Selling Stock on Webull: How Long Does It Take to Get Your Funds? A Comprehensive Guide
So, you've decided to sell some of your investments on Webull. Congratulations on making a strategic move in your financial journey! Whether you're taking profits, rebalancing your portfolio, or simply need the cash, understanding the timeline for when your funds become available is crucial. It's not as simple as clicking "sell" and seeing the money instantly appear in your bank account. There's a process involved, known as settlement, and then the subsequent withdrawal. Let's break it down step-by-step.
Step 1: The Instant Gratification of the Sale (and what it really means!)
Did you just hit that "Sell" button and see your order execute? Fantastic! At this point, your stock has been sold on the open market. You'll see the proceeds reflected in your Webull account balance almost immediately. However, this money is considered "unsettled cash." Think of it like a check that's been deposited but hasn't cleared yet. You see the balance, but you can't necessarily spend it or withdraw it just yet.
Engage the user: Isn't that a bit of a tease? You see the money, but it's not truly yours to move! Don't worry, we'll get you to the spendable cash soon enough.
Step 2: Understanding the Settlement Period: T+1 Explained
This is where the core of the "how long does it take" question lies. The financial industry operates on a settlement cycle. This is the time it takes for the ownership of the securities (your sold stock) to officially transfer from you to the buyer, and for the corresponding cash to transfer from the buyer to your brokerage account.
Sub-heading: The T+1 Rule
For most US stock, ETF, and options trades, the settlement period is T+1.
T stands for "Trade Date" – the day you executed your sell order.
+1 means "plus one business day."
So, if you sell your stock on a Monday (Trade Date), the funds will officially settle on Tuesday, provided Tuesday is a business day and not a holiday.
Example:
Monday: You sell your shares of XYZ Corp.
Tuesday: The trade settles. The funds are now "settled cash" in your Webull account.
Sub-heading: What if there's a holiday or weekend?
It's important to remember that "business days" exclude weekends and public holidays. If you sell on a Friday, the settlement won't occur until the following Monday. If there's a holiday on Monday, it would then settle on Tuesday.
Example:
Friday: You sell your shares of ABC Inc.
Saturday: Not a business day.
Sunday: Not a business day.
Monday: The trade settles.
Another Example (with a holiday):
Thursday: You sell your shares of DEF Co.
Friday: Not a business day (assume a holiday like Good Friday).
Saturday: Not a business day.
Sunday: Not a business day.
Monday: The trade settles.
Step 3: Accessing Your Settled Funds within Webull
Once the settlement period is complete (T+1), the funds from your sale are no longer "unsettled." They are now considered settled cash in your Webull account. At this point, you have a couple of options:
Sub-heading: Reinvesting Your Funds
You can immediately use your settled cash to buy other stocks, ETFs, or options on Webull. This is one of the primary reasons the T+1 settlement exists – to allow traders to quickly redeploy their capital without waiting for external bank transfers. Webull's platform is designed for this kind of efficient re-investment.
Sub-heading: Initiating a Withdrawal
If your goal is to move the cash out of Webull and into your personal bank account, you can initiate a withdrawal request after the funds have settled.
Step 4: The Withdrawal Process: Getting Cash to Your Bank
Even after your funds are settled in Webull, the actual transfer to your external bank account takes additional time. Webull typically uses ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers for withdrawals to linked bank accounts.
Sub-heading: ACH Withdrawal Times
Processing Time: Once you initiate an ACH withdrawal on Webull, it usually takes 2-3 business days for the funds to process and appear in your linked bank account.
Bank Processing: Your bank also has its own processing times, which can sometimes add a day, but typically the 2-3 business day estimate from Webull accounts for this.
Example:
Monday (Morning): You sell stock.
Tuesday (Morning): Funds settle in Webull. You initiate an ACH withdrawal.
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: Funds appear in your bank account.
Sub-heading: Factors Affecting Withdrawal Speed
While 2-3 business days is the general rule, a few things can influence the actual time:
Bank Holidays: If there's a bank holiday during the withdrawal period, it will extend the time.
Time of Day: Initiating a withdrawal late in the day might mean it gets processed the next business day. There's often a daily cutoff time (e.g., 4:00 PM EST).
