Merging Venmo accounts is not a direct feature offered by Venmo. Unlike some other platforms where account consolidation is possible, Venmo treats each account tied to a unique email address and phone number as a separate entity. Therefore, there isn't a straightforward "merge" button or process you can follow.
However, if you find yourself managing multiple Venmo accounts and want to consolidate your activity and funds, there are workarounds and steps you can take to effectively achieve a similar outcome. This comprehensive guide will walk you through these methods step-by-step.
Let's start with the most crucial first step: Identify Your Goal.
Before diving into any actions, take a moment to clearly define what you want to achieve by "merging" your accounts. Are you looking to:
- Consolidate Funds? You want all your money to reside in one primary Venmo account.
- Centralize Transaction History? You want a single place to view all past payments and requests.
- Simplify Payments? You want to use just one account for sending and receiving money.
- Close Redundant Accounts? You want to eliminate unused or unnecessary Venmo profiles.
Once you have a clear understanding of your objective, you can choose the most appropriate steps from the guide below.
Step 1: Identify and Gather Information for All Accounts
This is a foundational step. You need to have a clear picture of all the Venmo accounts you intend to consolidate.
1.1. List All Email Addresses and Phone Numbers
Make a list of every email address and phone number associated with your various Venmo accounts. This will help you keep track of them.
1.2. Log In and Note Balances
Log in to each Venmo account individually and note down the current balance in each. This is crucial for ensuring you transfer all your funds correctly.
1.3. Review Transaction History (Optional but Recommended)
Briefly review the transaction history of each account. This might be helpful if you need to remember specific past transactions or identify important contacts associated with a particular account.
1.4. Identify Linked Bank Accounts and Cards
Note down the bank accounts and debit/credit cards linked to each Venmo profile. You'll need this information later when deciding which accounts to close and where to transfer funds.
Step 2: Choose Your Primary Account
Decide which of your existing Venmo accounts you want to be your main, active account going forward. Consider the following factors when making this decision:
- Email Address/Phone Number: Choose the one you use most frequently or prefer to be associated with your financial transactions.
- Linked Accounts: If one account already has most of your preferred bank accounts and cards linked, it might be a convenient choice.
- Transaction History: If one account has a more relevant or important transaction history, you might prefer to keep it as your primary one.
Once you've made your decision, clearly identify this as your "Primary Account".
Step 3: Transfer Funds from Secondary Accounts to the Primary Account
This is the core of the consolidation process. You will need to manually transfer the balances from your other ("Secondary") Venmo accounts to your chosen Primary Account.
3.1. Access Your Secondary Account
Log in to one of your Secondary Venmo accounts.
3.2. Initiate a Transfer
Tap the "$" icon (usually at the bottom of the screen) to access your Venmo balance. Then, select the option to "Transfer to bank" or a similar wording.
3.3. Link a Bank Account (If Necessary)
If the Secondary account doesn't already have a bank account linked, you'll need to add one. Ensure it's a bank account that is also (or will be) linked to your Primary Venmo account for ease of transfer.
3.4. Enter the Amount
Carefully enter the full balance you want to transfer from the Secondary account to your linked bank account.
3.5. Confirm the Transfer
Review the details and confirm the transfer. Be aware that standard transfers can take 1-3 business days to reach your bank account. Instant Transfers might be available for a small fee.
3.6. Repeat for All Secondary Accounts
Repeat steps 3.1 through 3.5 for each of your remaining Secondary Venmo accounts, transferring their balances to your linked bank account.
3.7. Transfer Funds from Bank to Primary Account
Once the funds from your Secondary accounts have reached your bank account, log in to your Primary Venmo account. Use the "Add or Transfer" option (often found under your profile or settings) to add funds from your linked bank account to your Primary Venmo balance.
Step 4: Manage Linked Bank Accounts and Cards
Now that you've consolidated your funds, it's time to organize your linked payment methods.
4.1. Review Linked Accounts on Your Primary Account
Ensure your Primary Venmo account has all the necessary bank accounts and debit/credit cards linked that you intend to use.
