How to use Zelle

Written by: Andrew Dunn
• Updated •2 min read
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Young woman sitting on sofa in living room, transferring funds on a tablet using Zelle.Image: Young woman sitting on sofa in living room, transferring funds on a tablet using Zelle.

In a Nutshell

Zelle is a payment service that lets you quickly send money to friends or family, often directly within your mobile banking app. Zelle doesn’t charge for the service — though other fees like your wireless provider’s texting charges or regular banking fees like insufficient funds charges can still apply. All you’ll need to send money on Zelle is the recipient’s email address or cellphone number.
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If you need to quickly split a bill or pay a friend back for dinner, Zelle might be one of the quickest and easiest options.

Zelle is a service that allows you to send, receive or request money — often within your bank’s mobile app. All you need to do to send money is enroll with Zelle, enter the recipient’s email address or mobile number, and hit send. Typically, Zelle doesn’t charge for the service, and it monitors transactions and takes other measures in an effort to keep payments secure.

What is Zelle?

Zelle is an online service for sending and receiving money that you can use with your family and friends. Your bank, credit union, or financial institution may already have Zelle as part of its smartphone app as a way to quickly transfer money. If your bank doesn’t use the service, you can download the Zelle app to access the platform.

With Zelle, you can send, receive or request money with just a cellphone number or email address. Funds come from your personal bank account and go directly into the recipient’s bank account.

How Zelle works

To get started with Zelle, first try your current bank’s mobile app. Hundreds of banks across the country have partnered with the company to offer payments through the platform, linked to your debit card or checking account. Keep in mind: Only U.S. accounts are eligible.

If your bank uses Zelle, look for instructions on its website or mobile app for how to enroll. You may be able to enroll in Zelle using your online banking username and password. If your bank doesn’t use Zelle, you may be able to download the Zelle app on the Apple iOS App Store or the Android Google Play store, and link it to a Visa or Mastercard debit card.

Either way, you’ll use an email address or mobile number to enroll with Zelle. This will be key to sending and receiving money.

About the author: Andrew Dunn is a veteran journalist with more than a decade of experience as a reporter and editor at North Carolina news organizations, including the Charlotte Observer and the StarNews in Wilmington. In those roles,… Read more.