Real-time gross settlement

Real-time gross settlement (RTGS) systems are specialist funds transfer systems where the transfer of money or securities takes place from one bank to any other bank on a "real-time" and on a "gross" basis to avoid settlement risk. Settlement in "real time" means a payment transaction is not subjected to any waiting period, with transactions being settled as soon as they are processed. However, real time does not necessarily mean immediately or instantly and can be subject to processing (e.g., wire transfers via FedWire are real time but can take hours in some cases while the issuing or reviewing bank’s wire room reviews or processes it, if necessary). "Gross settlement" means the transaction is settled on a one-to-one basis, without bundling or netting with any other transaction. "Settlement" means that once processed, payments are final and irrevocable.