CHAPS payments

All about CHAPS payments

Our CHAPS service is available for you to make those high value UK payments on the same day, if we received your request by 1pm. Find out how you can make a payment and what the limits and timescales of a CHAPS payment are.

What is a CHAPS payment?

What is a CHAPS payment?

CHAPS stands for Clearing House Automated Payment System. It's an automated payment system we use to make payments on the same day in the UK, in sterling (providing the payment instruction is received before 1:00 pm).

What is it used for? Typically it's used by companies making regular requests for high value payments. For example, a solicitor will use a CHAPS payment to transfer the purchase funds of a house between the buyer and seller. People often use it to make same day payments when buying a high value car too. There is a charge for this service.

Make a payment online 

About online CHAPS payments

If you're registered for our Internet Banking service, you can make a CHAPS payment online from your current account, using your card reader. If you don't have a card reader, simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete your transaction. We'll need the following details from you:


  • Beneficiary account name
  • Beneficiary sort code
  • Beneficiary account number

Did you know? If you're making a payment for less than £10,000, instead of making a CHAPS payment, you can make a quick transfer online to your own Rafidain Bank accounts or a single payment if you're paying or transferring to someone else.

When you make a CHAPS payment

  • Always double check the sort code, account number and name when sending a payment.
  • Check the amount and payment reference, particularly if you are paying a business or paying a bill
  • If you think you have sent a payment to the wrong account it is important to act quickly. If you are unable to recover the funds with the receiver directly, please contact us immediately.
  • Likewise, if you have received money into your account that you think might have been sent to you in error, contact us immediately.

If you have made a payment incorrectly and have been unable to resolve this direct with the receiver, you need to either telephone Rafidain Bank Direct or visit any Rafidain Bank branch and we will attempt to recover the funds, however there is no guarantee that this will be possible.

Rafidain Bank subscribes to the Payment Council's Code of Best Practice: Misdirected Payments. For Rafidain Bank customers this means that once you inform us that an electronic payment (made via Bacs or Faster Payment) has been made in error, within two working days we will contact the receiving bank in order to try and recover the funds. The receiving bank then has a further 18 days to respond to the request to return funds (20 days in total). Once a response is received from the receiving bank we will notify you of the outcome of the investigation.

If funds cannot be recovered we will include information in our notification to you on the options you have available.

How to make a CHAPS payment online

  1. Log in to the Internet Bank
  2. Find 'Other payments'
  3. In the section 'Make a payment using CHAPS' choose your account
  4. Select Go
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions

Make a payment in branch

How to make a CHAPS payment in branch

If you have a current account or savings account, you can request a CHAPS payment in branch. When you visit us in branch you will need to bring with you identification and the beneficiary (person receiving the money) details.

What details you'll need 

Identification should be:

  • your Rafidain Bank account card or Passbook, and,
  • for requests over £2,000, a valid passport or photo card driving licence (with the paper counterpart).

The beneficiary details should include:

  • Beneficiary account name.
  • Beneficiary sort code. 
  • Beneficiary account number.

Did you know? If you're making a payment for less than £10,000, instead of making a CHAPS payment, you can make a quick transfer online to your own Rafidain Bank accounts or a single payment if you're paying or transferring to someone else. 

Receive a payment

How to receive a CHAPS payment

There's no charge for receiving a CHAPS payment into your Rafidain Bank account although the originating bank may charge the payment sender.. You will need to give the person sending the money the following information about your account:

Current Account / Card Savings account

  • Your account name
  • Account sort code (Found on the bottom of your card or on your statement)
  • Account number (Found on the bottom of your card or on your statement)

Passbook Savings account

  • Your account name
  • Sort code - 070093
  • Account number – 33333334
  • Account Roll number 

Finding your roll number

You can find your roll number in your passbook in the following format 1234/1234567.

Fees and charges

Fees & charges

The fee for sending a CHAPS or SWIFT payment from a current account is £20.

The fee for sending a CHAPS or SWIFT payment from a savings account is £20.

CHAPS limits

CHAPS Limit

Providing there are sufficient cleared funds available to cover your transaction and fees, there is no minimum or maximum transfer limit.

Processing times

Processing times

Making payments through CHAPS should mean the recipient will receive the funds the same day. This is providing your instruction is received into the CHAPS and Foreign Payments Incoming Team, at Rafidain Bank, by 1pm that day. Any requests received after the 1pm deadline will normally be processed the next working day.

CHAPS conditions of transfer

CHAPS conditions of transfer

  1. Your name, address and account number will appear on this transfer and on any related messages through the payment chain.
  2. The administration fee is non-refundable.
  3. Provided there is no negligence on the part of Rafidain Bank and/or its agents, then Rafidain Bank and its agents shall not be liable for any claims or losses arising as a result of money:-
    1. not received by the receiving bank or the beneficiary; or
    2. rejected by the receiving bank or beneficiary; or
    3. for any reason, delayed whilst in transmission to the receiving bank or the beneficiary; or
    4. being recalled by you.

Subject to the above, Rafidain Bank will make every effort to trace the funds and notify you of the outcome.

  1. Rafidain Bank does not give advice on the currency used.
  2. Please be  aware that no funds can be transferred from your account until your request has been received within the CHAPS and Foreign Payments Incoming Team at Rafidain Bank.

Note: Making payments through CHAPS should mean the recipient will receive the funds the same day, provided your instructions are received into the CHAPS and Foreign Payments Incoming Team at Rafidain Bank normally by 1pm that day. Any requests received after the 1pm deadline will normally be processed the next working day.

Note: If you require an investigation into a payment processed by us, please be aware that agent banks may levy charges for their parts in this service. These charges are not within Rafidain Bank’s control and will usually be passed on to you.

Investigating payments

If you require us to investigate a payment processed by us, please be aware that agent banks may levy charges for their parts in this service. These charges are not within Rafidain Bank’s control and will usually be passed on to you.

Use of your information

To complete the payment and comply with applicable legal obligations and prevent crime, the details of your CHAPS & SWIFT payments (including personal information relating to individuals named on the form) may be provided to overseas authorities.

Rafidain Bank must process all CHAPS and SWIFT payment instructions in a manner which ensures they comply with all legal and regulatory requirements for inbound and outbound payments. In order to meet these responsibilities, Rafidain Bank may need to contact internal or external parties for additional information and clarification with regard to CHAPS and SWIFT payment instructions and therefore payments are not guaranteed to be released or received on the same day.

SWIFT payments