Warning of delayed German bank transfers at the end of December

"German banks are warning their customers of a four-day delay in bank transfers at the end of December this year. If you're due to send or receive money at the end of December in Germany, you may face delays because of the way the European Central Bank's systems work and how the Christmas dates fall this year. Every weekend, as well as on certain public holidays, the payment transfer systems operated by the European Central Bank are closed."

"These public holidays include December 25th (Christmas Day) and December 26th ( 2. Weihnachtsfeiertag), which are both public holidays in Germany. Because these two bank holidays are immediately followed by a weekend, there is a four‑day period in which normal interbank transfers are effectively paused. This means that transfers initiated between different banks from December 25th to 28th will only be processed on the next banking day - Monday, December 29th."

"There are some exceptions to this - transfers between two people who both use the same bank do not need the ECB system, so will go through instantly. READ ALSO: Readers' tips on the best banks and savings options in Germany In addition, "instant payments" ( Echtzeitüberweisungen) use a separate infrastructure and can be executed around the clock, including weekends and holidays."

Interbank transfers between different banks will be paused from December 25 through December 28 because the European Central Bank's transfer systems close on weekends and on public holidays. December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 26 (2. Weihnachtsfeiertag) are both public holidays in Germany and are immediately followed by a weekend, creating a four-day processing gap. Transfers initiated between different banks during that period will be processed on Monday, December 29. Transfers within the same bank bypass the ECB system and are instant. Echtzeitüberweisungen (instant payments) run 24/7 but may incur fees; changes from late 2025 aim to make them low-cost or free, so customers should check their bank's conditions to avoid missed salaries, rents or other payments.

Read at The Local Germany