What is a CHAPS payment?
If you need to pay someone straight away or transfer a large amount of money, CHAPS transfers allow you to make same-day, high-value electronic payments.
You might use CHAPS if you were paying the money for a house purchase, for example. A business may use CHAPS transfers to pay their suppliers or their taxes.
How to make a CHAPS payment
You can make a CHAPS payment with HSBC by phone, in branch, and in some cases, by post. Before you begin, make sure you have the recipient’s payment details and any identification you made to make the payment.
Before you make a CHAPS payment
-
Check that a CHAPS payment is the right payment method for your transfer
-
Make sure you have the recipient’s name, sort code and account number
-
Have the payment amount and reference ready
-
Be aware of any CHAPS payment fees and cut-off times
-
Check that the payment falls within any applicable limits
How much does a CHAPS payment cost?
HSBC won't charge a fee for sending a payment via CHAPS.
Why do some banks charge for CHAPS payments?
CHAPS payments are usually for high-value or time-sensitive payments that need to arrive on the same working day. Because of this, some banks charge a fee to make a CHAPS payment.
Are CHAPS payments secure?
CHAPS payments are one of the safest ways to send money in the UK. They run on a tightly controlled system built for large, time-sensitive payments, with several layers of protection at every step.
Here’s what helps keep your CHAPS payment safe:
It runs on a trusted, controlled network
CHAPS is part of a regulated UK payments system. Only approved banks can take part, which keeps the network closed and tightly managed. This is very different from open, internet-style systems, and it helps reduce risk.
Payments are final once they’ve gone through
CHAPS payments move directly through accounts held at the Bank of England. Once a payment has gone though, it’s final. That gives you certainty that the money has arrived and can’t be reversed.
Your bank checks it’s really you
-
Secure logon steps for online and mobile banking
-
Extra sign-off for business payments, so more than one person approves them
-
Additional checks and limits for large payments
Payment details are sent securely
Banks use secure, closely monitored channels to send and process payment instructions. These are protected around the clock, so your details stay safe as your payment moves from one bank to another.
Checks are in place to help prevent fraud
Banks carry out a range of checks to help stop fraud and financial crime. These can include:
-
Screening payments against known risks
-
Spotting unusual or suspicious activity
-
Confirmation of payee, which checks the name on the account matches, to help stop payments going to the wrong person
The system is built to keep running
CHAPS is designed to be reliable and available when you need it. It has backup systems, strict controls, and constant monitoring to help protect against outages and other risks.
These checks add strong protection, but no system can catch everything. It's always worth double-checking payment details before you send money.
Learn more about HSBC’s physical Secure Key and mobile banking PIN.
Can a CHAPS payment be reversed?
Once a CHAPS payment has been processed, it usually can’t be cancelled or reversed. This is because CHAPS payments are designed to provide secure, same-day payments between banks.
What if I’ve made a mistake?
If you’ve used the wrong payment details or sent money to the wrong account, contact HSBC as soon as you can. CHAPS payments usually can’t be reversed once they’ve been sent, but we will talk you through your options and next steps.
What if I think I’ve been a victim of fraud?
If you believe you’ve made a CHAPS payment as the result of fraud or a scam:
-
Contact the HSBC Fraud and security centre immediately
-
Report the incident as soon as possible
-
Avoid making any further payments until you’ve spoken to the bank
This article was last updated:19/10/2026, 04:08
