The basic process: transfer to your bank account
To withdraw money from Robinhood, you transfer cash from your Robinhood account to a linked bank account. The money goes to whichever checking or savings account you connected during setup, and the transfer typically takes one to three business days. You cannot withdraw directly to a credit card, PayPal, or any account other than a U.S. bank account in your name.
The transfer itself is free. Robinhood does not charge a withdrawal fee, though your bank may charge you if you exceed a certain number of transfers per month (this is a bank rule, not a Robinhood rule, and varies by institution).
You can only withdraw cash that is actually in your account — money from recent stock sales, dividends, or deposits you made. You cannot withdraw money that is tied up in open positions (stocks, options, or crypto you currently own) or money that is on hold because of a pending deposit or trade settlement.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals go only to a U.S. bank account in your name that you linked to Robinhood, and take one to three business days to arrive.
- Robinhood charges no withdrawal fee, but your bank may limit how many transfers you can make per month.
- You can only withdraw cash that is settled and available — not money locked in open stock or options positions.
- If your withdrawal is rejected, the most common reasons are a mismatched account name, an incorrect routing number, or insufficient available cash.
- Selling a stock does not instantly free up the cash; stock sales settle after one business day, and options settle after one day as well.
How to start a withdrawal in the app or on the web
Open Robinhood and tap or click the account icon (usually in the bottom right on mobile, top right on desktop). Select "Transfers" or "Account" depending on your version. Look for "Transfer to Your Bank" or "Withdraw" — the exact wording changes between app updates, but it will be in the money movement section.
Enter the amount you want to withdraw. Robinhood will show you how much cash is available right now. If the number is lower than you expected, it means some of your money is still settling or is tied up in positions you own. Confirm the amount and select your linked bank account (if you have more than one). Review the details and submit.
You will see a confirmation screen with an estimated arrival date. Most transfers arrive within one to three business days, but can occasionally take longer if your bank is slow to process incoming transfers. You can check the status of a pending withdrawal by going back to the Transfers section.
Why your withdrawal might be rejected or delayed
The most common reason a withdrawal fails is a mismatch between the name on your Robinhood account and the name on your bank account. Robinhood's system checks that these match exactly. If your bank account is under "John Smith" but your Robinhood account says "J. Smith" or "John Michael Smith," the transfer will be rejected. Contact your bank to confirm the exact legal name on the account, then update your Robinhood profile if needed.
An incorrect routing number or account number will also cause rejection. Double-check both numbers against a recent bank statement or your bank's website. A single digit wrong will fail the transfer. If you are unsure, call your bank and ask them to confirm your routing and account numbers.
Insufficient available cash is another common block. If you sold a stock today, that money is not available until tomorrow (one business day for settlement). If you have a pending deposit, the cash from that deposit is not available until it clears. Check the "Available to Withdraw" amount in the app — that is the only money you can move right now.
If your withdrawal is rejected, Robinhood will send you a notification explaining why. The money stays in your account and you can try again once you fix the problem. If the reason is unclear, contact Robinhood support through the app or website.
Understanding settlement and why you cannot withdraw immediately after selling
When you sell a stock on Robinhood, the sale settles the next business day. This means the cash from that sale is not in your account and cannot be withdrawn until one full business day has passed. If you sell on a Monday, the cash is available Tuesday. If you sell on a Friday, the cash is available Monday (assuming the market is open).
Options settle on the same timeline — one business day. Cryptocurrency trades settle instantly on Robinhood, so crypto proceeds are available to withdraw right away (though you still need to initiate the withdrawal, which takes one to three days to reach your bank).
This delay is not a Robinhood rule; it is a federal requirement for stock and options trades. All brokers operate under the same settlement window. If you need cash urgently, you can deposit money into Robinhood from your bank account instead of waiting for a sale to settle.
Linking a new bank account if your current one no longer works
If your linked bank account is closed, compromised, or you simply want to use a different account, you can add a new one. Go to Account settings, find "Linked Bank Accounts" or "Transfer Methods," and select "Add Bank Account." Enter your new routing and account numbers, and confirm the account name matches your Robinhood profile exactly.
Robinhood will verify the new account by making two small test deposits (usually under $1 each) to that account. You will need to confirm the amounts of those deposits in the Robinhood app within a few days. Once confirmed, the new account is active and you can withdraw to it. You can keep multiple bank accounts linked and choose which one to use for each withdrawal.
If you want to remove an old linked account, go to the same section and select the account, then choose "Remove" or "Delete." You cannot delete an account if a transfer to it is currently pending, so wait for any in-progress transfers to complete first.
Tax considerations when withdrawing
Withdrawing cash from Robinhood does not trigger a tax event by itself. You only owe taxes on gains when you sell an investment at a profit. Withdrawing the proceeds of that sale does not create additional tax — the tax was already owed when you sold.
If you sold investments at a loss, those losses can offset other gains and reduce your tax bill. Keep records of all your trades, including the dates and prices, because you will need them when you file taxes. Robinhood provides a tax document (Form 1099) at the end of the year if you had taxable events, and you can also download your transaction history from the app anytime.
Withdrawing money you deposited (your own cash, not investment gains) is never taxable. Only the gains on investments are subject to tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a withdrawal actually take?
Robinhood processes the withdrawal request immediately, but your bank takes one to three business days to receive and post the money. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a withdrawal requested on Friday may not arrive until Tuesday. Some banks are faster than others; check with yours if you are waiting longer than three days.
Can I withdraw money if I have unsettled funds or pending deposits?
You can only withdraw money that is fully settled and available. Pending deposits and unsettled trades do not count. The "Available to Withdraw" number in your account shows exactly what you can move right now. Wait for deposits to clear and trades to settle before attempting a withdrawal of that money.
What if I want to withdraw more than I have available?
You cannot withdraw more than your available balance. If you try, the withdrawal will be rejected. If you need more cash, you can deposit additional money from your bank account, or sell some of your investments and wait for them to settle the next business day.
Can I cancel a withdrawal after I submit it?
If the withdrawal is still pending (has not reached your bank yet), you can usually cancel it through the Transfers section of the app. Once your bank has received and posted the money, you cannot cancel it through Robinhood — you would need to contact your bank. Check the status of your transfer in the app to see if cancellation is still an option.
Do I have to withdraw all my cash at once?
No. You can withdraw any amount up to your available balance, and you can make multiple withdrawals. There is no minimum withdrawal amount, though your bank may have its own rules about small transfers. You can withdraw $10 today and $500 tomorrow if you want.