Connect your bank account in four steps
Open Venmo on your phone or go to venmo.com on a computer. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then select Settings. Choose Payment Methods, then tap Add a Bank Account. Venmo will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number — you can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website to locate them. Enter those details, confirm your bank name, and Venmo will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under $1 each) into that account within one to two business days.
Once those deposits arrive, Venmo will prompt you to confirm the amounts. Enter them exactly as they appear, and your bank account will be fully connected. You can then use that account to fund Venmo transfers to other people, or to receive money from them directly into your bank account instead of holding it in your Venmo balance.
The entire process takes about five minutes to set up, but the verification step adds one to two business days before you can actually move money. If you want to send or receive money immediately, you can link a debit card instead — that connection is instant — but transfers from a debit card may carry a small fee, while bank account transfers do not.
Key Takeaways
- You need your bank's routing number and your account number, both found on a check or in your bank's online portal.
- Venmo verifies the account by depositing two small amounts and asking you to confirm them, which takes one to two business days.
- Transfers from a linked bank account to other Venmo users are free, but transfers to your own bank account may take one to three business days to arrive.
- If you need to send money immediately, link a debit card instead — it connects instantly but may charge a fee per transaction.
- You can link multiple bank accounts and switch between them when sending or receiving money.
What information Venmo needs from you
Venmo requires your routing number and account number to connect your bank. The routing number identifies your specific bank branch; the account number identifies your account within that bank. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have. If you do not have checks, log into your bank's website or app, go to account details or statements, and look for a section labeled "Account Information" or "Routing and Account Numbers."
Venmo also asks you to confirm your bank's name and your full name as it appears on the account. The name must match exactly — if your bank account is under "James Michael Chen" but you enter "James Chen," the verification may fail. If you share an account with someone else, only the person whose name is on the account should link it to Venmo.
You do not need to provide your online banking password or PIN. Venmo never asks for those, and you should never enter them. If a screen asks for your password, close it and start over — that is a sign of a phishing attempt or a mistake in the process.
How the verification process works
After you enter your routing and account numbers, Venmo sends two small deposits to your bank account — typically between $0.01 and $0.99 each. These deposits arrive within one to two business days and appear in your bank account with a description that includes a code. Venmo will send you a notification when the deposits have been made, and will prompt you to enter those two amounts.
Open your bank account online or through your bank's app and look for the two deposits. Write down the exact amounts, including cents. Return to Venmo and enter them in the order Venmo specifies. If you enter them correctly, your bank account is verified and ready to use. If you enter them incorrectly three times, you will need to start the linking process over.
If the deposits do not arrive after three business days, check that you entered the routing number and account number correctly. A single digit wrong will cause the deposits to go to the wrong account. You can delete the incomplete link and try again with the correct numbers. Venmo will not charge you for the verification deposits, and your bank should not either — they are legitimate transfers from Venmo's bank.
Sending money from your bank account versus your Venmo balance
Once your bank account is linked, you have two places money can come from when you send it: your Venmo balance (money other people have sent you and you have not withdrawn) or your bank account directly. When you tap the send button, Venmo asks which payment method you want to use. Choose your bank account, and the money comes from your bank — no fee. Choose your Venmo balance, and the money comes from what you already have in Venmo.
Sending from your bank account is free and instant to the other person's Venmo account. However, if the other person wants to withdraw that money to their own bank account, it takes one to three business days depending on their bank. Sending from your Venmo balance is also free and instant, but you can only do it if you have money sitting in your Venmo account from previous transfers.
Most people keep their Venmo balance low and send directly from their bank account each time. This way, money stays in your bank earning interest (if your account offers it) until you actually need to send it. If you receive money frequently and want to send it back out quickly without waiting for bank transfers, keeping a small Venmo balance can be convenient.
Withdrawing money from Venmo back to your bank account
When someone sends you money on Venmo, it lands in your Venmo balance, not your bank account. To move it to your bank, tap the menu icon, select Transfers, then choose Transfer to Bank. Select the bank account you linked, enter the amount, and confirm. Venmo will show you the expected arrival date — usually one to three business days, depending on your bank.
Standard transfers to your bank account are free. Venmo also offers an instant transfer option that moves money to your account within 30 minutes, but this costs $0.25 to $1.25 per transfer depending on the amount. For most people, waiting one to three business days is worth avoiding the fee. Plan ahead if you know you will need cash on a specific day.
If money does not arrive after three business days, log into your bank account and check whether it shows as pending. If it does not appear there at all, contact Venmo support through the app — they can trace the transfer and resend it if something went wrong. Keep the transfer confirmation number Venmo provides, as you may need it to prove you initiated the transfer.
Linking a debit card if you cannot wait for bank verification
If you need to send money before your bank account finishes verifying (which takes one to two business days), you can link a debit card instead. Tap Payment Methods in Settings, choose Add a Card, and enter your debit card number, expiration date, and CVV. Venmo verifies the card instantly by checking that the card is active and matches your name.
Transfers funded by debit card are not free — Venmo charges 1% of the amount you send, with a minimum of $0.25 and a maximum of $2. So sending $100 costs $1, and sending $10 costs $0.25. Bank account transfers have no fee, so once your bank account is verified, you will probably want to switch back to using that for regular payments.
Debit cards are useful for one-time urgent transfers or if you do not want to link your bank account for privacy reasons. You can link multiple debit cards and switch between them. However, if you use Venmo regularly, linking your bank account saves money over time.
Security and what to watch for
Venmo encrypts your bank account information and does not store your routing number or account number after verification is complete. However, Venmo transactions are visible to other users by default — anyone can see who sent money to whom and the payment description (like "dinner" or "rent"). Change this in Settings under Privacy and set transactions to Private so only you and the other person can see the transfer.
Never share your Venmo username or QR code with someone you do not trust. If someone has your username, they can see your transaction history and may attempt to send you money as part of a scam. If you receive money from someone you do not know, do not accept it — you can decline or refund transfers directly in the app.
Watch for phishing texts or emails claiming to be from Venmo and asking you to "verify your account" or "confirm your bank details." Venmo will never ask you to click a link in an email or text to log in. If you receive a suspicious message, delete it and log into Venmo directly through the app to check your account. If your account has been compromised, change your password immediately and contact Venmo support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to link a bank account to Venmo?
The setup takes about five minutes, but verification takes one to two business days because Venmo deposits two small amounts and waits for them to appear in your account. You can send money using a debit card immediately if you cannot wait, but transfers from a debit card charge a 1% fee.
Can I link a savings account instead of a checking account?
Yes, Venmo accepts both checking and savings accounts as long as you have the routing number and account number. However, some banks limit how many transfers you can make from a savings account per month (often six), so a checking account may be more convenient if you use Venmo frequently.
What happens if I enter the wrong routing number?
The verification deposits will go to the wrong bank account, and your Venmo account will not verify. You can delete the incomplete link and start over with the correct number. Check your bank statement or online banking portal to confirm both numbers before entering them again.
Can I link the same bank account to multiple Venmo accounts?
No. Each bank account can only be linked to one Venmo account. If you try to link an account that is already connected to another Venmo user, the verification will fail. You can link multiple bank accounts to a single Venmo account, but each account can only be used once.
Do I have to keep my bank account linked, or can I unlink it later?
You can unlink your bank account at any time through Settings. However, if you unlink it and want to use it again, you will have to go through the full verification process a second time. If you are not using Venmo for a while, you can simply leave the account linked — it does not cost anything or put your account at risk.