9 October 2025, they will also have to allow instant credit transfers to be sent via all channels used to initiate traditional credit transfers.

When can it be most useful to use it?

When you need to act fast: to pay an overdue bill, quickly top up a prepaid card, transfer money immediately to a family member or buy second-hand goods from a private individual in a traceable way.

Are there any limits on its use?

Generally speaking, it is the customer who sets any amount limits according to his or her needs, even changing those set by the bank with the aim of preserving the security of transactions.

Are instant credit transfers safe?

Instant credit transfers are convenient because the transfer of funds is immediate, but precisely because of this the payment cannot be cancelled. The speed and irrevocability of this payment service can expose customers to increased risks and fraud. This is why great care must be taken when completing and sending the transfer. In addition, it is important to follow the bank's instructions and advice in order to avoid falling prey to deception by, for example, fake online sellers or fraudsters, who with various fraud techniques may try to steal sensitive data or convince victims to make instant credit transfers for non-existent services or payments.

Precisely in order to protect customers from possible compilation errors or fraud attempts, banks will carry out a real-time check on the IBAN and beneficiary data, informing them of discrepancies before they can authorise the transaction. This check, the result of which is returned in real time, will become compulsory by 9 October 2025: each time a new credit transfer or instant credit transfer order is placed, the bank will tell its customer if the data entered matches, if it does not match, if there is a partial match or if the verification could not be carried out, for example because the account indicated is closed, blocked or for technical reasons.

Brand connect

I prossimi eventi

Tutti gli eventi

Notizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.