Part of our Virgin Money — Complete Guide 2026 hub.
Virgin Money’s standard Faster Payments limit is up to £25,000 per transaction — notably lower than NatWest, Lloyds, and Santander, which all allow up to £100,000. For transfers above £25,000, or where same-day guaranteed arrival is required, CHAPS is the right option.
Virgin Money Transfer Limits at a Glance
| Payment Type | Limit | Speed | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faster Payments (app/online) | Up to £25,000 | Seconds to 2 hours | Free |
| CHAPS | No upper limit | Same business day (before cut-off) | Fee applies |
| Standing order | Up to Faster Payments limit | Per schedule | Free |
| Branch transfer | Varies — speak to branch | Same or next day | May vary |
Virgin Money Faster Payments: How the Limit Compares
At £25,000, Virgin Money’s Faster Payments limit is at the lower end among UK high-street banks. This is worth knowing before any large transfer:
| Bank | Faster Payments Limit |
|---|---|
| Lloyds | Up to £100,000 |
| NatWest | Up to £100,000 |
| Santander | Up to £100,000 |
| Barclays | Up to £50,000 |
| Virgin Money | Up to £25,000 |
| HSBC | Up to £25,000 |
If you regularly need to send amounts between £25,000 and £100,000, Virgin Money’s limit means you’ll need to use CHAPS (which carries a fee) rather than the free Faster Payments route. For one-off large transfers — such as a house deposit — this is a manageable inconvenience. For frequent large transfers, it may be worth comparing banks.
Your Personal Limit May Be Lower
Virgin Money may apply a lower personal Faster Payments limit based on your account history and usage. Check your current limit in the Virgin Money app or call 0800 678 3654 (freephone).
CHAPS: When to Use It With Virgin Money
CHAPS is appropriate when:
- The amount exceeds £25,000 — above the Faster Payments threshold
- You’re completing a property purchase — solicitors require CHAPS for completion funds on the day
- Same-business-day guaranteed arrival is essential — CHAPS settles the same day if submitted before the cut-off
Key CHAPS details:
- No upper limit on the transfer amount
- Must be submitted before Virgin Money’s CHAPS cut-off time (check with Virgin Money before sending — typically early-to-mid afternoon)
- A fee applies — verify the current fee at virginmoney.co.uk
- CHAPS payments are very difficult to reverse once sent — double-check all payee details before confirming
How to Send a Transfer With Virgin Money
Via the Virgin Money app:
- Sign in to the app
- Tap Pay and transfer
- Select or add a payee
- Enter the amount and a payment reference
- Confirm with your biometrics or app PIN
Via Virgin Money online banking:
- Log in at virginmoney.co.uk
- Navigate to Payments
- Enter the payee details and amount
- Authorise — Virgin Money may send a one-time passcode to your registered phone
For CHAPS or amounts above £25,000:
- Call 0800 678 3654 (freephone) or visit a Virgin Money branch
- Have the recipient’s full name, sort code, and account number ready
- For property completions, your solicitor will provide a completion statement with all payment details
Confirmation of Payee
Virgin Money uses Confirmation of Payee, a system that checks whether the account name you’ve entered matches the sort code and account number before the payment proceeds. If there’s a mismatch, you’ll receive a warning.
Always verify payee details directly with the recipient — not via a link in an email or text message — before sending money. Fraudsters frequently use fake invoices and fake “change of bank details” notices.
Protecting Yourself from Transfer Fraud
Authorised push payment (APP) fraud — where criminals trick people into willingly making a transfer — is the most common form of bank fraud in the UK. Protections Virgin Money has in place include:
- Confirmation of Payee — name verification before every new payment
- Fraud warnings — displayed when sending large or unusual amounts
- New payee delays — a short pause before first payments to give you time to reconsider
Under PSR rules effective from October 2024, Virgin Money is required to reimburse most APP fraud victims. If you think you’ve been scammed, call 0800 678 3654 immediately — the sooner you report, the better the chance of funds being recovered.