With technology gradually integrating the financial industry, digital payment methods are getting more and more preferred over traditional payment methods and now have become a crucial part of our day-to-day transactions.
Venmo, one of the preferred choices in the market, is a payment service that allows users to send and receive payments safely and conveniently.
Probably, one of the reasons why Venmo is considered one of the best payment services in the market is because it allows users to virtually store funds, in a place called the Venmo balance — where stored funds can be used for money transfers and payments.
However, if you don't meet the requirements to use Venmo balance for transactions, Venmo would, by default, select a payment method linked to your account — usually a debit card or bank account — and users in this position would start wondering how to use Venmo balance instead of card.
Simply put, to use Venmo balance instead of card, you'd definitely need to meet the requirements for using your balance for transactions (which we will mention later in this guide).
That being said, to address this issue, we will show you how to use Venmo balance instead of card or bank account.
Table of Contents
Can I Use Venmo Balance Instead Of Card?
Yes, you can use your Venmo balance instead of card.
You can easily know whether you can use the Venmo balance instead of your card or bank account by navigating to the wallet section of the app.
Also Read: Can I Venmo Myself?
What Are The Requirements To Use Venmo Balance Instead Of Card?
The requirements for using Venmo balance instead of card are straightforward till this point, right?
However, if it is still unclear to you, the requirements for using Venmo balance instead of card or bank include;
- Your account must be verified.
- Your Venmo balance must have sufficient funds to cover the transaction.
Also Read: How To Send Money Anonymously On Venmo
How To Use Venmo Balance Instead Of Card
Knowing the reasons why Venmo does not allow users to use their account balance for sending payments, it should be easier to know what to do in order to be eligible to use the balance.
Most users, however, are always doubting how to know if they are actually eligible to use their balance for making payments.
Thankfully, Venmo makes it even easier to know if you can use your balance for making payments.
To know if you're eligible to use Venmo balance instead of card for making payments;
- Open your Venmo app.
- Go to the "Me" tab.
- Check the "Wallet" section.
- From here, you should see Venmo balance at the top of your screen.
- If you do see it, it means you can use your Venmo balance for transactions.
- If you don't see it, then it means you still aren't eligible to use the balance. In this case, you'd want to meet the requirements for using it.
If you aren't yet eligible to use the balance, Venmo will use your payment method (card or bank account) as a funding source whenever you send payments through the app.
Thankfully, there are two things you can do in order to use the Venmo balance instead of card or bank account, which include;
1. Verify your Identity
Venmo is required by federal law to collect identity information about all its users, which is why verifying your identity on Venmo is more than crucial for using some of the important features of the app — of which the Venmo balance is included.
In most cases where users have access to their balance, Venmo might send them an email telling them that access to their Venmo balance might go away if they don't take action to verify their identity.
According to Venmo, you can still receive payments and transfer the funds to a bank account without access to your Venmo balance, but you won't be able to use the funds in your account to make Venmo payments until you verify your identity.
Moreover, verifying your identity also helps secure your account against fraudulent activities and would make things even easier when recovering access to your Venmo account in case it gets hacked by hackers and spammers on the platform.
To verify your identity on Venmo;
- Open the Venmo app and go to the "Me" tab by tapping your picture or initials
- Tap the Settings gear in the top right.
- Tap "Identity Verification."
- Follow the prompts.
Venmo typically takes a few minutes to verify your identity.
Once your identity has been verified, you should be able to see the balance in the Wallet section where you can add money to it and use Venmo balance instead of card or bank account for your transactions.
Also Read: How To Withdraw Money From Venmo Without Card
2. Make Sure Your Balance Hold Sufficient Funds to Cover the Transaction
Whether you've verified your identity or not, if you don't have enough funds in your balance to cover a specific transaction, you won't be able to use the balance to complete the transaction.
If you don't have enough funds in your Venmo balance and you're looking to make a payment, Venmo will take funds from your linked debit card or bank account to complete the transaction.
If in case you don't have enough funds and still make the payment. However, Venmo might freeze your account until you repay the due amount.
That said, adding money to your Venmo balance is crucial for using it for payments instead of your linked card or bank account.
To add money to Venmo balance:
- Go to the "Me" tab and tap "Manage Balance" in the Wallet section.
- Enter the amount you'd like to transfer and tap "Next."
- Confirm the bank account you'd like to transfer money from, review the transfer information and estimated arrival date, and then tap "Add {amount of transfer} now."
Once the funds arrive in your Venmo balance, you can use them for making payments through your balance.
Also Read: How To Get Money From Venmo Without Bank Account
How To Get Access To Venmo Balance
It is very easy to get access to Venmo balance — however, that would only be, if you meet the requirements for using the balance.
To get access to balance, you'd need to verify your identity on Venmo.
How To Use Venmo Balance To Pay Someone
If you've verified your identity on Venmo, then you can use your balance to pay someone on Venmo.
However, you would need to make sure you have enough money in your balance to cover the transaction in order to use the Venmo balance for making payments.
Why Can't I Use Venmo Balance Instead Of Card To Pay Someone?
Using the Venmo balance to pay someone comes with some requirements, and if you don't meet these requirements chances for you using the Venmo balance for payments are typically out of consideration.
The main reasons why you can't use Venmo balance instead of card for sending payments include;
- Your account isn't verified.
- Your account balance does not have sufficient funds to cover the transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you pay someone with Venmo balance?
Yes, you can pay someone with Venmo balance, but that would only be possible if you have sufficient balance in it to cover the transaction.
How do I pay with Venmo instead of card?
To pay with Venmo balance instead of card, you'd have to verify your identity on the platform.
Can you use Venmo without a card or bank account?
You'd basically need to add a card or bank account to Venmo in order to use the app for making transactions.
Final Thoughts
Venmo makes it easy for users to make transactions through the app without forcefully using the cards or bank account as a direct funding source — that's through the Venmo balance.
However, the Venmo balance isn't available for every user, and to know if you can use the balance, you'd just need to navigate to the Wallet section with a few tabs.
To use the Venmo balance instead of card or bank account, all you'd need to do is verify your identity and make sure you have enough funds to cover the transaction.
Thankfully, this guide compiles everything you need to know about using the Venmo balance instead of card in case you get confused somewhere.
References:
https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/217042588-Money-in-Your-Venmo-Account-and-Venmo-Balance
https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360027356113