In this article:
- How Can I Withdraw Money From My Checking Account Without a Debit Card?
- Where Do I Find My Routing Number and Account Number?
- How Much Money Can I Withdraw From a Checking Account?
If you've lost your debit card or simply prefer not to carry one, you still have options for getting cash from your checking account. Read on to find out how to access cash without a debit card.
How Can I Withdraw Money From My Checking Account Without a Debit Card?
Getting money from your checking account when you don't have a debit card can be easy or a little more complicated depending on your approach. The most straightforward options involve visiting a bank branch or other physical location in person.
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Banks place a high value on protecting their customers, so be prepared to show a government-issued ID like a driver's license or passport, enter a password or PIN, and possibly even share a particular phrase created for security purposes when you opened the account.
Some simple ways to withdraw money without a debit card include the following:
- Cash a check at your bank. This involves writing a check for the amount you need and visiting a bank branch to retrieve funds.
- Cash a check at a store. Some supermarkets and other types of stores will cash your check for you for a fee.
- Use a withdrawal slip at a bank branch. You can visit your bank and fill out a form with your account information and amount you want to take out and present it to a teller.
- Work with a bank teller. Let the teller know you don't have a card, and they can walk you through the bank's process of retrieving money from your account.
In addition to the options above, there are other ways to get money from your account without a debit card. One option gaining popularity is cardless ATMs. They use near-field communication (NFC) technology to help customers gain access to their money without the hassle of keeping physical cards, similar to using a card in your digital wallet to pay at the grocery store.
To take advantage of this option, you'll need a cellphone and your bank's app downloaded on your phone. To get cash at an ATM, you'll sign in to the banking app on your phone and hold the phone up to the ATM's NFC receiver. Once the machine confirms it has your information, you can use the ATM exactly like you would if you had inserted a debit card. Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo are just a few banks that offer cardless or "tap" ATM access.
If you prefer to use a physical card but yours was lost or stolen, your bank likely can provide you with a temporary card while you wait for your permanent replacement, which usually takes about a week. Additionally, if you have a debit card for an account with a different institution, you might be able to transfer money between accounts and withdraw money that way too if necessary.
Where Do I Find My Routing Number and Account Number?
If you don't have access to a debit card but still need to withdraw money from the account it's linked to, you may need to know the routing and account numbers associated with the account. There are a few ways you can find this information.
- Checkbook: If you have a physical book of checks, you can find the routing and account numbers at the bottom of the check. You'll see three groups of numbers: On the far left is your routing number, in the middle is your account number and on the right is your check number.
- Online banking: You can access your bank account online and look for the account and routing numbers there. If you have trouble finding them, search the help section of the site or contact a service rep.
- Mobile app: You can usually find your account and routing numbers on your bank's mobile app.
- Bank: If you go to a bank branch with appropriate identification, a teller or bank representative can give you your routing and account number.
How Much Money Can I Withdraw From a Checking Account?
When you have to put in the extra effort to withdraw money because you don't have a debit card, it may make sense to take out a little more cash than you need at the time. However, there might be some limits on how much money you can take out depending on the method you use.
If you make a trip to a physical branch of your bank and connect with a teller, you can usually take out more than you could from an ATM (though not more than you have in your account). If you opt to withdraw money at an ATM, you will likely have a maximum amount you can withdraw. ATM withdrawal limits depend on which bank you use and what type or "level" account you have. Some banks allow withdrawals as high as $2,000, but most banks set a limit of around $300 to $1,000. You can always check with your bank to see what your limit is.
Not having a debit card can present some challenges when you need to get cash, but thankfully, there are plenty of options to help as long as you know where to look.
