U.S. Bank Stops Charging for Real-Time P-to-P Payments

U.S. Bank was unusual in making users pay for real time person-to-person payments on Early Warning's clearXchange, a practice it's ending as other banks start to offer free transactions on the same network.

The Minneapolis bank is dropping fees effective July 6. U.S. Bank charged $6.95 for real-time P-to-P payments, a practice that drew some criticism, particularly from startups such as Dwolla, which contended similar services are available for no charge from other companies.

Notably, Bank of America and other banks that operate clearXchange are offering real-time P-to-P transactions for free, isolating U.S. Bank.

U.S. Bank had dropped hints it might make the service free as other banks came on board with a no-charge real-time P-to-P service on clearXchange. Under the change, consumers can send money using instant, standard or next day delivery. In a release U.S. Bank attributed the fee waiver to real-time payments becoming more broadly available as more financial institutions join the clearXchange platform.

"Customers' demand for real-time, person-to-person payments is growing and the network is expanding—it is a perfect demonstration of how the banking industry is working together to deliver safe and easy solutions for customers' evolving financial preferences," said Gareth Gaston, executive vice president of omnichannel banking for U.S. Bank, in a release.

U.S. Bank's move also comes as banks start to use clearXchange's P-to-P rails to bring speed to other transactions. Wells Fargo and BNY Mellon, for example, are each migrating some business payments to the clearXchange network.