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How to Get a Refund for a Mistaken Bank Transfer

If you sent money to the wrong account by mistake, follow these steps to try to get it back.

  1. Confirm it's a genuine mistaken transfer

    A mistaken transfer means you typed the wrong account number or picked the wrong recipient by accident. This is a different situation from money sent to a scammer, which should be reported as fraud instead.

  2. Ask your own bank to request a return first

    Contact your bank's call center or app first and report the mistaken transfer. Your bank will reach out to the recipient's bank, but the money can only be returned if the recipient agrees to send it back.

  3. Apply to a formal mistaken-transfer recovery program

    Many countries have a deposit insurance agency, financial ombudsman, or similar public body that runs a formal recovery support program for mistaken transfers, letting you apply online or in person when a bank-only return fails.

  4. Check the eligible amount and application window

    These recovery programs usually cap the transfer amount they'll handle and require you to apply within a set window from the date of the transfer, so confirm the current rules with the relevant agency in your country.

  5. Understand how recovery and fees work

    The agency typically asks the recipient to return the funds voluntarily first and, if refused, pursues recovery through legal channels such as a court payment order. Once recovered, the sender is usually refunded the amount minus a processing fee.

Contact your bank immediately, timing matters

The faster you report a mistaken transfer, the better your chances of a quick, voluntary return before the funds are spent or moved elsewhere. Call your bank as soon as you notice the error, even before you're sure of every detail.

A formal recovery program is a backup, not a guarantee

If your bank can't secure a voluntary return, a national mistaken-transfer recovery program can help, but it isn't instant or guaranteed. It depends on locating the recipient, transfer amount limits, and application deadlines, so check what's available in your country as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the recipient just won't answer or agree to return the money?

That's exactly the situation formal recovery programs exist for. If your bank can't get voluntary cooperation, you can typically apply to a deposit insurance agency or ombudsman program that pursues recovery on your behalf, sometimes through legal action.

Will I get back 100% of the amount I sent by mistake?

Not always. If a formal recovery program has to pursue the funds through legal channels, a processing fee is usually deducted from the recovered amount before it's returned to you.