Quick answer
You cannot deposit Bitcoin into a bank account directly: something has to sell it and send you dollars or euros. The four routes are a payout service (ACH, SEPA or Wise), an exchange sale and withdrawal, a P2P buyer who pays by bank transfer, or an ATM and a cash deposit. On $1,000 of BTC, a Zilligo bank payout lands about $989, an exchange $984 to $995, and the ATM route about $899.
This is the bank chapter of our Bitcoin cashout guide. It runs the same $1,000 of BTC through four routes into a checking account and times each one from send to deposit.
You will also see which bank details to type, why business days matter more than block times, and what to tell your bank if it asks where the money came from.
Can you send Bitcoin straight to a bank account?
No. Banks keep balances in dollars, euros or pounds, so your BTC has to be sold before any money can move.
Every route follows the same four moves. The only questions are who buys the coins and who pays the bank:
Here is the twist: the Bitcoin part is the quick bit. A block usually lands within half an hour. The bank transfer that follows can take one to five business days, depending on the route.
Which routes get Bitcoin into a bank account?
Four routes end in a bank. Two are built for it, one is a workaround, and one is a detour you will usually regret.
You send BTC from your own wallet and the service pays your bank by ACH, SEPA or Wise.
Deposit BTC, sell it on the exchange, then withdraw to a bank linked to your verified account.
A stranger wires you money from their bank, and you release the coins.
Sell for banknotes at a two-way machine and pay them in at a branch.
Route 1: a payout service
You choose the bank payout first, type the amount you want to receive, and send BTC to a one-time address. Zilligo pays US banks by ACH or Chime, European banks by SEPA, and Wise accounts too. All four cost 1%, added on top of the payout.
Fits best when your BTC sits in your own wallet and you would rather not open an exchange account and pass its ID check.
Route 2: an exchange
Exchanges such as Kraken and Coinbase let you sell BTC for your local currency and withdraw it to a bank account in the same name. The advanced trading screen can be the cheapest route of all.
Fits best when you already have a verified account, or your coins already live there. The full walkthrough, with 2026 fees, is in selling Bitcoin on an exchange.
Route 3: a P2P buyer
On a peer-to-peer board, a buyer sends a bank transfer and you release the BTC from escrow once it arrives. The two biggest standalone venues are gone: Paxful shut down on 1 November 2025 and NoOnes closed its marketplace in August 2026 after it was put on an EU sanctions list. What remains is mostly the P2P boards inside large exchanges.
Fits best when your bank or currency is one that no service or exchange will pay.
Route 4: an ATM, then a cash deposit
A two-way Bitcoin ATM pays banknotes, which you could then deposit. It works, but it is the most expensive way into a bank. Bitcoin ATM vs OTC desk shows why the machine's price is so high.
| Route | To start | Cost | Bank leg | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payout service (Zilligo) | Free account, no ID documents | 1% on top, plus the network fee | SEPA 1 to 2 hours, Wise minutes, ACH or Chime 1 to 2 business days | A typo in the bank details |
| Exchange | Verified account and a linked bank | About 0.4% to 1.5% plus any withdrawal fee | 0 to 5 business days, by exchange and method | Withdrawal holds on new accounts |
| P2P buyer | Marketplace account | Set by the buyer | As soon as the buyer pays | A payment pulled back after release |
| ATM, then deposit | Rules set by the operator | 10% to 25% all-in | Whenever you visit a branch | Price and scams |
Zilligo's figures are published. Exchange costs come from the Kraken and Coinbase fee schedules plus a spread estimate; ATM costs are Coincub's range.
What does $1,000 of Bitcoin leave in your bank on each route?
From $1,000 of BTC, a careful exchange trade leaves up to $995, a Zilligo bank payout $989.11, an exchange's simple Sell button about $984 and the ATM detour about $899.
What reaches a bank account from $1,000 of Bitcoin
Five of the six results sit within $16 of each other. On price alone, the bank routes are close, and the ATM is the outlier.
The Zilligo bank payout, line by line
Example: $1,000 of BTC to a bank by SEPA or Wise
The fee sits on top of the payout, so the sum runs backwards from the BTC that arrives. In practice you type the payout you want and the order shows the BTC to send.
