> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lead.bank/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Money Movement
> Compare Lead's five payment rails — ACH, Wire, Instant Payments, Internal Transfer, and Blockchain Payments — and review the daily processing windows for each one.
Lead supports five payment rails. Each rail has different settlement timing, reversibility, direction support, and availability. This page helps you choose the right rail for your use case. For implementation details, see the linked Build pages.
## **Rails at a Glance**
| **Rail** | **Directions** | **Settlement** | **Reversible** | **Availability** | **Status** |
| :------------------ | :------------- | :------------------- | :----------------- | :--------------- | :--------------------------- |
| ACH | Send, Receive | Same-day or next-day | Yes, within window | Business days | Live |
| Wire | Send, Receive | Same-day | No | Business days | Live |
| Instant Payments | Send, Receive | Seconds | No | 24/7/365 | FedNow live; RTP coming soon |
| Internal Transfer | Send | Immediate | No | 24/7/365 | Live |
| Blockchain Payments | Send, Receive | Instant | No | 24/7/365 | Beta |
## **ACH**
ACH is a batch-processed rail operated by the Automated Clearing House network. Entries are submitted in files and settled on a same-day or next-day basis during business hours.
**Use ACH when:** you need a low-cost, high-volume rail for recurring payments, payroll, loan disbursements, or consumer-initiated transfers where same-day or next-day settlement is acceptable.
Lead supports all standard SEC codes, including PPD, CCD, WEB, and IAT for cross-border entries. ACH entries can be canceled before the cutoff and returned within the standard Nacha window. Lead supports all three settlement windows: same-day morning, same-day afternoon, and next-day.
→ [See ACH](/api-integrations/ach/overview)
## **Wire**
Wire transfers move funds over FedWire (domestic) or SWIFT (international USD). Wires settle same-day when submitted within Lead's cutoff windows and are irrevocable once sent.
**Use Wire when:** you need same-day finality, are sending large-dollar amounts, or are moving funds internationally in USD.
Lead has a direct connection to FedWire for domestic wires. International wires route via SWIFT and reach accepted status in sandbox — full settlement simulation is not available in the sandbox environment. [Return Requests API](/api-integrations/wire/return-requests) is coming in Q3 2026.
→ [See Wire](/api-integrations/wire/overview)
## **Instant Payments**
Instant Payments settle in seconds, are available around the clock, and are final and irrevocable. Lead currently supports FedNow; RTP is coming soon. In the Lead API, both networks use the same `instant_payment` object — you do not need to specify the underlying rail.
**Use Instant Payments when:** your customers need immediate fund availability at any hour, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Common use cases include earned wage access, insurance claims disbursements, and gig economy payouts.
Because instant payments are irrevocable, you cannot reverse or cancel a sent payment. If a payment is sent in error, contact the receiving party directly to request a return.
→ [See Instant Payments](/api-integrations/instant-payments/overview)
## **Internal Transfer**
Internal Transfers move funds between accounts held at Lead instantly and at no cost. They do not touch any external network and settle immediately, 24/7.
**Use Internal Transfer when:** you need to move funds between your FBO account and a customer account, or between two accounts within your program, without going through an external rail.
Internal Transfers are outbound only — you initiate the move from the source account. They are irrevocable once submitted.
→ [See Internal Transfer](/api-integrations/internal-transfer/overview)
## **Blockchain Payments**
Blockchain Payments is a beta feature that enables money movement between Lead deposit accounts and blockchain rails. It supports two primary flows:
* **USD on-ramp/off-ramp:** Move USD between a bank account and a blockchain address (stablecoin)
* **USD to foreign currency:** Send USD out over blockchain rails and have it settle in a foreign currency at the destination (the "stablecoin sandwich")
**Use Blockchain Payments when:** your program provides crypto on-ramp or off-ramp capabilities, or needs to move funds internationally in foreign currency over blockchain rails.
Because this feature is in beta, reach out to your Technical Account Manager before building against it.
→ [See Blockchain Payments](/api-integrations/blockchain-payments/overview)
## **Choosing a Rail**
A few common decision points:
**Speed vs. Cost**: Internal Transfers and Instant Payments are the fastest options. ACH is the lowest cost. Wire is the standard choice when same-day finality is needed for large-dollar or international payments.
**Reversibility**: Only ACH entries can be returned within the Nacha window. Wires, Instant Payments, Internal Transfers, and Blockchain Payments are irrevocable once sent.
**Hours**: Instant Payments and Internal Transfers are available 24/7. ACH and Wire are subject to Lead's daily cutoff windows.
**International**: Wire (USD international via SWIFT) and Blockchain Payments are the options for cross-border movement. ACH supports cross-border entries via the IAT SEC code for specific use cases.
## **Processing Windows**
### **ACH**
ACH runs on business days only. Lead supports all three same-day ACH windows and all six next-day ACH windows. Submissions after a Lead cutoff are queued for the next available window — there is no best-effort processing.
### **Same-Day ACH**
| **Lead Cutoff (CT)** | **Fed Window Deadline (CT)** | **Settlement at Counterparty** |
| :------------------- | :--------------------------- | :----------------------------- |
| 9:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM same business day |
| 1:15 PM | 1:45 PM | 4:00 PM same business day |
| 2:00 PM | 3:45 PM | 5:00 PM same business day |
### **Next-Day ACH**
| **Lead Cutoff (CT)** | **Fed Window Deadline (CT)** | **Settlement at Counterparty** |
| :------------------- | :--------------------------- | :----------------------------- |
| 9:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 7:30 AM next business day |
| 1:15 PM | 1:45 PM | 7:30 AM next business day |
| 3:15 PM | 3:45 PM | 7:30 AM next business day |
| 6:30 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 AM next business day |
| 9:15 PM | 9:45 PM | 7:30 AM next business day |
| 10:00 PM | 1:15 AM | 7:30 AM next business day |
The same-day Nacha limit is \$1,000,000 per entry. Entries above that threshold must use `delivery_type: next_business_day`.
### **Wire**
Domestic wires (FedWire) settle same-day when submitted within Lead's wire cutoff window. International wires (SWIFT) follow the same submission window but settlement timing at the receiving institution varies by correspondent. Contact your TAM for current wire cutoff times.
Wires are irrevocable once sent. A [Return Requests API](/api-integrations/wire/return-requests) is coming in Q3 2026 to support wire return workflows.
### **Instant Payments**
Instant payments (FedNow) are available 24/7/365 and are not subject to business-day or cutoff constraints. Settlement completes in approximately 20 seconds. Instant payments are irrevocable once sent.
### **Internal Transfers**
Internal Transfers settle immediately and are available 24/7/365. They are not subject to cutoffs or business-day constraints.
## **File Deadlines**
If your integration includes file-based flows, Lead expects files by **6:00 a.m. CT** on the business day following the date of the activity being reported. Files received after this deadline may not be processed in that day's cycle.
See [File Delivery](/file-integrations/file-delivery/overview) for full file naming, format, and SFTP delivery requirements.