In this article
How long does a local bank withdrawal take?
Local bank withdrawals normally arrive within 3 business days. Many land much sooner, often the same day, because the money travels through your country's domestic payment network instead of crossing borders. Three business days is the outer limit, not the expectation.
If your funds haven't arrived after 3 business days, check your transaction history in Thera, then get in touch. At that point, we can raise a trace with our banking partner to find out where the payment is sitting.
How long does a SWIFT withdrawal take?
SWIFT withdrawals normally arrive within 5 business days. SWIFT takes longer because the payment passes through one or more intermediary banks before reaching yours. Each one reviews the transfer before releasing it onward, and those banks report back to no one in real time, which is why a SWIFT payment can appear to go quiet mid-route.
If your funds haven't arrived after 7 business days, contact us and we'll request a payment trace, including the MT103 confirmation, from our banking partner. That document shows exactly where the payment was sent and lets your bank locate it on their end.
Tip:
If local transfers are available in your currency, they're almost always faster and cheaper than SWIFT.
Why is my Friday withdrawal delayed?
Larger withdrawals are more likely to carry over. Higher-value transfers often go through additional review before processing, and that review can't be completed over the weekend. If a large withdrawal is placed late on a Friday, expect it to land within 3 business days starting Monday.
Public holidays in your country or in the US can push this out further.
If your withdrawal is time-sensitive, placing it Monday through Thursday gives it the best chance of arriving the same week.
What can delay a withdrawal?
The most common causes are:
Your bank's processing times. Some banks release incoming transfers faster than others.
The route the payment takes. Different banking partners and corridors clear at different speeds, so the same withdrawal method can behave differently in different countries.
Weekends and public holidays. Payments don't settle on non-business days.
Incorrect bank details. A wrong account number, routing code, or SWIFT/BIC code will cause the transfer to fail or be returned.
A name mismatch. The account holder name on your bank account needs to match the name on your Thera profile. Banks reject transfers where these don't line up.
Additional verification. Your bank or our payment partner may run extra checks on some transfers, particularly larger ones.
Outstanding tax forms. Your W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, or W-9 needs to be completed before you can withdraw.
You may also see a Processing status while a withdrawal is in progress. This is a normal step and doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.
Country-Specific Timing
Colombia
Colombia
Arrives the next business day
Daily cut-off: 8:30 a.m. COT (1:30 p.m. GMT)
No minimum withdrawal amount
Philippines
Philippines
Under PHP 50,000: usually arrives within minutes, any day including weekends and holidays
PHP 50,000 and above: arrives the same business day, released in batches through the day. The last batch closes at 3:00 p.m. PHT, anything after that arrives the next business morning
Minimum withdrawal: PHP 10
Your bank may also apply its own daily receiving limit. If a withdrawal under PHP 50,000 is rejected by your bank, this is the most common reason, and your bank can confirm or adjust it.
South Africa
South Africa
Personal accounts: arrives within 2 business days. Cut-off 1:00 p.m. SAST (11:00 a.m. GMT). Supported for amounts between ZAR 200 and ZAR 5,000; amounts outside this range take a different route and may take longer
Business accounts: arrives the next business day. Cut-off 3:30 p.m. SAST (1:30 p.m. GMT)
Withdrawals under ZAR 50,000 may arrive within minutes where your bank supports PayShap
Cut-off is the time you need to place your withdrawal by, for it to be processed that day. Place it after the cut-off and it's processed the next business day instead.
Frequently asked questions
When should I contact support about a withdrawal?
For a local bank transfer, after 3 business days.
For SWIFT, after 7 business days.
How do I change my withdrawal method?
Click Withdraw on your dashboard, then Add Method to add a new one. Set it as your Preferred Method if you'd like it used for auto-withdrawals.
Can I withdraw automatically?
Yes. Auto-withdrawal pays out your balance to your preferred method as soon as funds are available, so you don't have to place each withdrawal manually.
Where do I find my SWIFT/BIC code?
Your bank publishes this, and it usually appears on your statements or in your online banking app. If you can't find it, your bank can confirm it for you.
Still stuck? Message us through the in-app chat at the bottom right of your dashboard, or email [email protected], we'll check the status of your withdrawal and follow it through with you.