Current vs available balance can be a tricky banking term for account holders and credit card users alike.
This is especially true if you’re sitting in your home country and just opened your US bank account from abroad, including from India, the UK, or even Canada.
In this article, we’ll answer a number of other questions about your current balance and available balance. Including how making electronic bank transfers from your US account to Canada, the UK, or elsewhere can impact your balance.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Current vs Available Balance
- How Long Until My Pending Transactions Become Available?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Open Accounts With Banks in the USA?
Current vs Available Balance
The main difference between current vs available balance is that current balance does not include pending charges while the available balance is the current balance less any pending charges. In other words, the available balance is a more accurate reflection of how much money you have in your account at any given time.
Before diving in any further, if this is your first time visiting GlobalBanks, don’t forget to download your FREE US Banking Starter Guide. It’s designed to help non-residents with opening bank accounts at top financial institutions in the US.
How Long Until My Pending Transactions Become Available?
Your pending transactions, which could relate to an outstanding check or wire transfer, typically become available within three business days of the charge or deposit. Prior to transactions becoming available, they will appear in your current balance, as mentioned above.
In many cases, you can set alerts to notify you when a pending transaction has cleared. In fact, many banks offer this service directly from their online banking platforms. Alternatively, you can log into your online bank account to view your current balance and available balance each day.
Of course, if you need access to funds immediately after a deposit is made, you should speak to your bank before making the deposit and ask them to confirm the clearing time. In certain circumstances, the banker you’re speaking with may be able to assist with making the funds immediately available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are three of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into the difference between current vs available balance. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Why Is My Money In Current Balance and Not Available Balance?
Your money may appear in your current balance but not in the available balance because your bank has yet to clear a deposit. This can happen when deposits are made by check, wire, or cash, depending on the bank and its policies. If you require immediate access to your funds, you should ask the bank how long it will take for funds to become available after a specific deposit has been made.
Why Is Current Balance More Than Available?
Current balance appears to be more than the available balance in your account because it does not include any pending charges that have yet to post to your account. In other words, the current balance is not an up-to-date reflection of the money that you actually have in your account.
How Long Until Current Balance Becomes Available?
How long it can take until your current balance becomes your available balance depends on the specific pending charges, pending deposits, and your bank’s processing policies. In most cases, current balance updates become available within three business days. However, this can vary depending on the bank.
Ready to Open Accounts With Banks in the USA?
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