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Differences Between NEFT and RTGS Money Transfer Methods

Owing to the advancement in digitization, the Indian Government has created multiple electronic payment systems to make fund transfers more convenient and faster.  At present, there are three types of online fund transfer methods available in India – NEFT, RTGS and IMPS.

This article will focus on the differences between NEFT and RTGS and discuss each of them in detail.

What is NEFT?

NEFT stands for National Electronic Fund Transfer. It is an electronic fund transfer system that is regulated & monitored by the Reserve Bank of India. Since 2020, NEFT has worked round the clock; before that, it used to have specific time periods or working hours. Most of India's leading banks provide the NEFT facility through online and mobile banking.

NEFT processes fund transfers in batches with a gap of half an hour. RBI has not implied any minimum or maximum limit on the transactions yet. There are no NEFT charges levied on the transactions.

What is RTGS?

RTGS is the acronym for Real Time Gross Settlement, and unlike NEFT, the fund is transferred in real-time and promptly. RTGS is ideal for transactions of lump sum amount with a minimum limit of ₹ 2 lakh at a time. The best part about this method is that it can be availed online and offline.

Provided that details of the beneficiary are given correctly, RTGS can be used anytime and anywhere.

What is the Difference Between NEFT & RTGS?

In the following table, you will gain a clearer concept of NEFT vs RTGS through their differences.

Parameters NEFT RTGS
Nature of settlement Settled in batches One-on-one
Minimum transfer amount ₹ 1 ₹ 2 lakh
Settlement Time 2 Hours Immediately
Availability of service 24 X 7 Depends on the bank
Transaction charges No charges applicable RTGS charges are ₹ 30 for outward transactions of amounts between ₹ 2 lakh & ₹ 5 lakh; ₹ 55 on transaction amounts exceeding ₹ 5 lakh.
Although there are multiple differences between NEFT and RTGS, both payment methods are equally safe and secure and can be used at your convenience. These electronic fund transfer facilities provided by the RBI have helped us take an important step towards an advanced economy.

FAQs about NEFT and RTGS Difference

Which payment option is faster among NEFT and RTGS?

Depending on the urgency and nature of your payment, RTGS will be a better option for lump sum payments, but NEFT will be more efficient for smaller payments.

Is there any transaction limit on NEFT?

There is no maximum or minimum limit on online NEFT payments, but if you are making a cash payment through NEFT, then the maximum limit is ₹ 50,000.