4.2. Remove Duplicate or Unnecessary Linked Accounts from Secondary Accounts
Once the balances are transferred and you are sure you won't need the Secondary accounts anymore, you can remove the linked bank accounts and cards from them for security purposes. This is usually done within the settings or payment methods section of each account.
4.3. Consider Linking Useful Payment Methods to Your Primary Account
If any of your Secondary accounts had unique payment methods linked that you want to continue using, ensure you add them to your Primary Venmo account.
Step 5: Close Your Secondary Accounts
Once you've transferred your funds and managed your linked accounts, you can proceed to close the Secondary Venmo accounts you no longer need.
5.1. Ensure Zero Balance
Double-check that the balance in each Secondary account you intend to close is $0.00.
5.2. Navigate to Account Settings
Log in to the Secondary account you want to close. Go to the account settings or profile section. The exact location of the "Close Account" option might vary slightly depending on updates to the Venmo app, but it's usually found under security or account preferences.
5.3. Follow the Account Closure Process
Venmo will likely ask you to confirm your decision and may provide some information about what happens when you close your account. Read this carefully before proceeding.
5.4. Confirm Closure
Follow the on-screen prompts to finalize the closure of your Secondary account. You might need to verify your identity or provide a reason for closing.
5.5. Repeat for All Secondary Accounts
Repeat steps 5.1 through 5.4 for each of the remaining Secondary Venmo accounts you want to close.
Important Considerations:
- Username Uniqueness: Venmo usernames are unique. If your Secondary accounts have usernames you'd prefer to use on your Primary account, you might need to close the Secondary account first and then see if the username becomes available (this is not guaranteed).
- Transaction History: Remember that closing a Venmo account will also mean losing access to its transaction history within the app. If this is important, consider taking screenshots or notes of past transactions before closing.
- Friends and Connections: Your friends and connections are tied to each individual Venmo account. When you switch to your Primary account, you'll need to ensure you're connected with the right people there. They might see you as a new user if they were only connected to your other account.
- Payment History and Trust: Over time, your Venmo account builds a history that can influence trust and ease of transactions with others. Starting fresh with a less used account as your primary might require rebuilding that trust network.
- Venmo Business Profiles: If any of your accounts are set up as business profiles, the closure process and implications might be different. Refer to Venmo's specific guidelines for business accounts.
How to... Frequently Asked Questions:
How to transfer money from one Venmo account to another directly?
Quick Answer: There is no direct feature to transfer funds between two Venmo accounts you own. You need to transfer the funds to a linked bank account from one Venmo account and then add them to the other Venmo account from the same bank.
How to link a bank account to my Venmo?
Quick Answer: Go to your profile, tap "Payment Methods," and then "Add bank or card." Follow the on-screen instructions to link your bank account using your online banking credentials or manual verification.
How to close a Venmo account?
Quick Answer: Go to your profile settings, usually under "Account" or "Security," and look for the "Close Account" option. Follow the prompts to confirm the closure. Ensure your balance is $0 before closing. #### How to remove a bank account or card from Venmo? *Quick Answer:* Go to your profile, tap "Payment Methods," select the bank account or card you want to remove, and then tap "Remove" or a similar option. #### How to find my Venmo balance? *Quick Answer:* Your Venmo balance is usually displayed prominently on the main screen or when you tap the "$" icon at the bottom of the app.
How to see my past Venmo transactions?
Quick Answer: Tap the "Transactions" feed (often the home screen or a dedicated icon) to view your history of payments and requests.
How to change the email address or phone number on my Venmo account?
Quick Answer: Go to your profile settings and look for the "Email" or "Phone" section. You can edit the information there, and Venmo will likely require verification.
How to merge transaction histories from two Venmo accounts?
Quick Answer: Venmo does not offer a feature to merge transaction histories. The history is tied to each individual account. You might consider taking screenshots for your records before closing an account.
How to transfer my friends list from one Venmo account to another?
Quick Answer: There is no automatic way to transfer your friends list. You will need to manually find and re-add your friends on your new primary account.
How to recover a closed Venmo account?
Quick Answer: Recovering a closed Venmo account is generally not possible. Once closed, the account is deactivated. If you need to use Venmo again, you will need to create a new account.