The basic process: Robinhood to your checking account takes three to five business days
To move money from Robinhood to a checking account, you initiate a withdrawal through the Robinhood app or website, select the bank account you want the money to go to, enter the amount, and confirm. Robinhood then sends the funds to your bank using the ACH network — the same system that handles most transfers between financial institutions. The money usually arrives in three to five business days, though the exact timing depends on your bank's processing speed and whether you initiate the transfer on a business day.
The process is free. Robinhood does not charge withdrawal fees, and most banks do not charge to receive ACH transfers. You need to have already linked a bank account to your Robinhood account before you can withdraw; if you have not done that yet, you will need to add it first, which takes a separate verification step.
The amount you can withdraw is limited to the cash balance in your Robinhood account — the money that is not currently invested in stocks, options, or crypto. If you have unsettled funds (money from a recent sale that has not yet cleared), Robinhood may restrict how much you can withdraw until those funds settle, which typically takes two business days after the sale.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals from Robinhood to a linked bank account are free and take three to five business days via the ACH network.
- You can only withdraw cash that is not invested; unsettled funds from recent sales may be restricted for two business days.
- You must link your bank account to Robinhood before your first withdrawal, which requires verification and takes up to one business day.
- Withdrawals initiated on weekends or holidays begin processing the next business day, which can extend the total timeline.
Linking your bank account to Robinhood for the first time
Before you can withdraw money, Robinhood needs to know which bank account to send it to. Open the Robinhood app, go to Account (the person icon at the bottom right), tap Transfers, and select Add a Bank Account. You will enter your bank's routing number and your account number — both appear on a check or in your bank's online portal under account details.
Robinhood will then send two small deposits (usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each) to that account. Your bank will show these deposits in your checking account within one to two business days. Once you see them, go back to Robinhood, confirm the amounts, and your account is verified. This verification step protects both you and Robinhood by confirming you actually own the account you are linking.
If you have already linked a bank account to Robinhood for deposits, you can use that same account for withdrawals without re-verifying. You only need to verify once per account.
How to initiate a withdrawal in the Robinhood app
Open Robinhood and tap Account, then Transfers. Select Withdraw. Choose the bank account you want the money to go to from the dropdown menu — if you have linked multiple accounts, make sure you pick the right one. Enter the amount you want to withdraw. Robinhood will show you the available cash balance; you cannot withdraw more than that amount.
Review the details on the confirmation screen: the receiving bank account, the amount, and the estimated arrival date. Tap Confirm to submit the withdrawal. Robinhood will send you a confirmation email with a reference number. Save this number in case you need to contact Robinhood support about the transfer.
Once you confirm, the withdrawal cannot be cancelled through the app. If you need to stop it, contact Robinhood support when ready — they may be able to halt it if it has not yet left their system, but this is not may provide, especially if the transfer has already been sent to the ACH network.
Understanding the three to five business day timeline
The three to five business day window is the standard for ACH transfers. Here is how the timing typically breaks down: when you initiate a withdrawal on a business day (Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays), Robinhood processes it that day or the next. The transfer then enters the ACH network, which batches transfers and processes them in cycles. Your bank receives the transfer and posts it to your account, which usually takes one to two additional business days.
If you initiate a withdrawal on a Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday, Robinhood will not process it until Monday. That Monday processing, plus the ACH network cycle, plus your bank's posting time, can push the arrival to Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. Holidays extend this further — a withdrawal initiated on a Thursday before a Friday holiday will not process until the following Monday.
Some banks post ACH transfers faster than others. If your bank is part of a large network or uses real-time processing, you might see the money within one business day. Smaller regional banks sometimes take the full five days. Check your bank's ACH processing policy if you need the money urgently.
What to do if the money does not arrive on time
If five business days have passed and the money has not arrived, log into your Robinhood account and check the Transfers section. Look for the withdrawal in your transaction history and note its status. If it shows as "completed" or "sent," the transfer has left Robinhood's system and the delay is on your bank's end. Contact your bank's customer service with the withdrawal reference number from Robinhood and ask them to trace the ACH transfer.
If Robinhood shows the withdrawal as "pending" or "processing" after five business days, contact Robinhood support through the app. Go to Account, tap Help, and select Contact Us. Describe the withdrawal and provide the reference number. Robinhood support can investigate whether the transfer is stuck in their system or the ACH network.
In rare cases, an ACH transfer can fail if your bank account information was entered incorrectly, if your account was closed, or if your bank rejected the transfer for security reasons. If this happens, Robinhood will usually send you a notification and the money will be returned to your Robinhood cash balance within a few business days. You can then attempt the withdrawal again with corrected information.
Withdrawing when you have unsettled funds
When you sell a stock or option on Robinhood, the proceeds do not when ready become available for withdrawal. Robinhood marks them as "unsettled" for two business days — this is a requirement of the SEC and the stock exchange, not a Robinhood policy. During this two-day period, you can use the money to buy other investments, but you cannot withdraw it.
If you try to withdraw an amount larger than your settled cash balance, Robinhood will show you the maximum you can withdraw and will not let you exceed it. To withdraw the full amount, you need to wait until the unsettled funds settle. You can check which funds are unsettled by looking at your account balance breakdown in the app — it will show settled cash and unsettled cash separately.
Options and crypto have different settlement rules. Crypto sales settle when ready, so you can withdraw crypto proceeds right away. Options settle on the day after expiration or exercise, not the standard two-day window. Check the Robinhood help section if you are unsure whether a specific transaction has settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money if I have a margin balance or owe Robinhood money?
No. If you have a margin loan or any outstanding balance owed to Robinhood, you cannot withdraw until that balance is paid off. Robinhood will show your available withdrawal amount as zero or will block the withdrawal if you attempt it. Pay off the balance first, then initiate the withdrawal.
What happens if I withdraw money while I have pending stock or option orders?
You can withdraw as long as the amount you are withdrawing does not exceed your available settled cash. If you have pending buy orders, make sure you are not withdrawing money those orders are waiting to use. If an order executes after you withdraw and there is not enough cash, the order will be rejected.
Do I need to report this withdrawal to the IRS or my bank?
No. Moving money from Robinhood to your checking account is not a taxable event — it is just moving your own money between accounts. Your bank and Robinhood do not report the transfer to the IRS. You only owe taxes on investment gains or losses, which Robinhood reports separately on Form 1099.
Can I set up automatic recurring withdrawals from Robinhood?
Robinhood does not offer automatic recurring withdrawals. You must initiate each withdrawal manually through the app or website. If you want to move money regularly, you can set a reminder to withdraw on a schedule, but the action itself must be done each time.
What is the maximum amount I can withdraw at once?
There is no stated maximum withdrawal amount in Robinhood's terms. You can withdraw up to your entire settled cash balance in a single transfer. However, your bank may have its own limits on the size of ACH transfers it will accept in one day. Check with your bank if you are withdrawing a very large amount.