How long does a bank transfer take in Morocco?
Transfer times vary according to the banks involved and to the destination of the transfer.
For transfers within the same bank, the times are generally shorter, often in real time or within the day. For a transfer between two different banks in Morocco — Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Populaire, Bank of Africa, CIH Bank… — they usually range from 1 to 3 working days.
International transfers generally need 3 to 5 working days, and sometimes more depending on the bank and the destination country. Fees also vary according to the banks and to the type of transfer made.
| Type of transfer | Usual time | Weekends and public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Within the same bank | Immediate to a few hours | Depending on the bank |
| Instant, between banks | About ten seconds | Yes, 24/7 |
| Standard, between banks | 1 to 3 working days | No |
| International | 3 to 5 working days | No |
What happens between the click and the credit
The most frequent mistake
An IBAN copied out wrongly does not leave: the bank rejects it thanks to the check digits. But an IBAN that is valid and simply not the right account does leave. Always check the number with the beneficiary before confirming.
The interbank transfer is a common operation for settling an invoice, moving funds or carrying out business transactions. The process runs in several steps:
- The sender provides the necessary information — the recipient's bank details (their IBAN) and the amount to transfer.
- The sending bank debits the sender's account and passes on a transfer instruction.
- The instruction goes through interbank clearing, which gathers the instructions and shares them out between banks.
- The recipient's bank credits the beneficiary's account.
The third step explains everything: clearing only runs on working days. The instant transfer, for its part, bypasses that mechanism thanks to a dedicated infrastructure that runs permanently.
Does it depend on my bank?
Partly. All Moroccan banks go through the same interbank clearing, which bounds the time in the same way for everyone. What changes from one bank to another:
- The cut-off time — the moment in the day after which an instruction moves to the next working day. It is often in the middle of the afternoon.
- The connection to the instant transfer and its pricing, left to each bank.
- How quickly it shows on the beneficiary's side: some banks credit on receipt, others after an overnight batch.
The case of Attijariwafa Bank, the one most asked about on these questions, is detailed on the Attijariwafa Bank transfer times page.
How to make the money arrive faster
Three levers, in order of effectiveness:
- Use the instant transfer when the amount allows it. It is available from the app or from your online banking area, works at the weekend too, and the cap is 20,000 DH per operation.
- Give the instruction in the morning of a working day, before your bank's cut-off time.
- Avoid the eve of a weekend or of a public holiday: an instruction given on Thursday evening may only arrive on the Tuesday.
And for an iris.ma order?
If you want to be delivered as fast as possible, the transfer is not the fastest payment method: the order is only validated once the funds arrive, and the stock is only reserved at that moment. The bank card validates the order immediately. The full comparison is on the payment methods page, and the shipping times on the delivery page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bank transfer arrive at the weekend in Morocco?
Only the instant transfer works at the weekend: it is processed within seconds, Saturdays and Sundays included. The standard transfer goes through interbank clearing, which only runs on working days. Details on the instant transfer at the weekend.
Why is my transfer taking 3 days when I was told 24 h?
Three causes often add up: the instruction was given after the cut-off time, a weekend or a public holiday came in between, or the receiving bank only credits after its overnight batch. The simulator at the top of the page takes the first two into account.
How do I know whether my transfer has left?
The debit appears on your statement, sometimes with a “being processed” note. If you have doubts about a pending transfer, contact your bank's customer service; if the transfer comes from someone else, ask them for the transaction advice.
Is the instant transfer free of charge?
Not everywhere. After a free period at launch, each bank sets its own pricing: the service is still free of charge at some banks and charged at others. Check your bank's price list.
What happens if I get the IBAN wrong?
If the IBAN is badly formed, the bank rejects it before sending thanks to the check digits. If it is valid but matches another account, the money leaves: you then have to ask your bank for a recall of funds, with no guarantee of success. Check what you have entered with the IBAN checker.