The exchange route, line by line
On an exchange the price depends on which screen you sell on. Kraken's app charges 1% plus a spread it does not publish. Kraken Pro charges 0.40% when your order waits on the book (maker) and 0.80% when it fills at once (taker), at the lowest volume tier.
$1,000 of Bitcoin through Kraken Pro to a US bank
- In your bank$995.00
- Maker fee, 0.40%$4.00
- Network fee to deposit$1.00
- BTC you start with$1,000
So the exchange wins by about $6 here. The catch sits outside the sum: an ID check before your first sale, a limit order you set yourself, and a withdrawal that can take up to five business days.
How long does it take to move Bitcoin to a bank account?
Expect 1 to 2 hours to a European bank by SEPA and 1 to 2 business days to a US bank by ACH, counted after your BTC confirms. Exchange withdrawals range from the same day to five business days.
The bank leg, in business days after the BTC is sold
Why so slow, when Bitcoin settles in minutes? Because ACH runs on the Federal Reserve's business days. It does not settle on weekends or federal holidays, so a Friday-evening payout waits for Monday.
- Friday 4:00 pmYou create an ACH order
Status: Waiting for your payment. The rate holds for 20 minutes.
- Friday 4:05 pmYou send the BTC
Status: Payment received, confirming.
- Friday 4:25 pmOne confirmation
Status: Payout on its way, then Payout sent.
- Saturday and SundayNo ACH settlement
The transfer waits for the next business day.
- Monday or TuesdayMoney in your checking account
Business day 1 or 2. A Monday holiday pushes it a day later.
The wait before the bank leg is covered in Bitcoin confirmation times, including what to do when a payment sits unconfirmed.
Which bank details do you need, and what goes wrong?
A US payout needs the account holder's name, the ACH routing number and the account number. A European one needs the name and the IBAN. A Wise payout needs only the email on the Wise account.
| Payout | What you enter | Per order | Arrives after confirming |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACH | Name, ACH routing number, account number | $1,000 to $15,000 | 1 to 2 business days |
| Chime | Routing and account number from the Chime app | $50 to $1,000 | 1 to 2 business days |
| SEPA | Account holder's name and IBAN | $500 to $15,000 | 1 to 2 hours |
| Wise | The email on your Wise account | $500 to $15,000 | Minutes |
Zilligo's bank payouts, all at 1%. Every limit is on the limits page.
Most failed bank payouts come down to one of four small mistakes:
Some US banks publish one routing number for wires and another for ACH. Use the ACH one from your banking app.
Type the account holder's name exactly as the bank shows it. Euro-area banks now check the name against the IBAN.
The 16 digits on your card are not your account number. Copy the account number instead.
Pay only accounts in your own name. A third-party account invites a hold or a return.
How do you move Bitcoin to a US bank account, step by step?
With an ACH payout it takes about five minutes of your time. You need a free Zilligo account (a handle and a sign-in key, no email required), your bank details and your BTC.
- Step 1Pick ACH and type the amount
Choose ACH on the cashout page and enter the dollars you want in your bank, from $1,000 to $15,000.
- Step 2Paste your bank details
Name, ACH routing number and account number, copied from your banking app rather than typed.
- Step 3Check the quote
It shows the 1% fee, the rate and the exact BTC to send. The rate holds for 20 minutes from here.
- Step 4Send the exact BTC
Use the one-time address on your order, on the Bitcoin network, with your wallet's suggested fee.
- Step 5Follow the status
Waiting for your payment, then Payment received, confirming, then Payout on its way and Payout sent.
- Step 6Watch your bank
The deposit usually shows 1 to 2 business days after Payout sent.
0.06312500BTC on Bitcoin- Send crypto
- Confirming
- Payout sent
Payout: $5,000.00 to your bank by ACH
Your banknow
Deposit posted: $5,000.00An ACH credit is now in your checking account.What if your bank is in Europe or another country?
In the euro area and the rest of SEPA, a SEPA payout is the direct route: 1% and usually 1 to 2 hours after your BTC confirms, with the highest limit Zilligo offers, $15,000 per order.
