> For ten years I've been able to place a ACH transfer at one bank by 6 pm and have it available in my other bank by 8 am the following morning. It has never taken "3-5 business days". Anyone claiming there are large inherent delays in that setup is full of baloney.

I believe in this case your bank 'trusts' you. With banks that I have an existing relationship with I can move money overnight. When I open an account at a new bank it takes days for the money to be available for use. Presumably the new bank does not trust me yet, and thus makes me wait for all of the confirmations to occur.