Why does it take 3 to 5 days for a refund?

Refunds can take 3 to 5 working days because the process involves multiple steps between the merchant, their bank, and your bank. While the charge is often instant, the refund requires settling the transaction and processing it in batches, especially for credit/debit cards. The bank needs to confirm the merchant has the funds before releasing the hold. For UPI, the standard duration is usually 3-5 working days if the refund isn't instant.