Delayed and withheld payouts
Seeing a delay in your funds can be frustrating, but most delays are either due to banking schedules or standard security protocols designed to protect your revenue. Here is a breakdown of why this happens and what to expect.
Common Payout Delays
Most delays are temporary and resolve themselves within 1–3 business days. Common causes include:
Banking Holidays: Banks do not process transfers on weekends or federal holidays.
Standard Processing Times: ACH transfers typically take longer to clear than card payments.
Initial Payouts: If you are a new merchant, your first few payouts may take slightly longer as the banking networks establish a connection with your account.
Withheld Funds & Security Reviews
In some cases, our processor (Fiserv) may temporarily withhold funds for a "Security Review." This is a routine part of fraud prevention and can be triggered by:
Volume Spikes: You process significantly more revenue in a month than originally estimated during your onboarding.
Large Individual Transactions: A single payment comes in that is much higher than your "maximum transaction" estimate.
Dispute Activity: A sudden increase in chargebacks may trigger a review of your recent transactions.
How to Resolve a Funding Hold
If your funds are withheld, don’t worry. Most reviews are resolved quickly once the processor verifies the legitimacy of the sale.
Provide evidence: Usually, the processor just needs a copy of an invoice, a signed contract, or proof of delivery to clear the hold.
Review: Fiserv will review the submitted documents to verify legitimacy.
Outcome: Once verified, Fiserv can release your funds. Additionally, this process often results in increasing your account limits to prevent similar holds from occurring as your business grows.