Updated 19 October 2026
Quick answer: Use Pesalink for instant transfers up to KSh 999,999 at any hour, usually for the lowest fee. Use RTGS for KSh 1 million or more, or when a large payment must land the same day with a clear audit trail. Use EFT for routine payments under KSh 1 million that are not urgent, such as standing orders, since it settles in batches. Since 1 October 2009, cheques and EFTs of KSh 1 million and above cannot go through the clearing house and must use RTGS.
The rules below come from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the Pesalink operator IPSL and banks’ published tariffs. Charges vary by bank, so check yours before sending large amounts.
In this guide
Pesalink vs RTGS vs EFT at a Glance
| Feature | Pesalink | RTGS (KEPSS) | EFT (via the clearing house) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), a subsidiary of the Kenya Bankers Association | Central Bank of Kenya | Nairobi Automated Clearing House (CBK with banks) |
| Maximum per transaction | KSh 999,999 (your bank may set a lower limit) | No upper cap; required for KSh 1 million and above | KSh 999,999 |
| Minimum | KSh 10 (KCB’s published minimum) | Not capped at the low end | Not capped at the low end |
| Speed | Instant | Real time once processed; CBK expects the receiving bank to have funds within about four hours of the instruction | Batched; settles at set times, so it can take until the next settlement cycle |
| Availability | 24/7, including weekends and public holidays | RTGS business hours on working days | Clearing days only |
| How you send | Bank app, internet banking or bank USSD | Branch instruction or internet banking | Branch, internet banking, standing orders |
| Typical charge (examples below) | Free to about KSh 150 depending on amount | About KSh 400 to KSh 500 | About KSh 100 to KSh 500 |
What Is Pesalink?
Pesalink is an instant, interoperable payment network run by Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), which is owned by the Kenya Bankers Association and was set up in 2015 under the National Payment System Act. It moves money from one store of value to another, such as a bank account, mobile money wallet, Sacco or fintech wallet, and Pesalink says it has more than 80 participants, including banks, telcos, fintechs and Saccos.
- Limit: up to KSh 999,999 per transaction. IPSL says your bank may set a lower limit for security, and you can ask the bank to raise it.
- Foreign currency: KCB’s FAQ lists maximums of USD 10,000, GBP 10,000 and EUR 10,000, and minimums of KSh 10, USD 1, GBP 1 and EUR 1.
- Hours: 24/7, including weekends and public holidays.
- Channels: your bank’s mobile app, internet banking or USSD. You need the recipient’s bank and account number; some banks also let you send to a phone number linked to an account.
Pesalink also has a bulk option for salaries and supplier payments, with the same KSh 999,999 cap per transaction.
What Is RTGS?
RTGS stands for Real Time Gross Settlement. Kenya’s system is the Kenya Electronic Payment and Settlement System (KEPSS), owned and run by CBK since 29 July 2005. Each payment is settled individually and continuously in the banks’ accounts at CBK, rather than being netted with other payments at the end of the day, which is why CBK treats it as a systemically important payment system.
- Required for large amounts: since 1 October 2009, payments of KSh 1 million and above (and domestic foreign currency payments of USD 35,000, GBP 15,000 or EUR 30,000 and above) must go through RTGS rather than cheques or EFT.
- Also for urgent smaller payments: CBK says KEPSS settles time-critical payments below KSh 1 million too.
- Speed: CBK’s value capping FAQ says the receiving bank is expected to have the payment within four hours of receiving the instruction on the due date.
- Hours: RTGS runs during business hours on working days, so an instruction given late on Friday may only move on Monday.
RTGS is the usual route for land and car purchases, large school or hospital bills, and business payments over KSh 1 million.
What Is EFT?
An Electronic Funds Transfer in this sense is a bank-to-bank credit transfer cleared through the Nairobi Automated Clearing House, the same infrastructure that clears cheques. CBK explains that EFT works on deferred net settlement: transactions are held and settled in batches at set times, and anything sent after the cut-off waits for the next cycle. EFTs are capped at KSh 999,999 per payment.
