Guide to sending large payments with Tide Business UK, including transfer limits

UK businesses often need to move large sums of money, whether for paying suppliers, covering tax liabilities, settling invoices, funding acquisitions or transferring reserves between accounts. This guide explains how large payments work with Tide Business, including transfer limits, fees, processing times and security considerations. It also explores instances where Tide may not be suitable, particularly for international transfers.

Plus, we look at why businesses often use a specialist provider like Wise Business alongside their main bank account.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Can you use Tide Business UK for large transfers?

Yes, Tide Business UK can be used for large GBP transfers within the UK banking system. However, it’s important to understand how Tide processes payments and where its limitations apply.

Tide is an e-money institution,¹ not a traditional bank. It partners with UK clearing banks to provide access to Faster Payments, BACS and CHAPS.² But it doesn’t currently operate a full international SWIFT network for outbound payments.

How Tide handles larger transfers

Tide supports three main payments types for businesses:

1. Faster Payments: Suitable for most day-to-day transfers within the UK. These are nearly instantaneous.
2. CHAPS: Typically used for high-value sterling transfers above £250,000. This is an automatic process and is the UK’s same-day high-value payment system.
3. SEPA: Tide also supports euro transfers within the Single Euro Payments Area, although this isn’t the provider’s primary strength.

Tide doesn’t currently support outbound SWIFT payments for most non-GBP or non-EUR currencies. This means that while Tide large payment capabilities are strong for domestic use, international businesses may require a different solution.

💡 See: how to open a Tide Business account

Is Tide Business UK safe for large payments?

Yes, Tide is considered safe for high-value transfers within its supported payment rails.

Regulation and safeguarding

Tide is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an electronic money institution.³ Customer funds are safeguarded under UK regulations which means money is held separately from Tide’s own operating funds.¹

Although Tide accounts aren’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the same way bank deposits are, safeguarding rules are there to protect customers.¹

To protect Tide Business UK large transfers, the platform uses:

• Two-factor authentication for account access
• Confirmation delays for new payees
• Transaction monitoring and fraud detection
• Adjustable account and payment limits.

In addition to this, when sending large sums of money, it’s recommended that businesses:

• Double-check beneficiary details before authorising
• Add new payees well in advance of urgent payments
• Split duties internally (maker/checker approach)
• Monitor account limits regularly.

These steps are especially important when sending a Tide large payment via CHAPS as these are usually irreversible once settled.

How to make a large payment with Tide Business UK

Making a large payment with Tide is relatively simple, and can be done entirely online. Here’s how:⁴

1. Log in via the Tide mobile app or desktop platform
2. Select make a payment
3. Enter beneficiary details (sort code and account number for GBP)
4. Enter the amount
5. Review fees and confirm the transaction.

If you’re sending money to another Tide account, the process is typically faster and may incur lower fees depending on your plan.⁴

For a large GBP payment, certain information will be required. This includes:

• Beneficiary name
• Sort code
• Account number
• Reference

For euro (SEPA) transfers, you may also need:

• IBAN
• Beneficiary bank name.

How long do Tide Business UK large payments take?

The Tide Business UK large transfer time depends on the payment method used:⁵

Destination or payment type	Typical processing time
Tide to Tide (GBP)	Instant or same day
UK Faster Payments	Minutes to same day
UK CHAPS	Same working day (before cut-off)
SEPA (EUR)	One business day⁶
Non-SEPA international	Not supported directly

What’s the Tide Business UK transfer limit?

Tide hasn’t published a single universal maximum transfer limit. Instead, Tide transfer limits depend on:

• Payment rail (Faster Payments vs CHAPS)
• Your account verification status
• Internal risk checks
• Available balance.

In practice, Faster Payments are generally used for everyday and mid-value UK transfers, while CHAPS is intended for large and time-critical sterling payments. Euro transfers via SEPA are supported via Tide, but limits and availability can vary depending on your account and the destination.

Tide doesn’t currently support outbound international transfers in most non-GBP or non-EUR currencies. With this in mind, if you have a business and need to send six or seven figure international payments, you’ll likely need another solution.

💡 Read: our complete Tide Business Account review

Does your Tide plan affect large transfer limits?

As mentioned, there isn’t a single maximum transfer limit across accounts, but your subscription plan can influence how easily you’re able to make large payments.

When you sign up to Tide Business, you’ll have to make a choice between several account tiers - ranging from a free plan to paid options with additional features.

Although core payment rails like Faster Payments and CHAPS are available across all plans, paid plans can include higher allowances such as free transfers and bundled CHAPS payments. This can make a difference if you’re sending large payments regularly.

In addition to your plan, Tide applies risk-based limits that take into account factors such as:

• How long your business has been trading
• Your account activity and transaction history
• Whether your business has completed full verification checks
• The size and frequency of previous payments.

So, if you’re planning to send an large payment, it’s worth checking your current limits in the Tide app beforehand. In some cases, Tide may require additional verification or supporting documentation before processing a high-value transfer.

For time-sensitive or exceptionally large payments, planning ahead can help avoid delays, especially if the transfer needs to be sent via CHAPS within banking hours.

What are the Tide Business UK fees for large transfers?

Tide Business UK large transfer fees depend on the plan and payment type:⁷

Payment type	Typical fee
Faster Payments (GBP)	20p per transfer (free on higher plans)
CHAPS	£15 per payment (some plans include free allowances)
SEPA (EUR)	Varies by plan and FX
Incoming international payments	May incur third-party charges

💡 You may also like: Tide vs Cashplus

Tide Business alternative: consider Wise Business for large transfers

If your business regularly sends large payments across borders, Tide might not be sufficient on its own. That’s where a complementary tool like Wise Business comes in.

Wise Business has a dedicated secure service for sending large payments. Transfer limits depend on what currency is being sent, here's a few of the most popular:

• GBP - £20 million GBP per transfer
• EUR - €20 million EUR per transfer
• USD - $20 million USD when paying from your USD account, $1.6 million per SWIFT transfer.

It’s also worth knowing that Wise offers discounts for sending large amounts over £20,000 (or the currency equivalent). The more you send, the more you save.

💸 On a £50k transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank 💸

See High Amount Transfer Comparison 2026 for more info.

Wise Business also offers:

• International transfers to 140+ countries
• Ability to hold 40+ currencies
• Mid-market exchange rates with no mark-up
• No monthly fees for a send-only account (£50 (Advanced plan) or for free (Essentials plan))

In fact, Wise is particularly useful for:

• Paying overseas suppliers
• Moving large sums across borders
• Avoiding SWIFT intermediary fees
• Managing multi-currency balances in one place

That’s why many UK businesses opt to use Tide for domestic operations and Wise Business for international large transfers.

So, if you’re looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to send large transfers, especially internationally, you can sign up for a Wise Business account online in minutes.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

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Sources used:

1. Tide - Is Tide a bank?
2. Tide - Payment types
3. Tide - Protection and regulation
4. Tide - Making a payment
5. Tide - Payment timeline
6. Tide - International payments
7. Tide - Pricing and plans

Sources last checked on date: 19-Jan-2026