This guide is for Payers and Account Admins managing payroll funding on Rise.
Before You Start
Make sure the following are in place before initiating a transfer:
You have a sufficient balance in the source account to cover the transfer amount
You know which account needs funding — check your Payroll Dashboard for the exact shortfall amount
You have Account Admin or Owner permissions — only authorized roles can initiate balance transfers
💡 Not sure how much you need? Go to Payroll → Funding Schedule to see the exact amount required and by when.
Where to Find Transfer Balance
You can initiate a balance transfer from two places:
1. Payroll Dashboard
Go to Payroll in the left nav → click Transfer Balance in the top right area of the Funding Schedule section.
2. Global Header
The Transfer Balance button is also available in the top right corner of the screen on any page — useful for quick access without navigating to Payroll first.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Balance
Step 1: Open the Transfer Balance dialog
Click Transfer Balance from either location described above. A dialog window will appear.
Step 2: Select the source account
Under Transfer From, click the dropdown and select the account you want to move funds out of. You'll see the available balance displayed beneath the selection so you know exactly how much you have to work with.
Step 3: Select the destination account
Under Transfer To, click the dropdown and select the account that needs funding — for example, your Contractor Team or Payroll Team.
Step 4: Enter the amount and currency
Select the currency from the left dropdown (e.g. USD, GBP) and enter the amount you want to transfer in the right field. Use the Max button to transfer the full available balance if needed.
Step 5: Confirm the transfer
Review the details — source account, destination account, amount, and currency — then click Transfer Balance to execute.
⚠️ Double-check before confirming. Transfers between accounts are processed immediately. If you enter the wrong amount or destination, you'll need to initiate a new transfer to correct it.
What Happens After the Transfer?
Your source account balance decreases by the transferred amount immediately
Your destination account balance increases by the same amount
Your Payroll Dashboard updates to reflect the new balance — if it now covers the requirement, the status will change to Payroll Covered ✅
The transfer will appear in your Account History as a Transfer transaction
💡 Tip: After completing a transfer, return to your Payroll Dashboard to confirm the status has updated to Payroll Covered before the cycle due date.
What If the Transfer Fails?
If you see a "Failed to transfer balance" error, the most common causes are:
Insufficient balance in the source account — check your available balance and try a lower amount
Same source and destination — you cannot transfer to and from the same account
Permission issue — confirm you have the correct admin role to initiate transfers. If the issue persists, contact Rise Support.
Transfer Balance vs. Deposit: Which Should I Use?
Both options can be used to fund payroll, but they serve different purposes:
| Transfer Balance | Deposit |
Best for | Moving existing funds between your Rise accounts | Adding new funds from your bank |
Speed | Instant | 1–3 business days (wire transfer)* |
Source | Another Rise account or team | Your external bank account |
Use when | You have surplus in one account and a shortfall in another | Your total Rise balance is insufficient |
💡 Use Transfer Balance first if you already have funds elsewhere in Rise — it's instant and avoids the wait time of a wire transfer. Only use Deposit when your total Rise balance across all accounts isn't enough to cover the requirement.
Tips for Managing Balances Across Multiple Teams
If you manage multiple teams or payroll programs, keep these best practices in mind:
Maintain a buffer in your organization account so you can quickly transfer to any team that needs topping up
Check all team balances before each pay cycle — not just the one you're actively managing
Use the Convert Funds option if a team needs a specific currency (e.g. GBP for UK payroll) that you currently hold in a different currency (e.g. USD)