# Sending a Real-Time Payment

[Real-Time Payments](/documentation/api/real-time-payments-transfers) can be sent at any time during the day and funds will settle instantly. However, it's important to remember that Real-Time Payments are only available to ~71% of US checking accounts. You can use the [Routing Numbers API](/documentation/api/routing-numbers) to confirm whether an institution supports Real-Time Payments.

## Lifecycle

Real-Time Payments Transfer status lifecycle

|                      |                                                                                                                                                                |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `pending_submission` | The transfer is queued to be submitted to The Clearing House.                                                                                                  |
| `pending_reviewing`  | The transfer is pending review by Increase.                                                                                                                    |
| `submitted`          | The transfer has been submitted and is pending a response from The Clearing House.                                                                             |
| `complete`           | The transfer has been sent successfully and funds have settled.                                                                                                |
| `rejected`           | The transfer was rejected by Increase, the network, or the recipient's bank.                                                                                   |
| `requires_attention` | A rare status set when a transfer needs manual intervention from the Increase team. [More about requires_attention](/documentation/requires-attention-status). |

Optionally, transfers can be held for approval by another team member. In that case, you will see two additional statuses:

|                    |                                                            |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `pending_approval` | The transfer requires approval from a member of your team. |
| `canceled`         | The transfer has been canceled.                            |

## Sending a Real-Time Payment with Increase

Originating a Real-Time Payment via the Increase API kicks off several steps involving you, Increase, The Clearing House, and the receiving bank.

1. You make a `POST /real_time_payments_transfers` call with the [details](/documentation/api/real-time-payments-transfers#create-a-real-time-payments-transfer) of how much you'd like to send and data about the recipient. A Real Time Payments Transfer is created with a status of `pending_submission`.
2. A Pending Transaction is immediately created for the full amount of the transfer in order to hold funds.
3. When the message is submitted to The Clearing House (usually within seconds), Increase updates the Real-Time Payment Transfer object with its `submission` [details](/documentation/api/real-time-payments-transfers#real-time-payments-transfer-object.submission) and the status is updated to `submitted`.
4. The Clearing House forwards transfer details to the receiving bank. The receiving bank responds with an acknowledgement. Once the acknowledgement is received, funds are settled instantly and the Real-Time Payment Transfer object status updates to `complete`.
5. A Transaction is immediately created for the full amount of the transfer and funds are removed from your Account. The Pending Transaction is marked as `complete`.
6. If the network is unable to complete the transfer, it responds with a rejection and the transfer status updates to `rejected`. The Pending Transaction is marked as `complete` and no additional Transactions are created on your Account.

The entire process usually completes within seconds.

## Approvals

For transfers that require approval from another team member, the Real-Time Payment Transfer is created with a status of `pending_approval` and a Pending Transaction is created to hold funds.

If the transfer is approved, the Real-Time Payment Transfer object updates with its `approval` [details](/documentation/api/real-time-payments-transfers#real-time-payments-transfer-object.approval), the status is changed to `pending_submission`, and things progress normally.

If the transfer is not approved, the Real-Time Payment Transfer object updates with its `cancellation` [details](/documentation/api/real-time-payments-transfers#real-time-payments-transfer-object.cancellation) and the status is changed to `canceled`. The Pending Transaction status updates to `complete`, no Transfer information is submitted, and no additional Transactions are created.

## Reviews and rejections

Occasionally a Real-Time Payment Transfer will need to be manually reviewed by an Increase operator. When this occurs the Real-Time Payment Transfer object status will be set to `pending_reviewing`.

Once reviewed, the status changes to `pending_submission` and things progress normally. However, rarely a Real-Time Payment Transfer may be rejected by Increase. When this occurs the Real-Time Payment Transfer object status updates to `rejected`, no Transfer information is submitted to the network, and no additional Transactions are created.