What happens if money is sent to a closed account?
Generally speaking, if a bank account is closed, any incoming transfers will be rejected by the bank where the account was held.
So, if a transfer has been sent to a closed account, the funds will be rejected and returned to the original sender.
This is similar to sending transfers to a blocked account, a frozen account, or an account that has been closed for compliance purposes. In all instances, the bank will reject the incoming transfers and will return the transfers.
In this article, we will share several additional nuances and important costs that you should be aware of.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to any sections that are relevant to your search.
Table of Contents
- What Happens if Money Is Sent to a Closed Account?
- Will I Be Charged Fees?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options
What Happens if Money Is Sent to a Closed Account?
As mentioned, if you send money to a closed account, the money will be returned to you through the same transfer method (usually). Depending on the bank, there are certain instances where they will issue you a check for the balance of the rejected transaction. However, this is becoming more rare.
That said, there are other considerations that you need to take into account as well. These include the costs that can be associated with a transaction that has been rejected.
For example, certain banks will charge fees for a rejected transfer. Additionally, there may be intermediary bank fees that need to be paid. And, if the original transfer was sent in a different currency there could be foreign exchange fees that need to be paid twice.
Additionally, there are other considerations. Including, what it can mean for the reputation of an individual or a business if they are unable to receive transactions. Of course, all of these are important considerations. Especially, if you are at risk of receiving transactions into an account that is no longer open.
Will I Be Charged Fees?
In most cases, banks do charge fees for transactions that are rejected. This can include a combination of charges. As referenced above, foreign exchange fees, intermediary bank fees, and specific fees can be tied to rejected transactions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are two of the most common questions that we receive from people that want to know what happens if money is sent to a closed account. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
How Long Does It Take for Money to Be Returned From a Closed Account?
The specific amount of time that it can take to return money from a closed bank account will depend on the method that was used to make the original transfer.
Likewise, it can also depend on whether the account is in the same country as the sending party. Not to mention, if the transfer was originally sent from abroad. In most cases, money will be returned from a closed account within four to six business days of the original transfer.
How Do You Get Money Out of a Closed Bank Account?
To get money out of a closed bank account you will need to coordinate with the bank (or banker) directly. In most cases, if an account has been closed for compliance-related issues, then the bank will provide a specific deadline for the funds to be withdrawn. On the other hand, if you have closed the bank account yourself, you may need to contact the bank and ask that they send any remaining funds to a designated bank account.
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