In the US, Venmo has become a leading digital payment wallet with way more than 55 million users. So if you are heading off to shop and are hoping to use your Venmo balance instead of a traditional debit or a credit card, then how does one do that? The steadily growing company was acquired by PayPal in 2013 and has evolved to grow into an app that can help you pay and accept payments from people, shops, and apps.
In this article, we will be looking at how to use a Venmo balance instead of a card in case you are out shopping and have forgotten to bring your card or cash.
Also read: Can you Venmo yourself?
Check your Venmo balance
If you don’t set your Venmo history to private or friends, it will remain public in the Social Feed, visible to everyone. Since Venmo also issues a Mastercard Debit Card, only those users who qualify for this card can directly add money from a bank account to their Venmo balance. Thus, every purchase they make will be deducted from their Venmo balance. Hence, having a bank account linked to your Venmo profile is important and one can only do this if their identity has been verified by Venmo.
If you still want to check whether you have money in your Venmo account, then follow the steps given as follows in the Venmo app:
- Open the Me tab by tapping on your profile photo or initials and then tap on the Wallet section.
- You can tap on your profile picture and head to settings. Open Payment Methods option.
Either way, if you are shown a Venmo balance on top then you might have some money in your Venmo wallet as a result of someone’s payment to you or a refunded amount. In case you are not shown a Venmo balance, then you will have to head to settings again to tap on Identity Verification. This is an important step without which you will not be able to use Venmo balance.
Updating and using Venmo
However, if you are already past this stage you must be wondering how to add money to your Venmo account so you can use the same instead of a card or cash. Follow the steps given below to learn how to add money to your Venmo wallet from your bank account which might take three to five business days to reach your wallet:
- Again, head to the Me tab.
- In the Wallet section, tap on Transfer Balance or Manage Balance.
- Enter the amount that you would like to have in your Venmo wallet and follow the instructions as they come on your screen to confirm your bank account and other information.
Once initiated, a transfer to your Venmo wallet from your bank account cannot be canceled midway. Contact Venmo’s support if the money does not arrive in five business days.
You can now use your Venmo balance at checkout counters, on apps, or on websites that will have a Venmo QR code if they accept Venmo’s payment methods. The Venmo Debit Card is also valid everywhere a Mastercard is accepted in the US.
If Venmo can cover the complete cost of your purchase then it uses Venmo balance to deduct the amount, or else it will direct the charge to your other preferred methods of payment.
Also read: How to unfreeze Venmo account?
