Zelle is a fast, easy, and secure way to send and receive money with friends, family, and others you trust. It allows you to instantly transfer money between bank accounts in the U.S. using just an email address or U.S. mobile number – no checks or cash required.
Over 1,000 banks and credit unions offer Zelle integrated into their mobile banking apps and online banking platforms. It’s already available to over 100 million consumers nationwide.
Table of Contents
Zelle Weekly Spending Limits
Zelle has weekly sending and receiving limits in place as a security measure and to prevent fraud.
If your bank or credit union offers Zelle, the sending and receiving limits may be higher based on your account history and activity. It’s best to contact your bank directly to find out the specifics on limits for your account.
If your financial institution does not yet integrate Zelle, here are the standard weekly limits when using the Zelle app:
- Sending limit: $500 per week
- Receiving limit: $5,000 per week
These limits cannot be changed if you are only using the Zelle app without a bank.
Increasing Your Zelle Weekly Limit
If your bank or credit union partners with Zelle, you may be able to increase your weekly sending limit by taking the following steps:
1. Contact your bank
Reach out to your bank’s customer support team or visit your local branch. Ask about increasing the weekly sending limits for Zelle transfers from your account specifically.
Banks set their own limits based on factors like account history, tenure, and more. Providing details on your intended use case and transfer amounts can help support your request.
2. Verify your identity
Banks need to verify identities to prevent fraud when increasing limits on money transfers. Be prepared to provide identifying documents like:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- Recent bank statement
- Social Security Number
3. Build your transaction history
If you are a newer customer, the bank may want to see a consistent history of smaller Zelle transfers before raising limits. Continue using Zelle within your existing limits to demonstrate intended usage.
4. Upgrade your account
Some banks offer higher Zelle limits with premium checking accounts or for private banking clients. Upgrading your account type could allow bigger weekly transfers.
5. Try a different payment service
If your bank denies your request to increase limits, you may need to split payments over multiple weeks or use an alternative service like Wire transfers for bigger amounts.
Tips for Using Zelle Safely
When using Zelle or any money transfer app, be sure to take precautions around security and fraud prevention:
- Only pay people you know and trust – Never send money to strangers.
- Confirm recipient details – Double check the email address or phone number to ensure accuracy.
- Use strong and unique passwords – Don’t reuse passwords across multiple sites.
- Set up alerts – Receive notifications for all payment activity.
- Review bank statements regularly – Catch any unauthorized transfers right away.
Alternatives to Increase Limits
If you need to send larger payments than Zelle permits on a regular basis, some alternatives to consider include:
- Wire transfers – Banks can send domestic or international wire transfers in high amounts, though fees apply.
- Cashier’s checks – These checks clear quickly and offer more security features over personal checks.
- PayPal – Offers various tiers and account types with higher sending capacities.
- Venmo – Popular peer-to-peer payment app with weekly sending limits over $4,999.
The key is finding the right fit for your unique financial needs and usage. Evaluate the convenience, security, fees, and speed to determine the best money transfer platform.
With some planning ahead and communication with your bank, you can likely increase weekly limits to send bigger Zelle payments when needed. Just be sure to always use money transfer apps safely by only transacting with trusted recipients.