You can create a Cash App account in just a few minutes by downloading the app on your phone or visiting cash.app on a computer. The service is available to anyone 13 or older in the United States or the United Kingdom, though minors need a parent or guardian to sponsor their account. Here’s everything you need to set up your account, verify your identity, and start sending money.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather these items before opening the app so the process goes smoothly:
- A phone number or email address you can access right away, since Cash App sends a confirmation code during signup
- A Visa, Mastercard, or Discover debit card to link for funding transactions (credit cards are not supported for the initial setup)
- Your legal name and date of birth as they appear on official documents
You do not need a bank account to create a Cash App account, but linking one later lets you transfer your Cash App balance to your bank.
Step-by-Step Account Creation
Download Cash App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also go to cash.app on a desktop browser and click “Sign up.”
Enter the phone number or email address you want tied to your account. Cash App will send a one-time confirmation code to that phone number or email. Open the message, grab the code, and type it into the app.
Next, add your debit card details: the card number, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), expiration date, and your zip code. Then enter your legal name, date of birth, and zip code.
You’ll be asked to choose a $cashtag. This is a unique username, like a handle, that other people use to find you and send you money. Pick something memorable because it becomes your public identifier on the platform. Finally, create a PIN to secure the app on your device. That’s it. Your account is live.
Verifying Your Identity
Cash App lets you use a basic account right away, but verifying your identity unlocks much higher transaction limits. During verification, you’ll be asked to provide your legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number (or ITIN if you have one instead).
In some cases, Cash App may request additional documentation: your full SSN or ITIN, your residential address, an unexpired government-issued photo ID, or proof of income and source of funds. This typically happens if you’re sending larger amounts or using features like direct deposit and bitcoin trading.
Verification usually takes just a few minutes when you provide the last four digits of your SSN. If Cash App asks for a photo ID, you’ll snap pictures of the front and back of your driver’s license or passport through the app, and processing can take a bit longer.
Account Limits Before and After Verification
The difference between an unverified and verified account is significant. Without verification, you can send and receive a combined total of $1,000 within any rolling 30-day period, and your account has a lifetime cap of $1,500. Your stored balance can’t exceed $1,000.
Once verified, your sending limit jumps to $40,000 per rolling 30-day period, and your cash balance becomes unlimited. Receiving limits for verified accounts vary and are set on a per-account basis. You can check your specific limits anytime by going to the “Limits” tab under your account settings.
If you plan to use Cash App for anything beyond occasional small payments, verification is worth doing immediately. The $1,000 rolling cap on unverified accounts can be hit quickly if you’re splitting rent, paying a contractor, or receiving payments from several people in the same month.
Setting Up an Account for a Teen
Anyone aged 13 to 17 can have a Cash App account, but it must be sponsored by an eligible parent or guardian. The sponsoring adult needs their own verified Cash App account first. From there, the parent initiates the process by inviting their teen through the app and approving the new account.
Sponsored accounts carry the same $1,000 rolling 30-day limit as unverified adult accounts. The sponsoring parent can monitor activity and manage permissions through their own app.
Where Cash App Works
Cash App is available in the United States and the United Kingdom. Core features like sending payments, adding funds, and withdrawing money only work within those two countries. If you travel outside the US or UK, you won’t be able to use most Cash App functions until you return.
Linking a Bank Account
After your account is active, linking a bank account lets you move money between Cash App and your checking or savings account. Open the app, tap the profile icon, select “Linked Banks,” and follow the prompts to connect using your bank login credentials or routing and account numbers. Transfers from Cash App to a linked bank account are free with standard speed (one to three business days) or available instantly for a small fee.
You can also set up direct deposit through Cash App, which gives you a routing and account number to share with your employer. This can be useful if you want paychecks deposited directly into your Cash App balance without needing a traditional bank account at all.