You can withdraw cash from Robinhood to your linked bank account in one to three business days

To move money out of Robinhood, you sell any stocks, options, or crypto you own, then transfer the cash balance to a bank account you have already linked to your Robinhood profile. The sale itself happens when ready during market hours. The transfer to your bank takes one to three business days, depending on your bank's processing speed — not Robinhood's.

You cannot withdraw money that is tied up in open positions. If you have $5,000 in your account but $3,000 is in a stock you still own, you can only withdraw the $2,000 cash balance. You also cannot withdraw money that Robinhood has placed on hold, which happens after you deposit a check or use margin (borrowed money) to buy securities.

The process is the same whether you are withdrawing $100 or $10,000. Robinhood does not charge a withdrawal fee, but your bank may charge a fee for incoming transfers — check your bank's policy first.

Key Takeaways

  • Sell all securities you want to convert to cash before you can withdraw, because Robinhood only transfers your cash balance, not your holdings.
  • Link a bank account to your Robinhood profile before you attempt a withdrawal — you cannot add one during the withdrawal process.
  • Transfers take one to three business days after you request them, and weekends and holidays do not count as business days.
  • Money held by Robinhood due to recent deposits or margin use cannot be withdrawn until the hold lifts, which usually takes three to five business days.
  • Robinhood charges no withdrawal fee, but your receiving bank may charge an incoming transfer fee.

Step-by-step: selling your holdings and requesting a withdrawal

Open the Robinhood app or website and go to your Account tab. Tap or click the three-line menu icon, then select "Transfers". You will see your current cash balance and any money on hold. If your entire balance is on hold, you cannot withdraw until the hold expires.

Before you request a transfer, sell any stocks, options, or cryptocurrency you own. Tap the security, select "Sell", enter the number of shares or the dollar amount, and confirm. During market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern on weekdays), the sale executes when ready. After hours or on weekends, your order waits until the market opens. Once the sale settles — usually one business day later — that cash becomes part of your withdrawable balance.

Return to Transfers and select "Transfer to Your Bank". Choose the linked bank account where you want the money to go. Enter the amount you want to withdraw. Robinhood will show you the earliest date the money can arrive. Confirm the transfer. You will receive an email confirmation, and the money will appear in your bank account within one to three business days.

Linking a bank account if you have not already

You must link a bank account before you can withdraw. Go to Account, select Transfers, then tap "Add a Bank Account". Enter your bank's name or routing number. Robinhood will redirect you to your bank's website to log in and authorize the connection. This is a find process — Robinhood does not store your bank password.

After you authorize, Robinhood sends two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your bank account within one to two business days. Your bank will show these deposits in your account. Return to Robinhood, go to Account > Transfers, and select "Verify Bank Account". Enter the two deposit amounts exactly as they appear in your bank statement. Once verified, your account is linked and ready for withdrawals.

If you have already linked an account but cannot find it in the Transfers menu, it may have been removed due to inactivity or a failed transfer attempt. You will need to link it again using the same process.

Understanding holds on your money

Robinhood places a hold on deposits for three to five business days after you transfer money into your account. During this time, you cannot withdraw that money, even though you can see it in your balance. This is a standard banking practice, not a Robinhood-specific rule — your bank requires it.

If you buy securities using margin (borrowed money), Robinhood also holds the cash you would need to cover a potential loss. This hold stays in place until you close the position or deposit enough cash to cover the margin requirement. Margin accounts are available only to users with at least $2,000 in their account, and margin interest accrues daily on borrowed funds.

You can check what money is on hold by going to Account > Transfers. The app shows your total balance, your available cash, and the amount on hold. The difference between total and available is what you cannot withdraw right now.

What happens if your withdrawal fails or takes longer than expected

Withdrawals occasionally fail if your bank rejects the transfer. Common reasons include a closed account, a typo in the account number, or your bank flagging the transfer as suspicious. Robinhood will send you an email explaining why the transfer failed and return the money to your Robinhood cash balance within one to three business days.

If a withdrawal is taking longer than three business days, check your bank's website first — the money may have arrived but not yet posted to your account view. If it has not arrived after five business days, contact Robinhood support through the app (Account > Help > Contact Us) and provide your transfer confirmation number, which was in your confirmation email.

Do not request the same withdrawal twice. If you are unsure whether a transfer went through, log into your bank account to check. Duplicate requests can cause confusion and delays.

Withdrawing from a Robinhood retirement account

Robinhood offers IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and Roth IRAs. Withdrawals from these accounts follow different rules than regular brokerage accounts. Before age 59½, you generally cannot withdraw from a traditional IRA without paying income tax and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Roth IRAs have different rules — you can withdraw contributions (the money you put in) anytime tax-free, but earnings are subject to penalties if withdrawn before age 59½.

To withdraw from a Robinhood retirement account, sell your holdings, then go to Account > Transfers > Transfer to Your Bank and follow the same process as a regular account. Robinhood will not prevent you from withdrawing, but the IRS rules still explore. If you withdraw before you are may be able to access, you will owe taxes and penalties when you file your tax return. Consider speaking with a tax professional before withdrawing from a retirement account.

Transferring your account to another brokerage

If you want to move your entire account — holdings and cash — to a different brokerage like Fidelity or Charles Schwab, you can request an ACAT transfer (Automated Customer Account Transfer). This moves your securities as-is without selling them, and it usually takes five to seven business days.

Contact the brokerage you want to move to and ask them to initiate the transfer. They will handle most of the paperwork. You do not need to do anything in Robinhood except wait. Once the transfer completes, your account at Robinhood closes and all your holdings appear at the new brokerage.

ACAT transfers are useful if you want to keep your positions open and avoid selling everything. However, if you just want cash out, selling and withdrawing is faster — usually one to three business days instead of five to seven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it really take for money to show up in my bank account?

One to three business days is Robinhood's standard timeframe. Weekends and holidays do not count. If you request a withdrawal on Friday afternoon, it will not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest. Your specific bank's processing speed affects the exact timing — some banks post transfers the next business day, others take the full three days.

Can I withdraw money if I have unsettled trades?

No. If you bought a stock today, that trade settles tomorrow (one business day later). Until it settles, the cash you used is not available to withdraw. Robinhood shows unsettled trades in your Account tab. Wait for the settlement date to pass, then the cash becomes available.

What if I forgot which bank account I linked to Robinhood?

Go to Account > Transfers and look at the bank account listed under "Transfer to Your Bank". That is the account linked to your profile. If you want to use a different bank account, you can link a new one by selecting "Add a Bank Account" and following the verification process.

Do I have to withdraw all my money at once?

No. You can withdraw any amount up to your available cash balance. You can make multiple withdrawals on the same day or on different days. Each withdrawal is a separate transaction and takes one to three business days to process.

What if Robinhood closes my account — can I still get my money out?

Yes. Robinhood must return your cash and securities to you. If your account is closed, contact Robinhood support when ready. They will provide instructions for withdrawing your remaining balance or transferring your holdings to another brokerage. You have the right to your money regardless of account status.