You can cancel a Fidelity transfer before it settles, but the window is narrow
Once you initiate a transfer of money or securities into or out of your Fidelity account, you have a limited time to stop it. If the transfer has not yet settled — meaning the money or securities have not actually moved — you can cancel it through your Fidelity account online or by calling Fidelity directly. The exact important date depends on the type of transfer and where the money is coming from or going to. After settlement, cancellation is no longer an option; you would instead need to reverse the transaction by moving the money back.
The most common transfers people cancel are bank transfers (moving cash between a bank and Fidelity) and security transfers (moving stocks or funds between brokerages). Each has different rules about how long you have to cancel and what happens if you do.
Key Takeaways
- Bank transfers can usually be cancelled within one business day of initiating them, but the exact window depends on whether the transfer is outgoing or incoming.
- Security transfers (moving stocks or funds between brokerages) can be cancelled before they settle, which typically takes three to five business days.
- Once a transfer settles, you cannot cancel it through Fidelity — you would need to reverse it by moving the money back manually.
- The fastest way to cancel is to call Fidelity's transfer team directly rather than waiting for an online cancellation to process.
- If you cancel a transfer, any fees Fidelity charged may or may not be refunded depending on how far the transfer had progressed.
How to cancel a bank transfer before it settles
A bank transfer moves cash between your bank account and your Fidelity account. If you initiated an outgoing transfer (money leaving Fidelity to your bank), you typically have until the end of the business day you initiated it to cancel. If you initiated an incoming transfer (money coming into Fidelity from your bank), the window is usually one business day from the start date Fidelity assigned to the transfer.
To cancel online, log into your Fidelity account, go to the "Accounts & Trade" tab, and select "Transfers." Find the transfer you want to cancel in the list. If it has not yet settled, you should see a "Cancel" button or link next to it. Click that button, confirm the cancellation, and the transfer will be reversed. The money will return to its original location.
If you do not see a cancel option online, the transfer may have already settled or be too far along in processing. In that case, call Fidelity's transfer department at the number on the back of your account statement or on Fidelity.com. A representative can tell you whether the transfer can still be stopped and, if not, what your next steps are.
How to cancel a security transfer between brokerages
A security transfer moves stocks, mutual funds, or other investments from another brokerage into Fidelity (an incoming transfer) or from Fidelity to another brokerage (an outgoing transfer). These transfers are handled through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS), a system that brokerages use to move securities. The transfer typically takes three to five business days to complete.
You can cancel an incoming ACATS transfer before it settles by contacting the brokerage you are transferring from — not Fidelity. Call that brokerage and ask them to cancel the transfer request. They will need the transfer authorization number or the date you initiated it. Once you cancel on their end, Fidelity will not receive the securities.
For an outgoing transfer (securities leaving Fidelity), call Fidelity's transfer team. They can cancel the request if it has not yet been sent to the receiving brokerage. After it has been sent, you will need to contact the receiving brokerage to reject it on their end.
What happens after you cancel a transfer
When you cancel a bank transfer, the money returns to its original account within one to three business days. If Fidelity charged a transfer fee (most bank transfers are free, but some incoming transfers from certain banks may carry a fee), whether that fee is refunded depends on how far the transfer had progressed. Contact Fidelity to ask about fee refunds if you were charged.
When you cancel a security transfer, the securities remain at the brokerage they were originally at. If you initiated the transfer from another brokerage and then cancelled it, your stocks or funds stay there. If you initiated an outgoing transfer from Fidelity and cancelled it, your securities remain in your Fidelity account. Fidelity does not typically charge a fee to cancel a security transfer.
Why a transfer might not be cancellable
A transfer cannot be cancelled if it has already settled. For bank transfers, this usually happens within one to two business days. For security transfers, settlement typically takes three to five business days, but can take longer depending on the type of security or the receiving brokerage's processing speed.
You also cannot cancel a transfer if the receiving institution has already accepted it and begun processing it on their end. For incoming transfers, this means the other brokerage has received the request and started moving the securities or cash. For outgoing transfers, this means Fidelity has already sent the request to the receiving brokerage and they have accepted it.
If you missed the cancellation window, your only option is to reverse the transfer manually. For a bank transfer, you would initiate a new transfer in the opposite direction. For a security transfer, you would contact the brokerage where the securities now are and initiate a transfer back to Fidelity.
Calling Fidelity to cancel instead of using the website
If you want to cancel a transfer when ready and do not want to wait for an online cancellation to process, call Fidelity directly. The phone number is on the back of your Fidelity debit card, on your account statements, or on Fidelity.com under "Contact Us." Have your account number and the transfer details (the date you initiated it, the amount, and where it was going or coming from) ready when you call.
Fidelity's transfer team can usually tell you within minutes whether the transfer can still be cancelled. If it can, they will process the cancellation over the phone and give you a confirmation number. If it cannot, they will explain why and discuss your options for reversing it after it settles.
Reversing a transfer after it has settled
If your transfer has already settled and you want to undo it, you will need to initiate a new transfer in the opposite direction. If money came into your Fidelity account and you want it back, you initiate an outgoing bank transfer to send it back to your bank. If securities came into Fidelity and you want them back at the original brokerage, you initiate an outgoing security transfer.
This is not the same as cancelling — it is a separate transaction that takes the same amount of time as the original transfer. You will also pay any applicable transfer fees again. This is why cancelling before settlement is preferable if you realize you made a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to cancel a transfer after I start it?
For bank transfers, you usually have until the end of the business day you initiated it (for outgoing transfers) or one business day from the start date (for incoming transfers). For security transfers, you have until the transfer settles, which is typically three to five business days. After that, cancellation is not possible.
Can I cancel a transfer that is already in progress?
It depends on how far along it is. If it has not yet settled, you can usually cancel it. If it has already settled or been accepted by the receiving institution, you cannot cancel it — you would need to reverse it by initiating a transfer in the opposite direction.
Will I get my transfer fees back if I cancel?
Most bank transfers are free, so there is usually nothing to refund. For transfers that do carry a fee, whether you get it back depends on when you cancel. Call Fidelity to ask about fee refunds if you were charged and then cancelled the transfer.
What if I cancel an incoming transfer from another brokerage?
You need to contact the brokerage you are transferring from, not Fidelity. They initiated the transfer on their end, so they are the ones who can stop it. Give them the transfer authorization number or the date you started it, and ask them to cancel the request.
Can I cancel a transfer that is showing as "pending" in my account?
Yes, if it is pending, it has not yet settled, so cancellation should still be possible. Log into your account, find the transfer in the Transfers section, and look for a Cancel button. If you do not see one, call Fidelity to confirm whether it can still be stopped.