Primary sources firstHow to verify fees, limits and bank rules

Start with the likely causeA fast checklist for delayed or pending money

Dates and cutoffs matterWhy weekends and posting windows change timing

Independent researchHow we cover banks and payment apps

Home›Research standard

How we research banking answers

From a search question to a bank-specific answer

Our editorial process is designed for topics where one missing detail — bank, account, date, channel or recipient — can change the answer.

1. Identify the variable that changes the answer

For ATM withdrawal limits it may be the card and machine. For Zelle it may be the bank, recipient or enrollment history. For direct deposit it may be when the payer sends the file. For a check hold it may be the deposit type and availability rule. We build the page around that variable instead of forcing every user into one number.

2. Check a primary source

We look for the bank’s current disclosure, help page or agreement, plus regulator or payment-network material when it explains the broader rule.

3. Lead with the practical answer

The first useful paragraph should tell the reader what controls the outcome and what to check next.

4. Separate the rule from the exception

Banking pages become misleading when an account-specific limit is presented as a universal policy. We label that distinction clearly.