
To use Venmo for personal transactions, you'll need to create an account and link a payment method, such as a debit card, credit card, or bank account. This will allow you to send and receive money from friends and family.
Venmo is a free service for personal use, but you'll need to have a bank account to link to your Venmo account. You can also use your Venmo account to receive payments from others, like when a friend pays you back for dinner or a shared expense.
For business use, Venmo requires a verified account, which involves providing additional information and identity verification. This is to ensure that businesses are using Venmo for legitimate purposes and not for personal gain.
You'll also need to have a business bank account to link to your Venmo account for business use. This will help you keep your personal and business finances separate.
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What Is Venmo?
Venmo is a peer-to-peer payment service that allows users to send and receive money electronically. It was launched in 2009 by PayPal.

The service is free to use, with no fees for sending or receiving money, as long as the transaction is between friends or family. However, there are fees for instant transfers to a debit card.
Venmo is integrated with PayPal, allowing users to link their accounts and transfer funds between the two services. Users can also link their bank accounts or credit cards to Venmo for easy funding.
To use Venmo, you need to have a valid email address and a phone number. You also need to be at least 18 years old to create an account.
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Using Venmo
To get started with Venmo, you'll need to download the app and link it to your bank account, debit card, or credit card. You can also link a prepaid debit card to fund your Venmo account.
You'll have a rolling limit of $299.99 per week for payments and purchases, but once you verify your account, the limits increase to $60,000 per week for sends and $7,000 on combined purchases per week.
To lift the initial weekly sending and receiving limit of $299.99, you need to provide identification documents. Once your ID is confirmed, you'll have a $4,999.99 weekly limit.
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Using Venmo

Using Venmo is a breeze once you've set up your account. You can download the Android or IOS app to get started, but there's no web browser option.
To send money, you'll need to fund your account with a debit card, checking account, or credit card. Just link your bank account or card to your Venmo account, and you're good to go.
You can use Venmo to send money to family and friends, or even request money from them. For example, if you loan money to a sibling, you can send them a payment request through Venmo.
If you're running a small business, you can use Venmo to get paid. Just keep in mind that money sent to your personal account and tagged for "goods and services" is subject to a 2.99 percent seller transaction fee.
To make purchases online, look for the PayPal or Pay With Venmo button during checkout. Some merchants even offer a Pay With Venmo button on their payment pages.
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If you want to lift the initial $299.99 weekly sending and receiving limit, you'll need to provide identification documents. Once your ID is confirmed, you'll have a $4,999.99 weekly limit.
Here are some key Venmo limits to keep in mind:
To get a Venmo Debit Card or Credit Card, you'll need to apply online and meet certain requirements. For example, you'll need to be over 18 and a U.S. resident to apply for a Venmo Credit Card.
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Make Money?
Venmo makes money through various services, but you can send money for free from a linked bank account, debit card, or Venmo account.
The company charges fees for instant transfers, which take only a few minutes to arrive in your bank account, but it's worth noting that this service is not always necessary.
If you need to send money via a credit card, you'll incur a fee, so it's best to use a linked bank account or debit card for free transactions.
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Venmo also charges fees for check cashing, receiving payments for goods or services, and buying and selling cryptocurrency.
Using the Venmo card can also generate revenue for the company each time you use it.
It's worth noting that some of these fees might seem small, but they can add up over time, so it's essential to be aware of them when using the service.
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Payment Instances
Using Venmo for everyday transactions can be a breeze, but it's essential to know when you'll be charged fees. You'll pay a fee of 1.75 percent (minimum of $0.25 to a maximum of $25) to transfer money instantly from the app to your linked bank account or debit card.
Instant transfers are available, but they come with a price tag. If you need the money quickly, you can opt for instant transfer, but be prepared to pay the fee.
If you use a credit card to transfer money to other people, you'll pay a flat 3 percent fee. Some credit card issuers consider these kinds of peer-to-peer transactions to be cash advances, so you might have to pay cash advance fees and cash advance interest rates on your transfer.
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Receiving payments in your personal Venmo account for items tagged as "goods and services" by the payer are subject to a 2.99 percent seller's fee. This fee applies to transactions where you're receiving money for goods or services.
You can send money to other eligible digital wallets using Visa+, but you'll incur a 1.75 percent fee (minimum of $0.25 to a maximum of $25). This fee applies to transactions where you're sending money to digital wallets like PayPal.
Adding money to your account using Venmo's cash check feature incurs a 1 percent fee (minimum $5) for payroll or government checks and a 5 percent fee (minimum $5) for other types of checks.
Here are some instances where you'll pay to use Venmo:
Payment Arrival Time
You can usually access money you receive on Venmo in a short amount of time, typically a few hours to a few days.
However, if the recipient has just opened a Venmo account for the first time, it may take several days to receive the money.
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If you need the money quickly, you can transfer it from your Venmo account to your bank account instantly, but be prepared to pay a 1.75 percent fee with a minimum of $0.25 and a maximum of $25.
Standard bank transfers, on the other hand, are free but take one to three business days to process.
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Set Up Notifications
Set Up Notifications is a crucial step to ensure your Venmo account's security. Receiving notifications as soon as there's suspicious activity on your Venmo account may help prevent a scammer from accessing your account. Always be sure to have your notifications on for Venmo.
Staying Safe
To stay safe while using Venmo, it's essential to take a few simple steps. You can turn on the PIN feature, which requires you to enter a specific PIN number before opening your account.
Setting up two-factor authentication is also a good idea. This feature makes it even more difficult for someone to hack into your account.

You can also set up Touch ID to add an extra layer of security. This way, only you can access your Venmo account.
Receiving notifications as soon as there's suspicious activity on your Venmo account may help prevent a scammer from accessing your account. Always have your notifications on for Venmo.
To further secure your account, consider setting up two-factor authentication, creating a unique PIN code, and using Touch ID. This will make it much harder for someone to access your account.
Venmo's default profile and payment settings are public, so make sure to change your privacy settings to keep your payment settings under wraps. You can set your privacy settings to default to one of three levels: anyone can find you and see your transactions, only you and the person you send payment to will see a transaction, or friends only.
Here are Venmo's three privacy levels:
- Anyone can find you and see your transactions.
- Only you and the person you send payment to will see a transaction.
- Friends only. Your Venmo friends can see you and can also see your transactions.
You can set your privacy settings to default to any of these three levels, or you can set levels on a transaction-by-transaction basis.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Venmo without a bank account?
Yes, you can use Venmo without a bank account by adding a credit or prepaid card. We'll explore alternative payment options in more detail.
Does Venmo require SSN?
Yes, Venmo requires your Social Security Number (SSN) as per government regulations, but be cautious of suspicious requests.
What info does someone need for Venmo?
To add someone to Venmo, you'll need their phone number, email address, Venmo username, or scan their QR code. You can then send money with a note, including emojis, for a personal touch.
Sources
- https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/how-to-use-venmo/
- https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360027356113-Identity-Verification
- https://www.credit.com/blog/is-venmo-safe/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/cash-apps-to-report-payments-of-600-or-more/
- https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/venmo-identity-verification-scam-or-real.html
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