It's fun when you know that SEPA transfers are: - Guaranteed by the European central bank, that is advancing the money for free - Done instantaneously, by the

It's fun when you know that SEPA transfers are: - Guaranteed by the European central bank, that is advancing the money for free - Done instantaneously, by the ECB - Cost around 0.01 euro per transfer So the entire delay between sending and receiving the money, that banks pretend is used to guarantee that the transfer is legitimate, and that the money exists etc, etc is actually purely artificial. The ECB is shouldering the risk, and advancing the money, free of cost. All the rest (extra charges, delays, etc.) are banks handsomely lining their pockets.