How to Send Money to Friends and Family on Facebook

What Facebook's Money Transfer Feature Does

Facebook lets you send money directly to friends through Messenger, the chat app that comes with your Facebook account. The money moves from your bank account or debit card to theirs, and it typically arrives within one to three business days. You do not need to exchange cash, write a check, or use a separate payment app — you set it up inside Messenger itself.

This feature is called Facebook Pay, and it works on both the Facebook app and the standalone Messenger app. The money goes peer-to-peer, meaning directly from one person to another, not through Facebook as a middleman. Facebook does not hold the money or charge you a fee to send it.

Key Takeaways

• You send money through Messenger by tapping the payment icon, entering an amount, and choosing your payment method — usually a debit card or linked bank account.
• The recipient must have a U.S. bank account and be at least 18 years old; Facebook verifies their identity before they can receive money.
• Transfers usually land in the recipient's account within one to three business days, though some banks process faster.
• Facebook does not charge a fee to send money, but your bank may charge a fee depending on your account type and the transfer method you use.
• You need a valid payment method on file — a debit card, credit card, or linked bank account — before you can send your first transfer.

Setting Up Your Payment Method in Messenger

Before you send money, you need to add a way to pay. Open Messenger and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Payments. You will see an option to add a payment method. Tap it and choose either a debit card or a bank account.

If you choose a debit card, enter the card number, expiration date, and the three-digit security code on the back. If you choose a bank account, you will enter your routing number and account number — you can find both on a check or by logging into your bank's website. Facebook will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under a dollar each) and asking you to confirm the amounts. This takes one to two business days.

Once your payment method is verified, you can send money. You do not have to add a new method for each transfer — Facebook saves it and uses it each time you send money until you change it.

How to Send Money Step by Step

Open Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to send money to. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a row of icons. Look for a plus sign (on iPhone) or a dollar sign (on Android). Tap it.

A menu will pop up. Tap Payments or Send Money — the exact wording depends on your phone and which version of Messenger you have. Enter the dollar amount you want to send. Review the amount, then tap Pay or Send. Messenger will confirm the transaction and show you a receipt with the date and time.

The money leaves your account right away, but it may take one to three business days to show up in the recipient's bank account. Some banks process transfers faster — you can check with your bank to learn their typical timeline. You will receive a notification in Messenger when the transfer is complete.

What Happens on the Recipient's Side

The person receiving money does not have to do anything to accept it. They will get a notification in Messenger letting them know money arrived. The funds go straight into the bank account they linked to their Facebook account.

If the recipient has not set up a payment method yet, they will be prompted to do so before they can receive money. They need to provide a U.S. bank account and pass Facebook's identity verification. This means they will need to confirm their legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Verification usually takes a few minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours in some cases.

Once verified, the recipient can receive money from anyone on Facebook. They do not have to send money back to you or do anything special — the transfer is one-way unless they choose to send you money separately.

Fees and Costs You Should Know

Facebook does not charge you a fee to send money through Messenger. However, your bank may charge a fee depending on the type of account you have and how you send the money. Some checking accounts include unlimited free transfers, while others charge per transaction. Call your bank or check your account agreement to learn what applies to you.

If you use a credit card instead of a debit card or bank account, some credit card companies treat peer-to-peer transfers as cash advances, which come with higher fees and interest rates. Using a debit card or bank account avoids this problem.

The recipient's bank may also charge a fee for receiving a transfer, though this is less common. If you are sending money to someone at a smaller bank or credit union, ask them whether their bank charges for incoming transfers.

What to Do If a Transfer Goes Wrong

If you sent money and it has been more than three business days, check your bank account to confirm the money left. If it did, contact the recipient's bank — the delay is usually on their end. If the money never left your account, the transfer may have failed. Open Messenger, go to your payment history, and look for the transaction. Tap it to see the status.

If a transfer shows as failed or pending, tap it and look for an option to retry or cancel. If you cannot find the transaction in your history, or if the status is unclear, contact Facebook's support team through the Help Center in the Messenger app. Go to your profile picture, tap Help & Support, then Report a Problem. Describe what happened and include the date and amount of the transfer.

If money was sent to the wrong person by mistake, contact that person and ask them to send it back. Facebook cannot reverse a completed transfer — the money belongs to the recipient once it lands in their account. If the recipient refuses to return it, you may need to pursue the matter outside of Facebook.

Security and Privacy Considerations

Facebook encrypts your payment information, meaning it is scrambled so that only Facebook and your bank can read it. Facebook does not store your full card number or bank account number — they store a token, which is a stand-in code that lets them process transfers without keeping your actual account details on file.

Only send money to people you know and trust. Once a transfer is complete, you cannot undo it. If someone asks you to send money through Messenger and you are not sure who they are, do not send it. Scammers sometimes impersonate friends or family by hacking their accounts or creating fake profiles.

If your Messenger account is hacked, someone else could send money from your account. Protect yourself by using a strong password, turning on two-factor authentication in your Facebook settings, and checking your payment history regularly. If you notice a transfer you did not make, report it to Facebook right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send money to someone who does not have Facebook?

No. The recipient must have a Facebook account and a verified bank account linked to it. You can only send money to people on your Messenger friends list.

What if my bank account is not in the United States?

Facebook Pay currently works only with U.S. bank accounts. If you have a U.S. account, you can use it even if you live abroad. If your only account is outside the U.S., you cannot send or receive money through Messenger.

Is there a limit to how much money I can send?

Yes, but the limit varies by account and payment method. Most accounts can send between $1 and $20,000 per transaction, with a weekly limit of around $20,000. Your bank may have its own limits as well. Check your bank's transfer limits or contact them if you need to send a larger amount.

Can I send money to a business or a group?

No. Messenger money transfers are for sending money to individual people only. You cannot send money to a business account, a group chat, or a Facebook Page.

How do I cancel a transfer after I send it?

If the transfer is still pending, you may be able to cancel it through your payment history in Messenger. Tap the transaction and look for a cancel option. Once a transfer is complete and the money has reached the recipient's bank, you cannot cancel it — you would need to ask the recipient to send the money back.