How to link your checking account to Venmo

You link a checking account to Venmo through the app's settings by providing your bank's routing number and your account number. Venmo uses this connection to move money between your Venmo balance and your bank, either pulling funds when you send money or depositing funds when you receive them. The process takes about five minutes, but the actual bank connection can take one to three business days to verify.

You will need your bank account number, your bank's routing number (a nine-digit code your bank provides), and your online banking login if you want to use Venmo's when ready bank lookup feature. Without the lookup feature, you can enter the numbers manually, though this takes slightly longer to verify.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Venmo, tap the menu icon, select Settings, then Payments, then Add a Bank Account, and enter your routing and account numbers.
  • Venmo will send two small test deposits to your checking account within one to three business days; you must confirm the amounts in Venmo to complete the link.
  • Once linked, you can transfer money from Venmo to your bank when ready (for a small fee) or within one to three business days (free).
  • You can link multiple checking accounts to one Venmo account, but each account must be verified separately with the test deposit step.
  • If your bank does not appear in Venmo's lookup tool, you can still link it manually by entering your routing and account numbers by hand.

Step-by-step process to add your bank account

Start in the Venmo app. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner, then tap Settings. From Settings, tap Payments, then tap Add a Bank Account.

Venmo will ask whether you want to use when ready bank lookup or enter your information manually. If you choose when ready lookup, you will type your bank's name, and Venmo will search its database. Select your bank from the results, then log in with your online banking credentials. Venmo will pull your account information automatically and show you a list of accounts to choose from. Select the checking account you want to link.

If you choose manual entry or your bank does not appear in the lookup tool, enter your nine-digit routing number and your account number. You can find both on the bottom left of a check, or call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number and account number. Tap Continue or Confirm, and Venmo will tell you that verification is pending.

Waiting for and confirming the test deposits

Within one to three business days, Venmo will send two small deposits (usually between one and five cents each) to your checking account. These are test deposits, and you must confirm the amounts in Venmo to prove you own the account. Check your bank account online or through your bank's app, and write down both amounts.

Go back to Venmo, tap Settings, then Payments, then find the bank account you just added. Tap Confirm Deposits or a similar option (the exact wording varies by app version). Enter the two amounts you saw in your bank account. Venmo will verify them, and your account will be fully linked within a few minutes.

If you do not see the test deposits after three business days, check that you entered your account number and routing number correctly. If the numbers are wrong, delete the account from Venmo and start over. If the numbers are correct but deposits still have not arrived, contact your bank's customer service to ask whether they are blocking small deposits from Venmo, or contact Venmo support through the app.

What happens after your account is linked

Once your checking account is verified, you can move money between Venmo and your bank in either direction. If someone sends you money on Venmo, it lands in your Venmo balance first. You can then transfer that balance to your linked checking account. If you send money to someone and do not have enough Venmo balance, Venmo will pull the money directly from your linked bank account.

Venmo offers two transfer speeds: when ready transfer (usually arrives within 30 minutes) and standard transfer (one to three business days). when ready transfers cost a small percentage of the amount you are moving, usually between 1 and 2 percent. Standard transfers are free. You choose the speed each time you transfer, so you can use when ready when you need the money quickly and standard when you can wait.

Linking multiple checking accounts

You can add more than one checking account to your Venmo profile. Each account must go through the same verification process: you enter the routing and account numbers, wait for test deposits, and confirm the amounts. This is useful if you have accounts at different banks or want to keep personal and business money separate.

When you transfer money out of Venmo, you will see a dropdown menu asking which linked account you want the money to go to. You can change your default account in Settings, so transfers go to your primary bank unless you choose otherwise.

Troubleshooting common problems

If Venmo rejects your account number or routing number, double-check both numbers against your check or your bank's website. Routing numbers are nine digits; account numbers vary in length but are usually 10 to 12 digits. If you are still unsure, call your bank and confirm both numbers before trying again.

If test deposits do not arrive after three business days, your bank may be blocking them or your account information may be incorrect. Some banks flag small deposits from unfamiliar sources as suspicious. Contact your bank and tell them you are expecting test deposits from Venmo, and ask them to allow them through. If your bank confirms the deposits are not coming, delete the account from Venmo and re-enter your information, paying close attention to spacing or dashes in the account number.

If you see an error message saying your account cannot be linked, your bank may not be compatible with Venmo's system. This is rare but happens with some smaller regional banks or credit unions. In that case, you can still use Venmo to send and receive money, but you will need to transfer your balance to a debit card instead of a bank account, or use a different payment method to fund your Venmo account.

Security and what Venmo can see

When you link your checking account using when ready bank lookup, Venmo sees your online banking login temporarily to pull your account list, but does not store your password. When you enter your information manually, Venmo stores your routing number and account number, which are the same numbers printed on your checks and are not considered sensitive in the same way a password is.

Venmo is owned by PayPal and uses encryption to protect your account information. Your bank account is not visible to other Venmo users, and your transaction history with your bank remains private. Venmo's own transaction history (who you sent money to and when) is visible to other users by default, but you can change this in Settings to make transactions private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unlink my checking account after I have linked it?

Yes. Go to Settings, then Payments, find your linked bank account, and tap Remove or Delete. Your account will be unlinked when ready. Any money already in your Venmo balance stays there; you will need to transfer it to a different bank account or debit card, or keep it in Venmo for future payments.

What if I enter the wrong account number and Venmo sends test deposits to someone else's account?

Contact Venmo support when ready through the app and explain what happened. Venmo can cancel the verification and prevent the account from being linked. The test deposits are small (usually under five cents), so the other account holder will likely not notice, but Venmo can attempt to reverse them if needed.

Do I have to use when ready transfer, or can I always use the free standard transfer?

You can always choose standard transfer, which is free and takes one to three business days. when ready transfer is optional and costs a fee. You decide which speed you want each time you move money, so you can use standard most of the time and when ready only when you need the money urgently.

Can I link a savings account instead of a checking account?

Yes, Venmo accepts savings accounts as well as checking accounts. The process is identical: enter your routing number and account number, wait for test deposits, and confirm the amounts. Some banks may process transfers slightly differently for savings accounts, so check with your bank if you have questions about timing.

What if my bank is not in Venmo's lookup tool?

You can still link your account manually by entering your routing number and account number by hand. The verification process is the same: Venmo sends test deposits, and you confirm the amounts. Manual entry takes slightly longer to verify (sometimes up to five business days instead of one to three), but it works with most banks.