How to move money out of Robinhood
To withdraw money from Robinhood, you link a bank account, request the transfer through the app or website, and wait for the funds to arrive — usually one to three business days. Robinhood does not charge a fee for withdrawals. The amount you can withdraw is limited to your cash balance, which is the money sitting in your account that is not invested in stocks, options, or crypto. If you have unsettled trades (sales that completed less than two business days ago), that money may not be available to withdraw when ready.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you are withdrawing to a bank account you have already linked or adding a new one. Both routes use the same withdrawal tool, but a new bank account requires verification before the money moves.
Key Takeaways
- You can only withdraw your cash balance, not the value of stocks or other investments you own.
- Robinhood charges no fee to withdraw money to a linked bank account.
- Withdrawals to an already-linked account typically arrive within one to three business days.
- New bank accounts must be verified before Robinhood will send money to them, which can add one to two business days.
- Unsettled trades (completed sales less than two business days old) may be unavailable to withdraw until settlement finishes.
Linking a bank account for the first time
Open the Robinhood app or go to robinhood.com and sign in. Tap the account icon (usually in the bottom right on mobile, top left on desktop) and select "Account" or "Settings." Look for "Linked Banks" or "Bank Accounts" and choose "Add a Bank Account." Robinhood will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number, which you can find on a check, your bank's website, or by calling your bank.
After you enter those details, Robinhood sends two small deposits (usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each) to your bank account. Your bank will show these deposits in one to two business days. You then return to Robinhood and confirm the exact amounts of those two deposits. This verification step proves you own the bank account. Once confirmed, the account is linked and ready to receive withdrawals.
Some banks complete this verification faster than others. If your bank is slow to post the deposits, the linking process can take three to five business days total. Once the account is linked, you will not have to verify it again.
Requesting a withdrawal to a linked account
Open Robinhood and go to your account menu. Select "Transfers" or "Withdraw Cash." You will see your available cash balance — this is the amount you can withdraw right now. Enter the amount you want to send to your bank and confirm which linked bank account should receive it. Robinhood will show you an estimated arrival date, usually one to three business days from the date you request the withdrawal.
Tap or click "Withdraw" to complete the request. Robinhood will send a confirmation, and the money will leave your Robinhood account when ready. The time it takes to arrive at your bank depends on your bank's processing speed, not Robinhood's. Some banks credit transfers the next business day; others take the full three days.
Why your full account balance may not be available to withdraw
Your cash balance is different from your account value. Account value includes the current price of every stock, option, or crypto you own. Cash balance is only the dollars sitting in your account that you have not invested. If you sell a stock, the proceeds do not become available to withdraw when ready — they enter a settlement period that lasts two business days. During those two days, the money is in your account but marked as "unsettled" and cannot be withdrawn.
For example: you sell 10 shares on Monday and receive $500. That $500 is in your account on Monday, but you cannot withdraw it until Wednesday (two business days later). On Wednesday, the trade settles, and the $500 moves into your available cash balance. If you try to withdraw before Wednesday, Robinhood will show you a lower available balance that excludes the unsettled $500.
Options and crypto trades also have settlement periods. Check your "Transfers" or account screen to see which funds are settled and which are still pending.
Withdrawals from a margin account
If you have a margin account (a Robinhood Gold membership that lets you borrow money to invest), your withdrawal rules are stricter. You can only withdraw money that exceeds your maintenance requirement — the minimum cash Robinhood requires you to keep in the account. If you withdraw below that threshold, Robinhood will force you to deposit money back or sell investments to restore it.
Robinhood shows your maintenance requirement and available withdrawal amount in your account settings under "Margin" or "Buying Power." Before you request a large withdrawal from a margin account, check this section to confirm the amount will not trigger a margin call.
What happens if you have pending deposits or transfers
If you have requested a deposit from your bank to Robinhood and it has not arrived yet, that money is not in your Robinhood account and cannot be withdrawn. Similarly, if you have requested a withdrawal and it is still in transit to your bank, you cannot cancel it or reverse it — you must wait for it to arrive and then transfer it back if needed.
Robinhood shows the status of all pending transfers in your "Transfers" or "History" section. You can see which transfers are in progress, which have completed, and estimated arrival dates for each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to withdraw money from Robinhood?
Withdrawals to an already-linked bank account usually arrive within one to three business days. If you are linking a new bank account for the first time, add one to two extra business days for the verification step. The exact timing depends on your bank's processing speed.
Can I withdraw money if I have unsettled trades?
You can withdraw your settled cash balance, but not money from trades that completed less than two business days ago. Check your available cash balance in the Robinhood app to see what you can withdraw right now. Unsettled funds will show separately and become available after the two-day settlement period ends.
Does Robinhood charge a fee to withdraw money?
No. Robinhood does not charge any fee for withdrawals to a linked bank account. Your bank may charge a fee for receiving an incoming transfer, but that is rare for standard transfers.
What if my bank account information changes?
You can remove an old linked bank account and add a new one through the "Linked Banks" section in your account settings. The new account will need to go through the two-deposit verification process before you can withdraw to it.
Can I withdraw money that is invested in stocks?
No. You can only withdraw your cash balance. To access money tied up in stocks, you must sell those shares first, wait two business days for the sale to settle, and then withdraw the proceeds.