ACH, FedNow, and Wire: What they are and how they work on Grey

When you receive USD into your Grey account, the money travels through one of several US payment networks: ACH, FedNow, or Fedwire. Each works differently in terms of speed, cost, and use case. This guide explains all of them and tells you exactly what to share with whoever is paying you.
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Your Grey USD account details include both an ACH routing number and a Fedwire routing number. Share the right one depending on how your sender is paying. Find both in the Grey app under your USD wallet > Account details.
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ACH (Automated Clearing House) is the backbone of US domestic payments. Employers, freelance platforms, and marketplaces use ACH to send payroll and payouts. Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, Deel, Remote, and most other platforms pay via ACH by default.
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ACH processes in batches, not in real time. This is why transfers take 1-2 business days to arrive. Payments initiated on a Friday may not arrive until the following Tuesday.
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To receive via ACH, share your ACH routing number and account number from your Grey USD wallet. The deposit fee is 0.8% with a minimum of $2 and a maximum of $10.
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FedNow is the Federal Reserve's instant payment system, launched in 2023. Unlike ACH, FedNow settles in real time around the clock, every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays. Grey supports receiving USD via FedNow at the same fee as ACH: 0.8% (minimum $2, maximum $10).
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When a sender's bank supports FedNow, the payment can arrive within seconds instead of days. Whether a sender uses FedNow depends on their bank — you do not need to specify it on your end. Verify with Grey support or in your account details which routing number to provide for FedNow payments.
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Fedwire (Federal Reserve Wire Transfer System) is used for large, time-critical payments that need to settle the same business day. Property purchases, business settlements, and large employer payments sometimes come via Fedwire.
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Fedwire transfers arrive the same business day if submitted before the cut-off time (typically 5 PM ET). Grey charges a flat $20 deposit fee for Fedwire regardless of the amount. To receive via Fedwire, share your Fedwire routing number and account number — not the ACH routing number.

For most platform payouts and employer payments (Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, Deel, Remote, direct employer):

For same-day or large wire transfers:

If your ACH payment has not arrived after 2 business days, contact Grey support with the transfer amount, the sender's name or platform, the expected arrival date, and any reference number the sender can provide.
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For Fedwire payments, contact support if the payment has not arrived by the end of the same business day it was sent.
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ACH payments can be returned by the sending bank for reasons such as incorrect account details, insufficient funds on the sender's side, or account restrictions. If an ACH return occurs, Grey will notify you and the funds are returned to the sender within 1-3 business days. Contact Grey support if you have questions about a returned payment or if you believe your account details were entered incorrectly by the sender.
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ACH (Automated Clearing House) is the standard electronic payment network used for bank-to-bank transfers in the United States. It is used for direct deposits, payroll, and most platform payouts including Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon. ACH transfers to your Grey account take 1-3 business days and carry a 0.8% deposit fee (minimum $2, maximum $10).
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FedNow is an instant payment system operated by the Federal Reserve. Unlike ACH which processes in batches, FedNow settles payments in real time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Grey supports receiving USD via FedNow at the same fee as ACH: 0.8% (minimum $2, maximum $10).
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A wire transfer is a direct electronic transfer of funds between banks, typically used for larger or time-sensitive payments. Wire transfers sent to your Grey USD account via Fedwire carry a flat $20 deposit fee regardless of the amount.

Your Grey USD account details include both an ACH routing number and a Fedwire routing number. Use the ACH routing number for standard platform payouts and employer payments. Use the Fedwire routing number when someone needs to send a same-day wire transfer. Both are visible in your Grey app under your USD wallet account details.
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ACH takes 1-2 business days. FedNow arrives in real time (seconds to minutes). Fedwire arrives the same business day if sent before the cut-off time. The speed depends on which method the sender chooses, not Grey.
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ACH transfers can sometimes be delayed by the sending bank. If your payment has not arrived after 3 business days, contact Grey support with the transfer amount, sender name, and any transaction reference number the sender can provide. Grey's team will investigate and update you.
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ACH payments can be returned by the sending bank for reasons such as incorrect account details, insufficient funds on the sender's side, or bank restrictions. If an ACH return occurs, Grey will notify you, and the funds will be returned to the sender within 1-3 business days. Contact Grey support if you have questions about a returned payment.