The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, or TCMB, has announced higher transaction ceilings for the FAST instant-payment system from August 26, 2026. The maximum amount for FAST money transfers and transactions using the Request-to-Pay Layer Service will rise from 100,000 Turkish lira to 300,000 lira. The ceiling for dynamically authenticated merchant payments using FAST-TR QR codes will increase from 250,000 lira to 300,000 lira.
The August 24 announcement concerns the system-level maximum for a single eligible transaction. It should not be read as an automatic 300,000-lira daily allowance across every bank and every digital channel. Banks may apply lower limits based on their security policies, the customer’s configured permissions and the channel used for the transaction.
Which FAST transactions are changing?
The first change applies to instant money transfers sent through FAST. The second covers payments authorized through the Request-to-Pay Layer Service. For both categories, the central ceiling will triple from 100,000 lira to 300,000 lira. A third change raises the limit for dynamically authenticated merchant payments made with FAST-TR QR codes from 250,000 lira to the same 300,000-lira level.
The implementation date is August 26, 2026. Transactions made before that date remain subject to the existing system ceilings. TCMB did not announce a separate change to transfer fees, bank-defined daily allowances or customer security procedures. Users therefore need to review the current tariff and transaction settings published by their own financial institution.
How FAST fits into Türkiye’s payment system
FAST is an instant-payment infrastructure developed by TCMB and launched on January 8, 2021. It enables participating banks and payment institutions to complete eligible payments around the clock. Central bank activity reports show that the ceilings have been increased in stages as use of the system and the needs of the payment ecosystem have developed.
In 2024, the FAST transfer ceiling was raised to 100,000 lira, while the ceiling for dynamically authenticated merchant QR payments reached 250,000 lira. Those limits remained in effect through 2025. The latest decision brings both figures to 300,000 lira and aligns the Request-to-Pay ceiling with the standard transfer ceiling.
What customers should check
The new 300,000-lira figure is the highest amount the central FAST infrastructure will accept for the covered transaction types. If a bank’s mobile application displays a lower transfer limit, the institution’s own channel or security setting may still control the customer’s transaction. The higher ceiling does not reduce the need to verify the recipient, IBAN and payment description before approval.
Users should also review the sender and amount before approving a Request-to-Pay notification. The speed of FAST does not automatically guarantee recovery when money is sent to an incorrect recipient. An unexpected or suspicious request should be checked through the bank’s verified customer-service channel and official in-app security tools.
What changes after August 26?
Once the new ceiling takes effect, participating institutions will be able to process eligible FAST transfers, Request-to-Pay transactions and qualifying QR merchant payments up to 300,000 lira. The exact amount visible to a customer and any applicable charge will depend on the bank’s current rules. TCMB’s official statement and reports by TRT Haber, Anadolu Agency and Dünya agree on the core figures and effective date.
In short, the decision broadens the use of FAST for higher-value instant payments. It is not a credit program, subsidy or declaration that every transfer will be free. It is an increase in the technical maximum per transaction, while bank-specific implementation details should be confirmed through notices issued for August 26.