Bank Verification: Ensure your linked bank account is fully verified with Webull. Any issues here can cause delays.
Large Withdrawals: Very large withdrawals might trigger additional security checks, though this is less common for standard ACH transfers.
Recent Deposits/Transfers: If you've recently deposited funds via ACH, Webull might place a temporary hold on withdrawals from those funds to prevent issues like "good faith violations" or to ensure the initial deposit clears fully. Assets transferred via ACATS (transferring an entire brokerage account from another firm) may also have a withdrawal hold period of up to 30 days.
Step 5: Monitoring Your Transfer
Webull provides tools to track the status of your withdrawals.
Sub-heading: Checking Status on Webull App/Desktop
On the Webull mobile app, you can usually go to "Transfers" and then "Recent Activity" to see the real-time updates on your withdrawal's progress and estimated settlement date.
Similar options are available on the desktop and web platforms.
It's always a good practice to periodically check the status to ensure everything is proceeding as expected.
Important Considerations & Best Practices
Understanding "Buying Power": When you sell a stock, the unsettled cash may contribute to your "buying power" almost immediately, allowing you to place new trades. However, this is not the same as having settled cash available for withdrawal.
Good Faith Violations (GFV): Be mindful of GFV rules, especially in cash accounts. If you sell a stock and then immediately use the unsettled proceeds to buy another stock, and then sell that second stock before the first trade has settled, you could incur a GFV. While Webull helps manage this, understanding the settlement cycle prevents accidental violations.
Wire Transfers (Faster, but Fees): For urgent withdrawals of larger sums, Webull may offer wire transfers. These are generally faster (often same-day or next-business-day) but typically incur a fee. Check Webull's fee schedule for details.
Customer Support: If you experience unexpected delays or have questions about a specific transaction, don't hesitate to contact Webull's customer support.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to sell a stock on Webull?
You can sell a stock on Webull by navigating to the stock's detail page, tapping the "Trade" button, selecting "Sell," entering the quantity and order type (e.g., Market, Limit), and then confirming your order.
How to check if my funds are settled on Webull?
You can typically check your settled funds by looking at your "Available to Withdraw" balance or by going to the "Transfers" section and checking "Recent Activity" or a similar option which often distinguishes between settled and unsettled cash.
How to withdraw money from Webull to my bank account?
To withdraw money, open the Webull app, go to "Transfers," select "Withdraw," choose your linked bank account, enter the amount, and submit the request.
How to link a bank account to Webull for withdrawals?
You can link a bank account by going to your account settings or the "Transfers" section in Webull, selecting "Deposit" or "Withdraw," and then following the prompts to add and verify your bank account using instant verification (Plaid) or manual entry.
How to avoid good faith violations (GFV) on Webull?
To avoid GFVs, ensure you only use settled cash to make new purchases that you intend to sell quickly, or simply wait for your initial trades to fully settle (T+1) before using the proceeds for subsequent purchases and sales.
How to tell if a stock trade has settled on Webull?
Your Webull account statement or the "Recent Activity" in your "Transfers" section will typically indicate when a trade has officially settled. Your "Available to Withdraw" balance will also increase to reflect the settled funds.
How to get my money faster from Webull after selling a stock?
The fastest way to get your money into your bank account is usually via wire transfer, which Webull may offer for a fee. Otherwise, the T+1 settlement followed by a 2-3 business day ACH transfer is the standard.
How to view my Webull withdrawal history?
You can view your withdrawal history within the Webull app or on the desktop platform by navigating to the "Transfers" or "Account" section and looking for a "History" or "Recent Activity" tab.
How to cancel a pending withdrawal on Webull?
Depending on the stage of processing, you might be able to cancel a pending withdrawal through the Webull app's "Recent Activity" section. However, once it's moved beyond a certain point, it may not be possible to cancel. Contact Webull support immediately if you need to cancel an active withdrawal.
How to contact Webull customer support for withdrawal issues?
You can typically contact Webull customer support via phone, email, or through their in-app or web-based help center. Look for a "Help" or "Support" section within the platform for contact details.
