Key Takeaways
- You can set up Cash App without a Bank Account, but you will face some drawbacks.
- Users can get money off Cash App without a typical credit or debit card by using a Cash App Card.
- Cash app allows for money withdrawal and other services without a bank account or card.
Businesses adapt to the fast-paced environment as technology continues to evolve. Keeping an eye on transactions remains an integral aspect of growth and capacity. Today, cashless payments provide more convenience, transparency, and efficiency. Everyone is turning to virtual cards and e-payment apps from debit and credit cards.
At the height of the pandemic, online payment apps have become a go-to option for many. E-commerce has flourished as more businesses and consumers shop online. Moreover, financial markets have seen a dramatic increase in capital inflows. For instance, most crypto transactions go through e-payment apps.
Because of these developments, the fintech market expanded to $7.3 billion last year. Small and big businesses turned increasingly to payment apps such as Cash App. Because it was easy to get money off Cash App even without linking a bank account, it enjoyed a larger volume of transactions.
The increasing popularity of Cash App made it a serious contender against big digital payment platforms such as Zelle and Venmo. With that in mind, we will discuss the basics of Cash App and how to enjoy it even without a bank account.
Table of Contents
ToggleOverview of Cash App
Cash App, or Square Cash, is a mobile payment and money transfer service app created in 2013 by Block, Inc. The service allows users to send and receive money instantly similar to Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal.
However, this app has unique features for personal and business transactions. For instance, users do not have to create a bank account to get money off the Cash App. Instead, the app can serve as a bank account and a debit card users can access at ATMs.
Merchants have no limits when using Cash App business accounts. Small businesses, especially startups, will find it to be more convenient because they do not need to reach high transaction volumes.
Knowing how to get money off the Cash App without a bank account is also more straightforward for them. Since safety and protection from fraud are some challenges that many small businesses face, it is a huge help that Cash App has robust safety and protection policies. It combines encryption with fraud detection technologies to secure data and money.
Better security requires a user to input a one-time code sent via SMS or email. It also includes a Security Lock found in its settings. This security option provides an extra layer of protection against potential fraud. It asks to input the password before completing every transaction.
Additionally, you can use Cash App in the stock and cryptocurrency market. It is good that users can enjoy some of its investment services for free. It started to join Bitcoin (BTC) buying and selling. But, keep in mind that the funds are not FDIC-insured since it is not a typical bank in essence. As such, it can be troublesome when your money gets lost even in the absence of fraud. Despite this, Cash App remains a user-friendly and secure app.
How Cash App Has Grown Since its Start
Cash App has started to expand and keep up with their toughest competitors in recent years. From peer-to-peer transactions, it extended to businesses and investments.
Two years after its initial release, Square made Cash App available for companies in the US. This move marked its path towards monetization as it charged 1.5% per transaction. Meanwhile, it remained a true friend for many users. Personal transactions on Cash App, except withdrawals, were still free of charge.
It also extended its features to banking with the debut of Cash App card in 2017. It provided many users with debit cards. In that way, they would no longer have to be wary of using their phones for transactions.
As of 2020, seven million or almost 20% of users have a Cash App card. Despite the low percentage, users can still get cash off Cash App, even without a bank account. Small businesses can receive payments but will need one for larger transactions. Do you need a bank account for the Cash App? This part will be discussed in more detail in the succeeding parts.
In 2018, it entered the flourishing cryptocurrency market. With its Bitcoin trading features, a Cash App user can send BTC to another user using their $cashtag. They can deposit BTCs from one source and withdraw them to another wallet. This expansion led to the skyrocketing values of revenues and profits. They amounted to $400 million and $194 million, respectively.
Cash App was popular because it was more lenient and efficient with its instant BTC buy-and-sell feature. Also, BTC transactions do not have to be listed on the blockchain. But, it imposed tight restrictions on minors, so they could not join the trading.
In 2019, Cash App revenues and profits more than tripled and reached $1.3 billion and $457 million, respectively. It was able to capitalize on growth through its prudent expansion while remaining efficient.
Meanwhile, users grew by eight times, from three million to 24 million while the number of Cash App card owners reached 3.5 million. Indeed, it made a wise decision when it launched $Cashtags as it enabled Cash App to manage costs better and improve customer contribution. From 1Q to 2Q 2019, growth has been evident, showing its sustainability.
Cash App in the New Normal
The pandemic fueled development in Cash App. Most businesses had to operate at limited capacity and most people stayed home. Online businesses became trendy, which further increased the demand for cashless transactions. Additionally, capital inflows in the stock and crypto market sped up. Hence, the volume of e-payments and contactless cards rose faster than projected.
