Instant payments have changed the way we move money. Whether you’re splitting a bill, paying a small business or sending money to family, waiting days for a transfer just doesn’t make sense anymore.
That’s why we’ve built a range of instant payment tools into our app so you can pay and get paid without delays.
What are instant payments?
Instant payments move money from your account to another bank in real time. This means the money leaves your account and reaches the recipient almost immediately – often within seconds – instead of taking hours or days like a normal EFT.
Types of instant payments on our app
- Immediate payments: Transfer money instantly to any South African bank account
- Virtual Card payments: Pay instantly online or on our app using your Virtual Card
- Capitec Pay: Pay securely online without sharing your card details. Payments are approved instantly on your app
- Scan to Pay: Scan the QR code in-store, online or on our app to make an instant payment
- PayShap: Send or receive instant payments from any bank using just a phone number (ShapID)
How we enable fast, secure payments
Every payment in-store, online or on our app is protected by smart technology and safety features:
- Encrypted transactions: Payments go through secure channels to keep your details private
- Biometric security: Approve payments with your fingerprint or Face ID
- Real time fraud checks: We spot suspicious activity and block high-risk transactions before your money leaves your account
- In-app approvals: When making online payments, you’ll need to approve the transaction on your app
- Instant alerts: Get notifications for every payment
- Protected card details: When you pay with Capitec Pay or Scan to Pay, we never share your card details, we use a secure code instead
Why instant payments fail and how to avoid delays
Most instant payments go through smoothly, but delays can happen because of:
- Poor internet connection
- Incorrect payment details
- The bank or system being temporarily offline
- Daily or transaction limits being reached
To avoid delays:
- Double-check your recipient’s details
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection
- Confirm limits on your app before making larger payments
- Keep your app updated to the latest version
When to choose an instant payment vs a normal transfer
Both options have their place:
Choose an instant payment when:
- The money needs to arrive urgently
- You’re paying someone or a merchant in real time
Choose a normal transfer when:
- The payment isn’t urgent
- You’re scheduling payments in advance
FAQs
Any payment processed and reflected in real time, such as PayShap, Scan to Pay, Capitec Pay, immediate payments and Virtual Card payments.
Capitec Pay, PayShap, Scan to Pay, immediate payments and Virtual Card payments.
Yes. Our instant payments are protected by multiple security layers, including biometric authentication, real time monitoring and in-app approvals.
We combine speed, simplicity and affordability:
- Transparent fees: See the cost of an immediate payment on our app before you complete the payment
- Easy to use: Just a few taps and your payment is on its way
- Smart security: Advanced fraud checks and biometric authentication keep every payment safe
Yes, there’s a small fee for faster processing. You’ll see the exact cost before confirming the payment on your app. You can also find all our fees here.
