Varo doesn’t offer a direct option to load funds by typing in an external debit card number, but you can still move money from a debit card into your Varo account through a few reliable workarounds. The fastest methods involve linking your external bank account through the Varo app or using a digital wallet as a bridge between your debit card and Varo.
Link Your External Bank Account in the App
The most straightforward way to get money into Varo from another bank is by linking that bank account directly. While this connects to the bank account behind your debit card rather than the card itself, it accomplishes the same goal. Inside the Varo app, tap My Varo, then Manage Accounts, then External Accounts, and finally Link an Account. Search for your bank, enter your login credentials in the pop-up screen, and follow any verification prompts. Once linked, your external account and its balance will appear on your Home tab.
From there, you can initiate a transfer from your external bank into Varo. Standard bank-to-bank transfers typically take one to three business days. If you need faster access, Varo supports instant transfers through digital wallets, which usually arrive in under 30 minutes.
Use a Digital Wallet as a Bridge
If you specifically want to use your physical debit card to fund your Varo account, digital wallets like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal are the easiest path. Here’s how it works: load money onto the digital wallet using your debit card, then send that balance to your Varo account.
- Step 1: Open your preferred digital wallet app and add your external debit card as a funding source if you haven’t already.
- Step 2: In the digital wallet’s settings, link your Varo account by entering your Varo routing number and account number (both are found in the Varo app under account details).
- Step 3: Transfer the funds from your digital wallet balance to your linked Varo account.
Varo doesn’t charge fees for instant transfers received through digital wallets, though the wallet itself may charge a small fee depending on how you fund it. Venmo and Cash App, for example, typically charge a percentage when you send money funded by a debit card rather than a linked bank account. The transfer to Varo usually completes in under 30 minutes.
What About Direct Debit Card Deposits?
Some banks and fintech apps let you type in an external debit card number and pull money directly from it. Varo does not currently offer this feature. The app’s funding options are built around linked bank accounts, direct deposit, cash deposits at retail locations, and transfers from digital wallets. If you’ve seen other services advertise “instant debit card funding,” that’s a feature specific to those platforms, not something universally available across all banks.
Other Ways to Fund Your Varo Account
If the digital wallet method feels like too many steps, a few alternatives are worth knowing about. Setting up direct deposit from your employer is the fastest recurring option, and Varo lets you receive your paycheck up to two days early. You can also deposit cash at participating retail stores that work with Varo’s cash deposit network, though those locations may charge a small fee per transaction.
For one-time transfers, a standard ACH transfer from your external bank is free and reliable. Log into your other bank’s app or website, add Varo as an external account using your Varo routing and account numbers, and initiate the transfer from that side. This avoids needing to link credentials through Varo’s app if you prefer to keep things simple. ACH transfers generally take one to three business days to settle.
Keeping Track of Linked Accounts
Once you’ve connected external accounts or wallets, you can manage them all in one place. Go to My Varo, then Manage Account, then External Accounts to view, update, or remove any linked connections. If a linked account triggers an alert (for example, if your bank changes its login flow or your credentials expire), you’ll see a notification there prompting you to re-verify.