NATIONAL ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER (NEFT)

Dec. 17, 2019

Giving a big boost to digital funds movement, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) operationalised round-the-clock (24 X 7 basis) availability of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT). RBI also asked the banks not to levy any charges on NEFT transfer from savings bank account holders.

About:

  • The NEFT system, which was first introduced in the late 1990s as the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) system, attained its present avatar in 2005.

  • Now that NEFT is 24x7, 365 days a year, is it still different from IMPS? Yes, very much so.

  • For one, NEFT transactions will only be credited to the beneficiary account in batches, unlike the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) system, which transfers money in real time.

  • Secondly, unlike IMPS, for which banks charge a certain amount depending on the quantum of money being transferred, NEFT transactions have been made free by RBI from July 1, earlier this year.

  • Thirdly, unlike IMPS, which can only be transacted online, a NEFT transaction can be done offline by visiting a bank branch.

  • Additionally, as per the RBI mandate, there's no limit on the amount of money that may be transferred via NEFT — unlike IMPS, where a maximum of Rs 2 lakh per day can be transferred. 

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