Software & Apps Apps How to Add Money to Venmo No Venmo Balance? Here's how to add funds and get back in business By Amanda Derrick Freelance Contributor Amanda Derrick is a mechanical engineer, business strategist, and former Lifewire writer who has also written for USAF Civil Service, ATK, and Boeing. our editorial process Twitter LinkedIn Amanda Derrick Updated March 25, 2020 Apps Best Apps Tweet Share Email If you're a new Venmo user than you're likely starting out without a balance in your account. In order to pay your friend for those movie tickets or split the bill at dinner, you'll need to add funds to your account. Adding Funds to Venmo via Your Bank The first option for funding your Venmo purchases is by linking your bank account to your account. While Venmo will default to using your balance in the app first, if your balance doesn't cover your purchase then you can add your bank account as an option to transfer the funds. Tap the hamburger menu (☰) at the upper left corner in the Venmo app Tap Settings and then Payment Methods Tap Add a bank or card... Tap Bank Choose a verification method Entering your login information for your bank may allow you to verify instantly; otherwise, Venmo will send micro-transfers of < $2 to your account to confirm your identity. The micro-transfers take a business day to go through, so you won't be able to start paying anyone instantly. The other benefit of adding funds through your bank account is that it's a two-way street; you can also transfer your Venmo balance over to your bank account. So if you're using Venmo to have your roommate pay their portion of the rent you'll be able to move it over to your bank account instead of having hundreds sitting in your Venmo balance. Add a Debit or Credit Card to Fund Your Venmo Account You can also add a debit or major credit card to your Venmo profile, allowing you to make purchases through the app that are paid by your card. Tap the ☰ in the upper left of the Venmo app Go to Settings and tap Payment Methods Choose Add bank or card... and then tap Card Enter your card information manually or with your phone camera Entering a credit or debit card will not require micro-transfers to verify the source, so it is the faster of the two options if you're in a hurry to make a Venmo purchase. Users should know that credit cards are subject to a 3% fee in Venmo, unless being used at a Venmo-approved merchant. Other Options to Fund Venmo Accounts Venmo also offers their own "card" which has an auto-reload feature in $10 increments, if you choose to apply for the card and enable that feature. This option will look at your balance and add more money from your bank, in $10 chunks, if your balance won't cover your purchase. Any excess funds from the reloaded funds will wait in your account for your next purchase. You can easily be a Venmo user who only uses their bank account or a personal card to fund their purchases. Pick the method that you're most comfortable with, watch out for the credit card fee on large purchases, and you're good to go.