Bitcoin remained the primary growth driver of Cash App, comprising 76% of its revenues. Overall, the operating revenue was almost $6 billion in 2020, a 353% annual growth rate. In the same year, it enabled US residents to buy and sell stocks at $1.
Like most stock trading platforms, Cash App follows the standard market hours. Participants can manage it from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm EST from its investing section. But like BTCs, stock trading is not available to minors on the app.
Right now, the Cash App still has a lot of catching up to do with its peers. Even so, its increasing popularity continues to pay off. It will likely continue to expand, given that 65% of the population in the US may bank online in 2022.
As of 3Q 2021, the accumulated operating revenue is $9.8 billion. Cash App is currently only available in the US and the UK, but there is a good chance it will expand to other countries, so that figure may rise exponentially in the next few years.
Cash App remains convenient yet secure, from P2P payments to business and investment. As long as you live in the US or the UK, you may enjoy it for free. Cash App also ensures the legitimacy of its business users. It is constantly improving its security and detection features to prevent illicit activities such as the illegal drug trade and gambling on its platform.
Before deciding to use Cash App, you should familiarize yourself with its features. Here are some important things to know before creating a Cash App account.
Cash Withdrawal from the Cash App
Cash withdrawal from the Cash App is straightforward. It does not require a user to link a card or a bank account. Even so, it is better to do so to enjoy more features and smoother transactions (more on that later). Here are the basic things you ought to know when withdrawing money from the Cash App.
How Do You Withdraw Money From the Cash App?
Assuming the account has a linked card or bank account, here are the steps you must always follow when withdrawing funds from the Cash App.
- Open the app on your mobile device. Cash App can be opened either on iPhone or Android phones.
- Go to the lower part of the screen and tap the Banking tab. It looks like a bank or a house. It will redirect you to the Cash Balance page, where you can see your available funds. Once you are there, tap the Cash Out button to proceed with the withdrawal.
- It will show a menu tab that will let you enter the amount you want to withdraw. You will see that the default amount there is your current balance. You can withdraw the whole amount if you want to. Otherwise, delete it and input your desired amount.
- Once you have entered the amount, go to the bottom part of the screen and tap Cash Out.
- Another menu tab will appear on the screen. It will ask for your preferred withdrawal method. If you choose the Standard option, you will have to wait for one to three banking days. For urgent withdrawals, you can choose the Instant option. Once done, the amount you withdraw will instantly reflect in your bank account. But, it has an additional withdrawal fee of 25 cents.
How Long Will it Take to Receive the Amount Withdrawn
The withdrawal duration depends on the option you select. Of course, the lower the fee, the slower the processing time, the longer you have to wait. Standard withdrawal may take a few days to transfer funds to your bank account. You will have to wait for at least one banking day to receive it. But, this option is free of charge. Meanwhile, the Instant option will send you the money instantly for a withdrawal fee of 25 cents.
But sometimes, the withdrawal will not be settled as soon as expected. As such, you must always check the withdrawal or payment status. To do so, open the app on your device and tap the Activity tab on the home screen. From there, tap the transaction you want to check. It will show you the complete transaction details. Likewise, other payment activities have the same process when verifying their status.
Can I Use a Cash App Without a Bank Account?
Yes, users can enjoy Cash App without a linked bank account, which is good news for those that do not have a bank account or would rather not link it to a third-party app. Because of this facility, users can send and receive money to and from your customers using the app alone.
However, not linking a bank account to your Cash App account has its drawbacks. Without a linked bank account, the service cannot verify your account, leading to some restrictions on its features. Typically, unverified accounts will have limits to the transactions they can perform.
For instance, an unverified account can only send a maximum of $250 a week and receive a maximum of $1,000 a month. Verifying the account by linking a bank account to the Cash App will increase these ceilings. If you want to use Cash App for business, you will most likely need to verify your account.
Aside from linking a bank account, verifying your account requires providing some personal details such as your full name and birthday. You will also have to put in the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
Advantages of Cash App for Small Businesses |
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Advantage #1 | Cash App protects a user against fraud. |
Advantage #2 | It allows buying and selling of stocks and Bitcoin. |
Advantage #3 | It allows making transactions even without a linked card or bank account. |
How Can You Get Money From the Cash App Without a Bank Account?
Withdrawing cash from Cash App even without a linked bank account is possible. But keep in mind that it is always better to link a bank account, especially if you use it for business. In that way, you can navigate the Cash app without restrictions. Also, cash transfers are faster and have no issues most of the time.
To receive money without a linked bank account, you must open the app and tap the Activity tab. Check the pending payment tab and click Accept. Since you do not have a bank account, the amount will go to the Cash App wallet. You may send the amount to your friend. Once received, you can cash out through their Cash App card.
Here is the step-by-step process to cash out from the Cash App even without a bank account.
