The fastest way to withdraw from Ally is through their mobile app or website, using a transfer to your external bank account, which takes one to two business days
Ally is an online bank, so you cannot walk into a branch and withdraw cash at a teller window. Instead, you move money out of your Ally savings account by transferring it to another bank account you own — usually a checking account at another bank or at Ally itself. The transfer typically lands in your external account within one to two business days, and then you can withdraw the cash from that bank's ATM or at a teller.
You can also request a check mailed to you, though this takes five to seven business days. A third option is to use Ally's ATM network access if you have an Ally checking account linked to your savings, but this requires an extra step and is slower than a direct transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Transfer money from your Ally savings account to an external bank account through the Ally app or website — this is the fastest method and takes one to two business days.
- You can request a check by mail, which takes five to seven business days and requires you to provide your mailing address in the transfer request.
- Ally savings accounts do not come with a debit card, so you cannot withdraw cash directly from an ATM using a card.
- If you have an Ally checking account, you can transfer savings to checking first, then use that account's debit card or ATM access to get cash.
- Transfers between your own Ally accounts (savings to checking) are instant or same-day, but transfers to external banks always take at least one business day.
Transfer to an external bank account (one to two business days)
This is the standard method. Log into your Ally account on the mobile app or website, go to the Transfers section, and select "Transfer money out." Choose the external bank account you want to send the money to — you must have already added this account to your Ally profile, which requires the account number and routing number.
Enter the amount you want to withdraw and confirm. Ally will show you the expected arrival date, which is usually one to two business days. The money leaves your Ally savings account immediately, but it does not land in your external account until that date. Once it arrives, you can withdraw it as cash from your other bank's ATM or visit a branch.
If you have not yet added an external account to your Ally profile, you will need to do that first. Go to Settings or Accounts, select "Add external account," and enter the bank name, account number, and routing number. Ally will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under one dollar) into it, which you then confirm in your Ally app. This verification process takes one to two business days, after which you can transfer money to that account.
Request a check by mail (five to seven business days)
You can ask Ally to mail you a check drawn on your savings account. In the Transfers section of your app or website, select "Request a check" and enter the amount. Provide the mailing address where you want the check sent — this does not have to be the address on file with Ally, so you can have it mailed to a different location if needed.
Ally will mail the check within one to two business days, and standard mail delivery takes three to five more days, so the total time is usually five to seven business days. Once you receive the check, you can deposit it into another bank account or cash it at a bank or check-cashing service. There is no fee for requesting a check.
Transfer to your own Ally checking account (instant or same-day)
If you have both a savings and a checking account at Ally, you can transfer between them instantly or on the same day. This is faster than moving money to an external bank, but you still need a way to get the cash out — Ally checking accounts do not come with ATM access by default.
To move money from savings to Ally checking, go to Transfers, select your Ally checking account as the destination, and confirm. The money appears in your checking account right away. From there, you can request a check, transfer the money to an external bank account, or use other withdrawal methods available through your Ally checking account.
What you need before you can withdraw
To transfer money out of your Ally savings account, you need access to your Ally login — either through the mobile app or the website. You will also need the account number and routing number of any external bank account you want to transfer to, or a mailing address if you are requesting a check.
Ally does not charge a fee for withdrawals or transfers. However, if you transfer to an external bank and that bank charges a fee for incoming transfers, you are responsible for that fee — though most banks do not charge for receiving transfers.
Limits on how much you can withdraw
Ally does not set a daily limit on how much you can transfer out of your savings account in a single transaction. However, federal law (Regulation D) historically limited savings account withdrawals to six per month, though this rule was suspended in 2020 and has not been fully reinstated. Check your Ally account agreement or contact Ally directly to confirm any current limits on your specific account.
If you need to withdraw a very large amount, Ally may flag the transfer for review, especially if it is unusual for your account. This review typically takes a few hours to one business day. You can also call Ally's customer service to let them know about a large withdrawal in advance, which can speed up the process.
What to do if your transfer is delayed
If your transfer to an external bank account does not arrive within two business days, log into your Ally account and check the status of the transfer in the Transfers section. It will show whether the transfer is pending, completed, or failed.
If the transfer failed, Ally will usually tell you why — common reasons include an incorrect account number, a closed account at the receiving bank, or a mismatch between the account number and the account holder's name. If this happens, the money returns to your Ally savings account within one to two business days, and you can try again with the correct information.
If the transfer shows as completed but the money has not arrived at your external bank after two business days, contact your external bank first — they may have received it but not posted it yet. If your external bank has no record of it, contact Ally customer service with the transfer confirmation number from your Ally account, and they can investigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw cash directly from an Ally savings account?
No. Ally savings accounts do not come with a debit card or ATM card. You must transfer money to another bank account first, then withdraw cash from that bank's ATM or branch. The fastest way is to transfer to an external checking account, which takes one to two business days.
How do I add an external bank account to my Ally profile?
Go to Settings or Accounts in your Ally app or website, select "Add external account," and enter your bank name, account number, and routing number. Ally deposits two small amounts into the account to verify it, which takes one to two business days. Once verified, you can transfer money to that account anytime.
What happens if I request a check but change my mind before it arrives?
Contact Ally customer service as soon as possible. If the check has not been mailed yet, Ally can cancel the request and return the money to your savings account. If the check has already been mailed, you will need to wait for it to arrive, then destroy it or deposit it and transfer the money back to Ally.
Is there a fee to withdraw money from my Ally savings account?
No. Ally does not charge fees for transfers out of savings accounts, checks by mail, or transfers between your own Ally accounts. Your external bank may charge a fee for receiving a transfer, but most do not.
Can I set up automatic withdrawals from my Ally savings account?
Ally does not offer automatic transfers out of savings accounts through their standard transfer feature. However, you can set up automatic bill payments or transfers if you move money to an Ally checking account first, which supports automatic payments to other banks and billers.