How a bank recall actually works

What a bank recall actually is

A bank recall is a formal request from your bank to the bank that received your money. It asks that bank to check the account and return the funds if possible. It is not a button you press yourself.

Your bank starts the process on your behalf once you report the transfer as unauthorised or scam related. From there, two banks work through a set sequence.

Understanding each step helps you know what to expect, and when to follow up. Read about DuitNow transfers specifically if that was your payment method.

Step one: you contact your bank

Call your bank’s fraud or card line and report the transfer as unauthorised or connected to a scam. Give the amount, the approximate time, and the receiving account details if you have them.

Ask directly whether a recall is possible for this transaction. Your bank will open a case and flag the transaction internally before contacting the other bank.

Do this as soon as you notice the problem. A recall started within hours has a far better chance than one started days later.

Step two: your bank contacts the receiving bank

Once the case is open, your bank sends a formal recall request to the bank that received the funds. This message explains that the transfer is disputed and asks the receiving bank to act.

The receiving bank is not automatically required to return the money on request. It has to check its own account first, which is the next step in the process.

Step three: the receiving bank checks the funds

The receiving bank checks whether the money is still in the account. It may already have been withdrawn, spent, or moved elsewhere. This check decides what happens next.

If the funds are still there, the receiving bank can place a hold and begin returning them to your bank. If they are gone, the recall cannot force back money that no longer exists in the account.

This is why timelines vary so much bank to bank. Some banks respond within days, others take longer, depending on their internal process.

What to do next

While the recall is in progress, file a police report so there is an official record. This can support your case even if the recall does not fully succeed.

Keep the reference number your bank gives you, and follow up if you do not hear back within a reasonable time. Do not assume silence means the case was dropped.

If the recall comes back empty, more may still be possible. For larger amounts, a civil claim to trace and freeze the funds is worth exploring, and the wider recovery routes cover other options too.