To move money between M-Pesa and a bank you choose a rail by amount and urgency. PesaLink handles instant account-to-account transfers up to its cap, RTGS is for large same-day settlement, and EFT is the slower batch option. M-Pesa to bank uses the bank Paybill or the in-app option. Fees and limits vary by bank and rail and change, so confirm the current figure with your bank or the calculator before sending.
The three bank rails solve different problems. PesaLink is for everyday account-to-account transfers that need to land immediately and sit below its per-transaction ceiling. RTGS exists for large amounts that must settle the same day, which is why it is the rail for property deposits and similar payments. EFT is the batch system: cheaper, slower, and fine when the money does not need to arrive today.
Picking by amount and urgency saves both money and a failed transfer. Trying to push a high-value payment through a rail with a low cap simply bounces, and using RTGS for a small everyday transfer pays for speed you do not need.
M-Pesa to bank is usually done by paying the bank own Paybill number with your account as the reference, or through the bank option inside the M-Pesa menu. Each bank publishes its Paybill and its own charge for receiving from M-Pesa, and the Central Bank of Kenya periodically reviews the broader fee framework, so the figure you paid last year may not be the figure today.
Bank to M-Pesa runs the other way through the bank app or USSD, often branded as a wallet top-up or send to mobile. Timelines are normally instant but can lag at month-end peaks. If a transfer stalls, check the daily limit and the reference details before assuming a fault.
There is no single national fee for these rails because banks set their own charges within the regulated framework. That is why a comparison has to be specific to your bank and amount. The calculator lets you line up PesaLink, RTGS and EFT for the same value so you can see the trade-off between speed and cost rather than guessing.
When a bank transfer fails, the money is normally held and reversed rather than lost, but the timeline depends on the rail and on whether the issue was a wrong account or a system delay. Keep the transaction reference; it is what every support desk will ask for first.
Guides in this series.
PesaLink is instant account-to-account up to a per-transaction cap, RTGS settles large amounts in real time the same day, and EFT is a cheaper batch transfer that clears in one to two business days. Choose by amount and urgency.
Pay your bank Paybill number with your account number as the reference, or use the bank option inside the M-Pesa menu. Each bank sets its own receiving charge, so confirm the current fee with your bank.
The usual causes are exceeding a daily limit, a wrong account or reference, or sending above a rail cap (for example a high amount through PesaLink). The money is normally reversed; keep the transaction reference for support.