We understand how frustrating it can be when you’ve been paid by your customers, but the funds are taking longer than expected to reach your bank account. While it might feel like your money is stuck in limbo, there’s a good reason behind the delay — and it all comes down to how Stripe manages payouts.
Who Handles Your Payouts?
Stripe is the payment processor that collects payments on your behalf. This means that even though your customer has completed their transaction, the money still has to go through Stripe’s systems before it lands in your bank account.
In this setup, Stripe acts as the merchant, and they have specific rules around when and how payouts are made. These rules are designed to balance speed, risk, and compliance with financial regulations.
How Stripe Payout Timing Works
Stripe initiates payouts on a rolling 24-hour schedule. Here’s how it works:
Once a customer makes a payment, Stripe collects the funds.
Every 24 hours, Stripe checks for any eligible balance and initiates a payout automatically.
If your most recent payment comes in after the daily cutoff, it gets added to the next day's payout cycle.
Example: If you get paid at 8:00 AM and your last payout was initiated at midnight, that new payment will not be included in that day's payout. Instead, it will be picked up by the next payout at midnight the following day.
What About Weekends?
Payouts do not get processed over the weekend. If your payout is initiated on a Friday, it typically won’t be processed by your bank until the following Monday or Tuesday. This means even timely payouts initiated before the weekend may not result in money hitting your bank account until the next business week.
After the Payout Is Initiated
Even once a payout is initiated, there is still some additional time before the funds arrive in your bank account. This is because the payout must:
Pass through Stripe’s risk assessment systems, and
Be processed by your bank.
Typical Timeline:
Standard delay: 3 to 7 business days
Some countries or banks: Up to 30 days
These timelines can vary depending on your location, banking infrastructure, and Stripe’s internal risk checks. While it may feel longer than it "should" take, this is necessary to ensure secure and compliant processing of funds.
We Hear You
It’s completely understandable to expect faster access to your money — after all, your customer has already paid. But payment processors like Stripe add these delays to reduce risk and meet financial compliance standards globally.
We hope this clarifies why your payout may be delayed, and we appreciate your patience as your funds make their way to your bank account.
If you believe your payout is taking significantly longer than the timelines listed above, feel free to reach out to our support team for a closer look.