> ## 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.

# Internal Transfers: Moving money between your own accounts

> What an internal transfer is, which account numbers it can move money between, and what you can do with the Internal Transfers API.

An internal transfer moves money between two account numbers held at Lead without leaving the bank. You name the sending and receiving account numbers, and Lead debits the core balance behind one and credits the core balance behind the other. Transfers post within seconds.

An internal transfer moves money between core balances only. Use it to move funds between your program's own accounts, such as from an operating account to a settlement account.

## Which account numbers an internal transfer can use

The table lists which pairs of account numbers a transfer can use.

| Sender and receiver | Allowed |
| - | - |
| Two account numbers on core balances of different core accounts | Yes |
| Two account numbers on the same core account | No. The request returns an error. |
| Either account number on a user deposit balance | No. The request returns an error. Use a user deposit transaction. |
| A sending account number whose core balance Lead hasn't enabled for internal transfers | No. The request returns `422`. |
| A sending account number Lead holds | No. The request returns an error. |

Lead sets whether a core balance can send internal transfers at onboarding.

## How internal transfers relate to the rest of the model

An internal transfer connects to these objects:

* **Account numbers.** Both ends of a transfer are account numbers you reference by ID. Both must be `active`. See [Account Numbers](https://docs.lead.bank/v2/products/account-number/overview.md).
* **Core balances.** Lead resolves the core balance behind each account number. The transfer returns them as `sender_core_balance_id` and `receiver_core_balance_id`.
* **Core transactions.** A posted transfer creates two core transactions, a debit on the sender's balance and a credit on the receiver's. The transfer returns them as `sender_core_transaction_id` and `receiver_core_transaction_id`. Look a transfer up by either one with the `core_transaction_id` list filter. See [Core Transactions](https://docs.lead.bank/products/core-transaction/overview.md).
* **User deposit balances.** Not reachable by internal transfer. Report movement on a user deposit balance as a user deposit transaction.

## What you can do

You can use these endpoints:

* `POST /v2/internal_transfers`: Create a transfer. Requires an `Idempotency-Key` header. Returns the transfer in `processing`.
* `GET /v2/internal_transfers/{internal_transfer_id}`: Retrieve a transfer.
* `GET /v2/internal_transfers`: List transfers. Filter by `sender_account_number_id`, `receiver_account_number_id`, `core_transaction_id`, `status`, or `created_at`.

See [Idempotency](https://docs.lead.bank/api-reference/using-the-api/idempotency-v2.md).

### Authentication

The endpoints use these scopes:

* **`internal_transfer/read_write`** for create. Also grants read access.
* **`internal_transfer/read`** for the GET endpoints only.

## What you can't do

These actions aren't available:

* **Cancel a transfer.** After Lead accepts it, it moves to `posted` or `rejected`.
* **Move money into or out of a user deposit balance.** The request returns an error. Use a user deposit transaction.
* **Transfer between two account numbers on the same core account.** The request returns an error.
* **Update a transfer.** There is no PATCH endpoint.
* **Reference an `account_id`.** It isn't accepted on requests, returned on responses, or available as a filter.

## In this section

These are the pages in this section:

* [The Internal Transfer Object](https://docs.lead.bank/v2/products/internal-transfer/internal-transfer-object.md)
* [Internal Transfer Statuses](https://docs.lead.bank/v2/products/internal-transfer/statuses.md)
* [Sending an internal transfer](https://docs.lead.bank/v2/products/internal-transfer/sending.md)
* [Internal transfer timing and availability](https://docs.lead.bank/v2/products/internal-transfer/timing.md)