EFT is common for standing orders, salaries paid through the clearing house and supplier payments that don’t need to land instantly. Same-bank transfers are not affected by the cap, because they never pass through the clearing house.
What Banks Charge: Real Examples
There is no single national price. Each bank sets its own tariff, and excise duty is added on top. Two published 2025 tariffs show the typical range:
| Bank (tariff date) | Pesalink | RTGS | EFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Bank (2025 general tariff) | KSh 5 (KSh 10 to 1,000); KSh 40 (KSh 1,001 to 10,000); KSh 80 (KSh 10,001 to 50,000); KSh 100 (KSh 50,001 to 100,000); KSh 125 (KSh 100,001 to 200,000); KSh 150 (KSh 200,001 to 500,000) | KSh 500 at a branch; KSh 400 through internet banking | KSh 500 per transfer |
| Diamond Trust Bank (tariff of 7 March 2025) | Free up to KSh 500; KSh 70 to KSh 130 for larger amounts, rising by band up to KSh 999,999 | KSh 500 outgoing; incoming free | KSh 100 to KSh 500 outgoing depending on the account; incoming free |
Worked Examples
- Paying rent of KSh 45,000 on a Sunday. Of the three, only Pesalink moves money on a weekend. At Prime Bank’s 2025 tariff, it costs KSh 80 plus excise duty, compared with KSh 500 for an EFT that would only settle on a working day.
- Paying school fees of KSh 150,000. Pesalink at Prime costs KSh 125. RTGS online costs KSh 400 and is not needed for an amount under KSh 1 million unless the school asks for it.
- Paying KSh 2.4 million for a plot. This is above the KSh 999,999 cap for Pesalink and EFT, so it has to go by RTGS. At Prime that is KSh 400 online or KSh 500 at a branch. Send it in the morning on a working day and keep the RTGS reference for the seller’s lawyer.
Which One Should You Use?
- Choose Pesalink for everyday transfers to other banks or wallets under KSh 1 million, especially outside banking hours.
- Choose RTGS for KSh 1 million or more, for payments that need a central bank settlement record, or when a time-critical payment must land the same working day and your bank limits Pesalink below the amount.
- Choose EFT for scheduled, non-urgent payments, or where the recipient’s bank asks for it.
Check the recipient’s name before you confirm, and treat every transfer as final once sent. Getting back money sent to the wrong account depends on the receiving bank and the recipient’s cooperation.
Tips to Avoid Problems
- Raise your Pesalink limit early. If your bank caps Pesalink below KSh 999,999, ask it to raise the limit before a big payment, not on the day.
- Know the RTGS cut-off. Banks set their own cut-off times for same-day RTGS. Ask your branch or check your internet banking.
- Don’t split large payments to dodge RTGS. CBK moved payments of KSh 1 million and above to RTGS because it removes the settlement risk of large batched payments, and a single RTGS payment is easier to trace.
- Keep references. Save the Pesalink, RTGS or EFT reference number in case the payment is queried.
New to banking? Our guides to opening an Equity account and the Equity Bank help page cover the basics. If you are hiring finance staff, post the job on JobinKenya.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pesalink limit in Kenya?
KSh 999,999 per transaction, though your bank may set a lower limit for security.
Is RTGS faster than Pesalink?
No. Pesalink is instant at any hour. RTGS settles in real time once processed, but only during business hours on working days, and CBK expects funds to reach the receiving bank within about four hours of the instruction.
What is the difference between EFT and RTGS?
EFT settles in batches through the clearing house and is capped at KSh 999,999. RTGS settles each payment individually in real time at CBK and is required for KSh 1 million and above.
Does Pesalink work on weekends?
Yes. Pesalink runs 24/7, including weekends and public holidays.
How much does RTGS cost in Kenya?
It depends on the bank. Prime Bank’s 2025 tariff charges KSh 500 at a branch and KSh 400 online; DTB’s March 2025 tariff charges KSh 500, plus excise duty.
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