What is Venmo?

Venmo is an easy way to pay for things using your cellphone.

Cash is a thing of the past. Trips to the ATM machine are inconvenient and the fees are too expensive. Checks require postal mail, long waits, and trips to the bank. With Venmo, you can pay your friends, family, and favorite shops by simply sending a text message.

Pay by sending a text message. What does that mean?

Venmo works with any cellphone that can send and receive text messages. Payments are made by texting into Venmo's Phone Number - 646.863.9557. You can make payments to any Venmo username or any phone number in the United States & Canada.

• "Pay 10 to 2159088942 for dinner last night"
  

  Text this command into Venmo to transfer $10 dollars to the owner of the phone number 2159088942. Your friend doesn't even have to be on Venmo yet--if she has not yet setup her account, we'll send her and SMS with instructions for claiming her money.

• "Pay 49.53 to jenny for November utilities"
  

  Text this command into Venmo to transfer $49.53 dollars to the Venmo account for the user "jenny". You can leave a message after the payment command to communicate with the recipient. "jenny" will be notified of your payment via SMS.

I run a business, and I want to accept Venmo. How can I do that?

It's really simple. If you have a cellphone that can send and receive text messages, you can accept Venmo right now! Just signup, pick a username, and people can start paying you. Your customers don't even need to register a Venmo account at home in order to pay you. They can complete payment right at your shop using any cellphone with text message capability. Send an e-mail to info@venmo.com for a Venmo Sticker and more details.

How do I fund my Venmo Account Balance so that I can make payments?

There are two ways to fund your Venmo Balance.

• Bank Account. You can transfer funds into your Venmo Balance from a US Checking or Savings account via ACH Direct Deposit. Just add a bank account, verify it, and then make a request to add funds. Please note, it takes 3-5 business days for your Venmo Balance to be credited with the funds your request.
• Credit Card. This works in real-time, and you can add a credit card using the website or by texting "add credit card" into VENMO (646.863.9557). Once you add a credit card to your account, all payments you make will automatically be charged to your credit card if you don't have a sufficient Venmo Balance.

Is Venmo Secure?

Absolutely. Venmo's number one priority is protecting the financial information of all account holders. We take security very seriously, and we securely encrypt all financial data. Please read our Security Statement for more information on Venmo's security policies.

What can I pay for with Venmo?

Lots of things!

• Utility or grocery bills you share with roommates
• Things you buy on CraigsList
• Bar or restaurant tabs you split with friends
• Your babysitter or personal trainer
• ?? - tell us how you use Venmo!

Can I pay people that are not on Venmo?

YES! Just send a payment to their phone number and they will receive the money along with instructions for setting up an account (For example: "Pay 8 to 2159088942 for gas on the road trip").

Can I invoice people on Venmo?

YES! Requesting money from a friend is just as easy as sending it. Try one of these:

• Charge susieQ 30.25 for Jan utility bill
• Charge dad212 80 for textbooks/dorm snacks =)
• Charge joey123 3 for being late to lunch!
• ?? - tell us how you use Venmo!

How do I get my money out of Venmo?

You can pull your money out into any US Checking or Savings account. Just add a bank account, verify it, and then make a request to withdraw funds.

How can I sign up for Venmo?

Right now, you must be invited to Venmo by a friend. Venmo is still in beta, but ask around for an invite because one of your friends probably has an account.