SEPA payout
- Any bank in the SEPA area, by IBAN
- 1%, up to $15,000 per order
- Usually 1 to 2 hours after confirming
- Orders are priced in US dollars
Wise payout
- Lands in a Wise account, by email
- 1%, up to $15,000 per order
- Usually minutes after confirming
- Wise applies its own crypto rules
Outside Europe and the US, the best bank route depends on what reaches your country. The countries page lists the payouts that work where you live.
Will your bank question a deposit from selling Bitcoin?
Sometimes, and that is normal. A first transfer from a sender your bank has never seen, or an amount far above your usual deposits, can trigger a short review.
If the bank calls, keep it simple: you sold Bitcoin you owned, and the sale was paid to your own account. Your order reference and the Bitcoin transaction ID answer most follow-up questions.
Before your first Bitcoin-to-bank payout
- The account is in your own name, spelled as the bank shows it.
- You copied the ACH routing number, not the wire one, or the full IBAN.
- The amount fits the payout: Chime $50 to $1,000, SEPA and Wise $500 to $15,000, ACH $1,000 to $15,000.
- You will save the order reference and the transaction ID.
- You have a note of what you paid for the BTC, for tax.
Tax comes next. Selling Bitcoin is usually a taxable event. In the US, brokers now report crypto sales on Form 1099-DA, and for sales from 2026 they also report cost basis on coins bought with them after 2025. Coins bought earlier or moved in from a wallet often show no basis, so your own records fill the gap. This is general information, not tax advice; see crypto tax when you cash out.
Now it is your turn
Getting Bitcoin into a bank is less about the blockchain and more about the transfer that follows it.
Pick the route that matches where your coins sit: your own wallet points to a 1% ACH, SEPA or Wise payout, and an exchange balance points to selling there.
Then copy the bank details carefully, send early in the week, and keep the receipt.
Start a cashoutFrequently asked questions
Can I transfer Bitcoin directly to my bank account?
No. A bank holds money, not BTC, so the coins must be sold first. A payout service sells and pays your bank in one order; an exchange has you sell, then withdraw.
What is the cheapest way to get Bitcoin into a bank?
A maker order on an exchange's advanced screen, such as Kraken Pro at 0.40%, followed by a free ACH withdrawal. From your own wallet with no exchange account, a 1% ACH or SEPA payout is close behind.
How long does Bitcoin to bank take?
The Bitcoin confirmation usually takes 10 to 30 minutes. After that, a Zilligo SEPA payout lands in about 1 to 2 hours and ACH or Chime in 1 to 2 business days. Exchange withdrawals take from the same day to five business days.
Do I need ID to send Bitcoin to my bank?
Exchanges require a full ID check before you can withdraw. A standard Zilligo order does not collect identity documents, though large or unusual orders may be reviewed by a person first.
Can I cash out more than $15,000 to a US bank?
One ACH order goes up to $15,000. For more, contact support before you send, since larger sums are handled case by case. SEPA also takes up to $15,000 per order for European banks. See large amounts.
Is it safe to sell Bitcoin to a P2P buyer for a bank transfer?
It carries a risk the other routes do not: a transfer from a stolen account can be recalled after you release the coins. If you use P2P, release only when the money has fully settled in your account.
Can I use another coin for a bank payout?
Yes. Zilligo also accepts ETH, USDT on Tron or Ethereum, BNB, SOL, XRP and XMR. USDT barely moves while it confirms; see USDT to a bank account.
Sources
- Cash withdrawal options (fees, minimums and processing times)Kraken
- Fee scheduleKraken
- Coinbase lowers Advanced trading fees with tiers starting at $10,000Securities.io
- Cash out on Coinbase: steps, fees, limits and speedCoin Bureau
- Frequently asked questions on EUR bank transfer via SEPABinance
- The ABCs of ACHNacha
- Holiday schedulesFederal Reserve Financial Services
- Instant Payments RegulationEuropean Central Bank
- Incompatible accounts and paymentsWise
- Paxful to wind down operations by November 1, 2025Bitcoin.com News
- Crypto app NoOnes shuts down after sanctions, affecting 2.5M usersBeInCrypto
- Instructions for Form 1099-DAIRS
