Cash News
Zelle is a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment app that lets you send and receive money from friends and family. It’s a convenient tool for splitting bills, paying a babysitter, or sending gifts — but there are transfer limits to be aware of.
Understanding your bank’s Zelle transfer limits can help you plan for larger payments, ensuring you aren’t late on any important bills. Continue reading for Zelle transfer limits by bank, plus alternatives to turn to when you exceed those limits.
Many banks partner with Zelle, and if yours does, you can access the tool through your bank’s online platform or mobile app. If not, you can still use this tool by downloading the Zelle app.
To send money, you’ll need to input the recipient’s email address or phone number. Then, enter the payment amount and complete the transaction. If the recipient is already enrolled in Zelle, the money will land directly in their bank account. If they don’t yet have a Zelle account, they’ll get a notification telling them how to access their payment.
Read more: What is Zelle, and is it safe to use?
While Zelle has certain security measures, there are still risks to using this payment method. For example, once you send a payment, you generally can’t cancel it. And unlike many credit cards, Zelle doesn’t offer purchase protection. For these and other security reasons, banks set Zelle transfer limits to protect their customers.
Zelle transfer limits aren’t standard across the board. Instead, banks set their own policies for how much money customers can send via Zelle. Banks may have daily, weekly, and monthly transaction limits and caps on how much you can send per transaction. Check the list below or contact your bank to see how much you can transfer with Zelle.
Read more: What to do if you sent money to the wrong person on Cash App, Zelle, or Venmo
Below are Zelle transfer limits for some of the largest U.S. banks. Keep in mind that these limits apply to personal banking customers; small business customers may have different transfer limits.
Note that these limits are general and can vary by customer according to account type, account balance, payment history, and other factors. Some of the banks above may also limit how much you can transfer per week or per transaction.
Read more: 7 common Zelle scams and how to avoid them
If your bank doesn’t offer Zelle, you can still use the service by downloading the Zelle app. When using the Zelle app to send money, there’s a weekly limit of $500. However, you may be able to request an increase to your weekly limit.
If your bank’s transfer limits are stopping you from sending money or making a full payment, consider the following alternatives:
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Split payments: If your situation allows it, you can always split up payments over several days to get around daily transaction limits. If you split a payment across multiple days, make sure you don’t exceed monthly limits.
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Other peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps: Zelle is one of many P2P payment apps out there. Consider using other apps, such as Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, to make additional payments. Just remember that these apps may have transaction limits, too, so look them up before making large payments.
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Make a transfer: You can also make an ACH or wire transfer to send money from your bank account to someone else’s. ACH transfers are usually free but may take up to three days to complete. Domestic wires usually process within 24 hours but can cost up to $50.
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Write a check: Though checks may seem old-fashioned, they’re handy for making large payments. Make sure you fill out the check completely, and, if possible, deliver the check directly to the recipient. Keep in mind that checks can take a couple of business days to clear.
Read more: Is it safe to store money in apps like Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App?