The basic process: Robinhood to your linked bank account
To move money from Robinhood to your bank account, you initiate a withdrawal through the Robinhood app or website, select the bank account you linked during signup, and the money arrives in 1 to 3 business days. Robinhood does not charge a fee for this transfer. The amount you can withdraw is limited to your cash balance—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 is not yet available to withdraw.
The linked bank account must be in your name and must be the same account you used to fund your Robinhood account originally. You cannot transfer to a different bank account without unlinking the current one first, which involves a verification step that can add time to the process.
Key Takeaways
- Only your cash balance—money not invested—can be withdrawn; unsettled trades remain locked for two business days after you sell.
- Transfers take 1 to 3 business days and are free, but weekends and holidays extend the timeline.
- Your linked bank account must be in your name and match the account you originally funded Robinhood with.
- If you need to change which bank account receives the money, you must unlink the current one and add a new one, which requires verification.
How to initiate a withdrawal in the Robinhood app
Open the Robinhood app and tap the Account icon (usually at the bottom right). Select "Transfers" or "Withdraw" depending on your app version. Tap "Withdraw" and choose the linked bank account from the dropdown menu. Enter the dollar amount you want to transfer—the app will show your available cash balance at the top so you know the maximum you can move. Review the amount and tap "Withdraw" to confirm.
After you confirm, Robinhood displays a confirmation screen with the expected arrival date. The money does not leave your Robinhood account immediately; it enters a pending state for a few hours while Robinhood processes the request, then moves to your bank. You can check the status of the transfer by returning to the Transfers section and looking for the pending or completed withdrawal.
Withdrawals on the Robinhood website
Log into your Robinhood account at robinhood.com. Click your account name or profile icon in the top right corner and select "Account" or "Settings." Look for "Transfers" or "Withdraw Money." Click "Withdraw" and select your linked bank account from the list. Enter the amount and review the details, then click "Withdraw" to submit.
The website process is identical to the app in terms of timing and requirements. Some users find the website easier to use for larger transfers because the screen is larger, but both routes process at the same speed.
Why your withdrawal might be delayed or blocked
The most common reason a withdrawal fails is that you are trying to move money from unsettled trades. When you sell a stock or option on Robinhood, the sale settles after two business days. Until settlement completes, that cash is not available to withdraw. If you sell on a Monday, the money settles on Wednesday and becomes available to transfer on Wednesday or Thursday. Weekend and holiday delays extend this further—a Friday sale does not settle until Tuesday, making the money available Wednesday at the earliest.
A second reason is attempting to withdraw more than your available cash balance. Your account may show a total balance that includes invested money; the withdrawal screen shows only the cash portion. If the app or website rejects your withdrawal amount, lower it and try again.
A third reason is a mismatch between the bank account you are trying to use and the one linked to your Robinhood account. If you changed banks or want to use a different account, you must unlink the old one first. Go to Account settings, find "Linked Banks" or "Payment Methods," and remove the current account. Then add the new bank account. Robinhood will verify the new account by sending two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to it; you must confirm the amounts in your bank to complete the link. This verification process can take 1 to 2 business days.
How long the transfer actually takes
Robinhood says transfers take 1 to 3 business days, but the actual timeline depends on when you initiate the transfer and your bank's processing speed. A withdrawal submitted on a Tuesday morning typically arrives by Wednesday or Thursday. A withdrawal submitted Friday afternoon may not arrive until the following Tuesday or Wednesday because the weekend does not count as business days, and your bank may have its own processing delays.
Once the money leaves Robinhood (which you can see in your Robinhood transaction history), the arrival time is controlled by your bank's ACH processing, not Robinhood. Some banks credit transfers faster than others. If your bank is slow or if the transfer was initiated late in the day, it may take the full 3 business days. Contact your bank if a transfer does not arrive within 4 business days of when you initiated it.
Transferring money when you have options or crypto positions
If you hold options contracts or cryptocurrency on Robinhood, those positions do not affect your ability to withdraw cash. Only your cash balance is available to move. However, if you have a margin account and have borrowed money from Robinhood (margin balance), you cannot withdraw more than your cash balance minus the margin debt. For example, if your account shows $5,000 cash but you owe $1,000 in margin, you can only withdraw up to $4,000.
If you want to close your Robinhood account entirely and move everything out, you must first sell all positions (stocks, options, and crypto) and wait for the trades to settle. Only then can you withdraw the full cash balance. This process can take several days if you have many positions to liquidate.
What to do if a transfer fails or gets stuck
If your withdrawal shows as pending for more than 4 business days, or if it fails with an error message, contact Robinhood support through the app. Tap Account, scroll to the bottom, and select "Help" or "Contact Support." Describe the issue and include the date you initiated the transfer. Robinhood support can see the status of the transfer on their end and can sometimes push it through manually if it is stuck in their system.
If your bank rejected the transfer, you will see a notification in the Robinhood app. This usually happens because the bank account was closed, the account number changed, or the account is flagged for fraud. Contact your bank to confirm the account is active and in good standing, then try the withdrawal again. If the bank continues to reject it, you may need to unlink the account and add a different one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money the same day I sell a stock?
No. Trades settle two business days after you sell, so the cash is not available until then. A stock sold on Monday settles Wednesday and can be withdrawn Wednesday or Thursday. The two-day settlement rule is set by the financial industry, not by Robinhood.
What if I want to transfer to a different bank account?
You must unlink your current bank account first by going to Account settings and selecting "Linked Banks" or "Payment Methods." Then add the new account. Robinhood will send two small test deposits to verify the new account, which takes 1 to 2 business days. After verification, you can withdraw to the new account.
Does Robinhood charge a fee to withdraw money?
No. Robinhood does not charge fees for withdrawals to your linked bank account. Your bank may charge a fee if you have a checking account with monthly withdrawal limits, but Robinhood's side is always free.
Why does my withdrawal say pending after 3 business days?
Pending status usually clears within a few hours, but if it persists beyond 3 business days, the transfer may be stuck in Robinhood's system or your bank may be processing it slowly. Check your bank account to see if the money arrived anyway. If not, contact Robinhood support with the transfer date and amount.
Can I cancel a withdrawal after I submit it?
If the transfer is still pending in Robinhood (before it leaves their system), you can usually cancel it through the Transfers section. Once it shows as completed or has left Robinhood, you cannot cancel it. Contact Robinhood support immediately if you need to stop a transfer that has already been sent.