- Open the Cash App on either iPhone or Android.
- Go to your cash balance by tapping the My Cash/Cash Balance or $ tab.
- When the menu tab pops out, input the amount you want to send.
- Tap the Pay tab and continue the transaction.
- Choose the name of the recipient from your contact list.
- Input a note for the payment before tapping the Pay tab.
- Input the PIN or scan your finger on the screen for identity confirmation.
- Once received, notify your friend and cash out through his Cash App card.
How to Get Money off Cash App Even Without a Card?
You can withdraw cash even if you do not have a Cash App card. That is why you may transact with or without a linked bank account. Note that you cannot enable direct deposits if you do not have an activated Cash App card.
With a Cash App card, you can receive $25,000 for every deposit and up to $50,000 in 24 hours. If you do not have one, your best option is to send the money to someone you trust with an activated Cash App card. You should not have a hard time finding one as there are seven million Cash App card owners as of 2020.
Once sent, you may then request your recipient to withdraw the money using their card. The standard withdrawal duration applies to all Cash App card holders. For the Standard option, you will need to wait at least one banking day before you can withdraw. For the Instant option, you can go have your recipient cash out, but it will cost you $0.25.
Another option is to withdraw money from your account with the help of certain retail shops. These include Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar, CVC, and Target. These shops support Cash App payments and load funds to Cash App accounts. Here are the basic steps to get money off Cash App even without a card.
- Open the Cash App either on your iPhone or Android.
- Tap the My Cash/Cash Balance or $ tab to go to your Cash Balance and tap Cash Out.
- When the menu tab appears, input the amount you want to send and tap the Cash Out option.
- From the menu screen, select your preferred duration- Standard or Instant.
- Scan your finger or input the PIN for identity confirmation.
How to Receive Money without a Bank Account?
There are two ways to receive money on Cash App. You may send requests to your contact or accept payments. Here are the steps to send a request to your customers.
- Open the app on any mobile device, iPhone, or Android phone.
- Go to the bottom part of the screen. Tap the My Cash/Cash Balance or $ tab to go to your Cash Balance.
- Input the amount to receive and tap the Request tab.
- Choose the name of the person to whom you want to send the request. You can look up the name on the list or input the details.
- Check the lower part of the screen and tap the Request tab.
Here are the basic steps to accept payments even without a linked bank account.
- Open the app on any mobile device, iPhone or Android.
- Tap the clock icon on the bottom-right part of the screen to go to the Activity page.
- Check the pending payments list. Check if there are requests that are not completed yet.
- For your first-time customers, there are Accept tabs beside their names. To receive their payment, tap the Accept button.
- Once done, you will see a menu tab pop out on the screen. You will have to tap the Confirm button before tapping the Done button. It will confirm that you would like to receive their payment.
- Should these customers send money again, you will not have to confirm their payments. These will go to your in app account.
How To Avoid Charges?
You can avoid charges on the Cash App if a card or bank account is linked to your account. Always choose the Standard option when you withdraw money. However, you may need to wait up to three banking days before the money is available on your bank account.
For urgent withdrawals, be ready to pay a 1.5% transaction fee or $0.25, whichever is higher. The good thing is that your bank account will reflect the money you withdraw immediately.
The good thing about not having a linked bank account to your Cash App is you don’t have to worry about charges. This is because you cannot cash out or send money to your bank account or card. Extra fees will apply if you make Instant withdrawals through the card of one of your contacts.
Summary
More companies and consumers are adapting to cashless payments in the new normal. Cash App is one option for cashless payments that have advantages for both personal and business uses. It provides users with security and convenience and compares favorably to other apps such as Apple Pay and PayPal when it comes to fees and costs.
In the following years, more and more will turn to e-payments. Likey, Cash App will become even more popular for cashless transactions.
Did you find this article useful? You might want to check out other articles on Due, especially our retirement guides. Due specializes in helping people make smart financial decisions to ensure a secure and happy retirement. If you want to know more about annuities, pension plans, or insurance, reach out to the experts.
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Chris Porteous is an entrepreneur and business consultant. His entrepreneurial prowess started at an early age, building and selling custom PCs online at the age of 12. From there Chris started a finance site, Derailed Capitalism, writing about all things finance and markets. As the site grew, he leveraged that into a position at Garrison Hill Capital Management, where he focused on macro-based trades. From there, he became more interested in leveraging his finance background to develop technology to help small businesses. With the launch of SearchEye, Chris consults with 100s of like-minded entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business online. In his “spare” time, Chris contributes to various publications, including: entrepreneur.com, business.com, lifehack.org, AdWeek and zerohedge.com. Chris is an expert on various financial matters, and has extensive experience with finances and cash app, making him a great author for this article.