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Mobile payment apps and peer-to-peer (P2P) payment tools make it easier and faster for people to send money to friends and family, and for small businesses to pay vendors or to be paid by their customers.
Along with PayPal, Venmo, and other popular mobile payment options, Zelle is another P2P payment solution that could help you send money faster, get reimbursed by friends, or manage your bills more efficiently. small business, all at no cost.
Here’s a look at Zelle and how it could help improve your financial life.
What is Zelle?
Zelle is a payment method that lets you send money easily, quickly, and securely from your own bank account to anyone you want. To use Zelle, if your bank offers it, all you need to send money is the other person’s email address or phone number. Zelle does not charge any fees.
Zelle transactions usually only take a few minutes. If you are sending money to someone who is not yet registered with Zelle, it may take one to three business days for them to receive their money after registration is complete.
In 2020, Zelle users sent a total of $ 307 billion in 1.2 billion transactions, and nearly 500 new financial institutions joined the Zelle network. Zelle is now available in the mobile apps of more than 1,000 banks and credit unions.
How does Zelle work?
Zelle allows you to send money directly from your bank account to someone else’s bank account, and there is no charge. It usually only takes a few minutes for funds to be transferred between accounts.
If your bank or credit union offers Zelle, you can sign up for Zelle through your existing online bank account or through the financial institution’s mobile app. But even if your bank doesn’t yet offer Zelle, you can still use Zelle by downloading and signing up for the Zelle mobile app.
Here is the process of using Zelle.
1. Decide who you want to pay with Zelle
Zelle is ideal for sending payments to people you know and trust, such as friends or family. For example, if you went out to dinner with friends and want to reimburse your friend for your share of the meal, you can use Zelle to send your friend $ 50. You can also use Zelle for some service providers or small businesses that you know and work with on a regular basis, such as a babysitter, lawn care professional, or hairdresser.
2. Check if your bank or credit union offers Zelle
If so, use their website or mobile app to sign up and use Zelle. If your financial institution offers Zelle, it will usually be listed as an option in the Transfers menu in the app or website. Alternatively, you can download the Zelle app and create a Zelle account there.
3. Get your friend’s email address or phone number
You can use Zelle to send money to anyone with a US bank account or a credit union. All you need is their current email or US cell phone number. Make sure it is spelled correctly.
4. Decide how much to send
Different banks and credit unions have different limits on the amount of money you can send with Zelle. If your bank or credit union doesn’t offer Zelle and you need to use the Zelle app, you are limited to sending $ 500 per week through the Zelle app. Zelle may be the best for quick small payments. If you need to send a larger amount of money, you can choose another payment option.
5. Send the money
If your friend or family member is already registered with Zelle, the money will go straight to their bank account within minutes. If they are not already registered with Zelle, they will receive a text or email telling them how to get the money. You don’t need to enter any bank details. Zelle transfers money from one financial institution to another.
Who owns Zelle?
Zelle is a product of Early Warning Services, LLC, a financial technology company owned by seven of America’s largest banks: Bank of America, BB&T (now Truist), Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, US Bank and Wells Fargo . Because Zelle was founded by banks for banks, it helps financial institutions of all sizes deliver digital payment functionality that improves the customer experience while lowering costs for the bank.
According to data from the Early Warning survey, financial institutions using Zelle saw a 12% reduction in the number of checks issued, a 2% decrease in the number of checking account customers leaving to competitors, and an average improvement of 5% from the Reputation Institute of the bank or credit union. Index score among customers who use Zelle, compared to non-Zelle customers.
Zelle helps banks and credit unions transfer money quickly and securely, while providing a better digital banking experience for their customers. This is another reason why Zelle is one of the best ways to send money fast to your friends and family.
What are Zelle’s transfer limits?
Check with your bank or credit union to find out how much money they will allow you to send with Zelle. Banks may have different limits for the amount you can send or receive. For example:
- Bank of America requires customers to meet its maximum Zelle transfer limit of $ 3,500 per day, which can be sent to anyone else.
- chase away allows personal checking account customers to send up to $ 2,000 in a single Zelle transaction, up to $ 2,000 per day, with higher Zelle transfer limits for private / private bank customers or customers of professional chequing accounts.
- Wells fargo allows a daily Zelle transfer limit of $ 3,500 for established Zelle users and may have a lower limit for new Zelle users.
If your financial institution doesn’t offer Zelle, you can use the Zelle app to send up to $ 500 per week.
Is Zelle safe?
Zelle is widely regarded as a safe and secure way to send money. This is because Zelle transactions do not require you to share sensitive financial information. Additionally, your bank or credit union should have authentication and monitoring features in place to ensure that you are the person authorizing your Zelle payments.
Zelle is fast, convenient, and free, and works the same as cash. But this level of no-cost convenience also means that Zelle doesn’t have the same payment protections people expect from a credit card or debit card (which generally protects people from fraudulent charges). . For these reasons, Zelle should only be used to pay people you know and trust: friends, family, and some trusted small business owners.
Don’t use Zelle to buy from online sellers or send large sums of money to people you don’t know well. Zelle payments cannot be canceled if the recipient is already registered in Zelle, so double check before pressing send. And make sure you have the correct cell phone number or email address for the person you want to pay. This helps ensure that your money will be sent to the right person.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know if my bank or credit union is using Zelle?
Check with your financial institution. Search their website or mobile app, or look under the Transfers menu, to see if Zelle is available at your bank or credit union. Zelle also has a searchable list of participating banks and credit unions on its website.
Can I use Zelle if I don’t have a smartphone?
If your bank or credit union offers Zelle, you can use their online banking website to send or receive Zelle payments, even if you don’t have a smartphone. However, if your establishment does not offer Zelle and you do not have a smartphone to download the Zelle mobile app, you will not be able to use Zelle.
Can I get paid via Zelle?
Yes. Zelle isn’t just for sending money, you can also use it to receive disbursements from businesses, universities, government agencies, or any other organization that may owe you money. For example, if your university owes you a refund, if your insurance company needs to send you money for a claim, or if you need to be paid by a business or organization, you can request to be paid through Zelle so that your money arrives faster, instead of waiting for a check or setting up a direct deposit.
Can I use Zelle for my small business or to pay for a small business?
Yes. Zelle can be a great way to get paid as a small business owner because it’s quick and there are no fees. If your customers’ payment amounts are within the limits of their daily Zelle transfers, you can encourage them to pay you through Zelle, transferring money to your bank account faster than a check or ACH transfer.
However, if you are a consumer who is considering using Zelle to pay a small business owner for products or services, keep in mind that Zelle does not offer the same payment protections as a credit card or of debt. If you are not satisfied with the product or the company engages in fraudulent practices, you may not have the same chances of getting a refund for a Zelle payment. So make sure you only use Zelle with small businesses and service providers you know and trust. If you want more security protection, use a credit card to make your payment.