Troubleshooting Delayed International Transfers
International transfers can sometimes take longer than expected due to factors beyond your control — such as banking schedules, compliance reviews, or intermediary banks.
This article explains the most common causes and what to do if your transfer seems delayed.
Common Reasons for Delays
| Cause | Why It Happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Processing Times | Each bank in the payment chain (sender, intermediary, receiver) has its own cut-off and settlement windows. | A U.S. bank may take 1–2 business days to process, while the recipient bank in Germany takes another 1–2 days to credit the account. |
| Time Zone Differences | Payments initiated late in one region may miss same-day processing in another. | A transfer sent Friday afternoon from the U.S. to Australia won’t process until Monday due to time zones and weekends. |
| Public Holidays | Banks close for holidays in either country, delaying settlement. | Sending during Diwali in India or Memorial Day in the U.S. can add an extra business day. See Banking Holidays. |
| Regulatory Compliance Checks | Large or cross-border payments may be reviewed for AML or KYC compliance. | A high-value transfer from Switzerland to the U.S. may require additional verification. |
| Incorrect Recipient Details | Mistyped or mismatched account holder names, SWIFT codes, or IBANs can cause rejections. | If the name doesn’t match exactly, the payment may bounce or be held for review. |
| Intermediary Banks | USD transfers may route through one or more correspondent banks before reaching the final bank. | A payment from the U.S. to South Africa might route through the U.K., adding 1–2 days. |
| Technical or Network Issues | Occasional system outages at participating banks can delay posting. | A temporary outage at the recipient bank pauses processing until resolved. |
| Fraud Prevention Reviews | Some banks automatically flag unusual patterns for manual review. | A first-time payment from a specific company name to Pakistan might be held briefly for verification. |
| Cut-Off Times | Transfers made after the bank’s daily processing deadline post the next business day. | A transfer initiated at 6 PM after a 5 PM cut-off won’t process until the next morning. |
What to Do If Your Transfer Is Delayed
- Check Your Transfer Status in LiquidTrust
- Confirm that funds were successfully transferred out of your Wallet. (This will show as "PAID")
- If it has been more than 2 business days (domestic) or 4 business days (international) since your request, contact support@liquidtrust.io.
- Our team can provide your Tracking Reference or End-to-End ID for your bank to trace the payment.
- Contact Your Bank
- Ask your bank if the funds are pending, being reviewed, or awaiting confirmation from an intermediary.
- Verify Recipient Information
- Ensure the account holder name, SWIFT/BIC, and IBAN are entered exactly as required.
- Avoid abbreviations or initials unless part of the legal name.
- Consider Business Days and Holidays
- Banks don’t process on weekends or holidays, so allow for this time in your expectations.
Tips to Avoid Future Delays
- Initiate transfers before 9 AM PT to catch same-day processing.
- Choose local currency payouts when available — these often skip intermediary banks and arrive faster.
- Keep your KYC/KYB documents up to date to prevent compliance holds.
- Always double-check recipient information before confirming a transfer.
Why This Matters
Delays are often caused by the global banking network, not by LiquidTrust directly.
Understanding how timing, regulations, and bank routing work helps you plan better and get your funds where they need to go—smoothly and on schedule.