- You can use
Venmo to make and receive payments from your contacts and others by connecting the platform to your bank account and credit cards. - It's easy to transfer money from Venmo back to your own bank account.
- Here's everything you need to know to get started using Venmo.
$4 is an app-based payment service that combines the ability to make payments — like PayPal — with aspects of social media sites by letting you comment, use emojis, and follow the activity of friends and family.
Using the popular app is simple, and once configured, you can use it for social debts between friends, or even to make payments like rent with other people who use the app.
How to use Venmo
1. You can use Venmo with both an iPhone and Android device. If you haven't already, install $4 or $4, depending on which kind of phone you use.
2. After the app is installed, follow the instructions in the app to set up your Venmo account.
3. You need to connect your Venmo account to a payment type, such as a bank account, credit card, or debit card. In Venmo, tap the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen (the hamburger menu) and then tap "Settings."
4. In Settings, in the Preferences section, tap "Payment Methods." For details on how to connect your account and verify it so you can start using Venmo, read $4
When you add accounts to Venmo, remember that you can send money from a bank account or debit card for free, but Venmo will charge you 3% for payments from a connected credit card.
How to make a payment using Venmo
Start Venmo and then tap "Pay or Request" in the lower right corner of the screen.
You can browse or search for someone to pay, enter the amount and add any note or emoji to complete the transaction. For detailed instructions on how to make a payment, read $4
How to control the privacy of transactions in Venmo
Keep in mind that Venmo has social network-like features, and each transaction has a privacy setting associated with it. If you don't change this setting, your transaction may be visible to your friends, family, and other contacts. To change the privacy setting, tap the current setting in the lower right corner of the transaction screen and choose "Public," "Friends," or "Private."
You can also change the default privacy for all transactions:
1. Tap the three horizontal lies at the top right of the screen and then, in the menu, tap "Settings."
2. Tap "Privacy."
3. Tap the privacy setting you want to use, and then use the Back arrow at the top left to save this choice.
How to transfer money from Venmo to your bank account
After you have received money from a contact, you should have a balance in Venmo. You can check that balance by tapping your account avatar at the top left. You'll see a pop-up window display your current Venmo balance.
To transfer your balance (or a portion of it) to your bank account, tap it, choose how you want to transfer it, and tap "Transfer" at the bottom of the screen. For details on how to do this — and when there may be fees involved — see $4.