The Basic Steps to Move Money Out of Robinhood
To withdraw money from Robinhood, you go to the Account menu, select "Transfers", then choose "Withdraw". You'll pick a linked bank account, enter the amount, and confirm. The money moves to your bank account in one to three business days. Robinhood doesn't charge a fee for withdrawals, but your bank may charge you for receiving an incoming transfer — check your bank's policy first.
The process is straightforward if you've already linked a bank account. If you haven't, you'll need to add one before you can withdraw. Robinhood verifies new bank accounts with two small deposits, which takes a few business days. Once verified, you can move money out whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals go through the Account menu under Transfers, and money reaches your bank in one to three business days.
- You must link a bank account to Robinhood before you can withdraw, and new accounts take a few days to verify.
- Robinhood charges no withdrawal fee, but your bank may charge you for receiving the transfer.
- You can only withdraw cash you have in your account — you cannot withdraw unsettled funds or the value of stocks you own.
- If you have an unsettled trade, you may need to wait for settlement before withdrawing the full amount.
Linking a Bank Account for the First Time
When you first set up Robinhood, you may have funded your account with a bank transfer, but that doesn't automatically let you withdraw. You need to formally link the account through Robinhood's system. Go to Account, then Transfers, then select "Link a bank account" and follow the prompts. You'll enter your bank's routing number and your account number.
Robinhood will send two small deposits to your bank account — usually under $1 each. These deposits appear in your bank statement within a few business days. You then return to Robinhood and confirm the exact amounts of those two deposits. Once you do, your bank account is verified and you can withdraw.
This verification step exists to prove you own the bank account. It prevents someone from linking an account that isn't theirs and stealing your money. The two deposits are free, and you don't need to return the money — it stays in your bank account.
Understanding Settled vs. Unsettled Cash
Settled cash is money that's fully yours and ready to move. Unsettled cash is money from a recent sale that Robinhood is still processing. When you sell a stock, the trade settles in two business days. Until it settles, that money counts as unsettled and you cannot withdraw it.
Your Robinhood account shows both numbers. "Cash" or "Available to withdraw" is what you can move out right now. "Unsettled funds" is what you're waiting on. If you try to withdraw more than your settled cash, Robinhood will reject the request. You'll need to wait for the trade to settle or withdraw a smaller amount.
This rule exists because stock trades don't complete when ready — the exchange needs time to confirm the sale and move the money. Until that happens, Robinhood can't may provide the money is yours to take out.
Withdrawal Timing and What to Expect
Once you submit a withdrawal request, Robinhood sends it to your bank within one business day. Your bank then processes it, which usually takes one to two more business days. So the total time is typically one to three business days from the moment you hit "confirm".
Weekends and holidays slow this down. If you withdraw on a Friday evening, your bank may not receive the request until Monday, and then it takes another one to two days to process. If you withdraw on a holiday, the clock doesn't start until the next business day.
You can check the status of a withdrawal in the Transfers section. Robinhood shows whether it's pending, in progress, or complete. Once it shows complete on Robinhood's end, the money is on its way to your bank — it may take another day or two to appear in your account.
Fees and Limits on Withdrawals
Robinhood does not charge you to withdraw money. There is no withdrawal fee, no processing fee, and no minimum or maximum withdrawal amount. You can withdraw $10 or $10,000 — Robinhood's cost to you is zero.
Your bank, however, may charge you. Some banks charge a fee for receiving an incoming wire transfer or ACH transfer. This is rare with ACH transfers (which is what Robinhood uses), but it happens. Check your bank's fee schedule or call them before you withdraw, especially if you're using a smaller bank or credit union.
Robinhood also has no daily or monthly withdrawal limit. You can withdraw multiple times in a single day if you want. The only limit is the amount of settled cash in your account — you cannot withdraw more than you have.
What Happens If Your Withdrawal Fails
A withdrawal can fail if your bank account information is wrong, if your bank rejects the transfer, or if your bank account is closed. When this happens, Robinhood will show the withdrawal as failed in your Transfers section. The money returns to your Robinhood account within a few business days.
If a withdrawal fails, check that your bank account number and routing number are correct in Robinhood. You can edit these in the Account settings. If the information is correct but the withdrawal still fails, contact your bank — they may have rejected it for a reason like a closed account or a fraud alert.
Once you fix the problem, you can try withdrawing again. Robinhood will not charge you for a failed withdrawal, and your bank should not either (though some banks do charge for failed transfers — check with yours).
Withdrawing When You Have Margin or Unsettled Trades
If you use Robinhood Gold or Robinhood Margin, your withdrawal rules are stricter. You can only withdraw cash that exceeds your margin requirement. If you've borrowed money to buy stocks, Robinhood holds some of your cash as collateral. You cannot withdraw that collateral.
For example, if you have $5,000 in your account and you've borrowed $2,000 to buy stocks, you may only be able to withdraw $3,000 or less, depending on your margin requirement. Robinhood shows your "available to withdraw" amount, which already accounts for this. Trust that number — it's the true amount you can move out.
If you have unsettled trades, the same rule applies. You can only withdraw settled cash. Wait for your trades to settle, or withdraw less money and leave the unsettled amount alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it really take to see the money in my bank account?
Robinhood sends the withdrawal within one business day, and your bank processes it in one to two more business days. Most withdrawals land in your account within two to three business days total. Weekends and holidays add time — a Friday withdrawal might not show up until Wednesday.
Can I withdraw money while I have pending stock orders?
Yes. Pending orders don't affect your ability to withdraw settled cash. You can withdraw money even if you have buy orders waiting to fill. However, if you've already bought stocks and the trade hasn't settled yet, you cannot withdraw that unsettled cash.
What if I want to close my Robinhood account and take all my money out?
Withdraw your cash through the normal process, then sell any stocks you own. Once everything is sold and settled, withdraw the remaining cash. After that, you can delete the app or log out. Robinhood doesn't require you to formally close the account — once it's empty, it's inactive.
Can I withdraw to a different bank account than the one I linked?
No. Robinhood only withdraws to the bank account you've linked and verified. If you want to withdraw to a different account, you'll need to link that account first and wait for it to verify (two to three business days). You can link multiple accounts, but each withdrawal goes to whichever one you select at the time.
What if Robinhood shows I have cash but won't let me withdraw it?
This usually means the cash is unsettled. Check your Transfers section — it should show unsettled funds separately. Wait for those trades to settle (two business days after the sale), then try again. If the cash shows as settled and you still can't withdraw, contact Robinhood support — there may be a hold on your account.