Zelle is a payment method that allows you to easily, quickly, and securely send money from your own bank account to anyone you choose.
If your bank offers Zelle, you need the other person's email address or phone number.
Surely you have read or have been told about Zelle, but what is Zelle? It is an excellent peer-to-peer (P2P) payment tool, which makes it easier and faster to send money. Similarly, a very useful option, along with Paypal, Venmo, and other mobile payment options.
Zelle is a product launched in 2007 by Early Warning Service LLC, a financial technology company owned by seven of the largest banks in the United States:
Origin of Zelle
Bank of America.
BB&T (now Truist).
Capital one.
JPMorgan Chase.
PNC Bank.
US Bank
Wells Fargo.
This app replaces one that came out in 2011 called clear Xchange. It was sold to EWS in 2016, but they discontinued it to prioritize Zelle as their new product.
According to an Early Warning survey, financial institutions using Zelle see a 12% reduction in check writing, consistently a 2% decrease in the number of checking account customers switching banks, and a 5% improvement at the Reputation Institute of the bank or credit union.
How do you pronounce Zelle?
Regarding how Zelle is pronounced, many people pronounce Zelle [zele], Zeellee [zili], or Zellee [zeli] but the same company indicates that it is pronounced Zelle [zell].
As a recommendation, when you go to ask about Zelle at your bank, for example, keep in mind how Zelle is pronounced so that they can serve you better.
Zelle app: how does it work?
To use the Zelle app, you must be registered or registered in the network of affiliated banks. To give you an idea of how the Zelle app works, this app allows you to send money directly from your bank account to someone else's bank account, free of charge.
How to send money by Zelle?
How does Zelle work with regard to sending money? Below we show you the steps you must follow to send money through this application:
You choose who you are going to pay with Zelle.
Make sure your bank or credit union offers Zelle.
If so, use their website or mobile app to sign up and use Zelle.
If your financial institution offers Zelle, it usually appears as an option in the Transfers menu on the app or website.
If not, just download the Zelle app and sign up for an account there.
Ask your friend for the email address or phone number linked to the Zelle account.
You choose the amount to send.
Send the money.
Who can I send money to with Zelle?
When it's your turn to use the app you should be sure to who you can send money with Zelle. Indeed, you can send money to whoever you want as long as it is trustworthy, including:
Relatives.
Friends.
Small companies.
Suppliers.
Clients pay companies.
What if the person I'm sending money to doesn't have an account with Zelle?
If the sender does not have a Zelle account, they will receive a text or email indicating how to get the money.
Which banks use this app?
Zelle does not work as a standalone app, as far as which banks use Zelle, this app is compatible with almost all major banks, most of which have the service integrated into their mobile banking app.
Some of the main banks that have Zelle among their applications are the following:
Bank of America
BB&T (now Truist)
Capital one
JPMorgan Chase
PNC Bank
U.S. bank
Wells Fargo.
It should be added that this application was founded by banks, for banks, therefore, it helps financial institutions of all sizes to offer a digital payments function.
Is using Zelle safe?
Compared to handling cash and mailing bills or checks, Zelle is considered a safer option for moving money quickly and efficiently. In addition, the company promotes its security in the sense that the bank already protects your personal financial data. As we have seen above, the application site explains to you well what Zelle payments are like.
However, we consider that you should take into account some recommendations:
Make sure you have chosen the person to whom you should send the funds, as this application performs the operations in a matter of minutes, and it cannot be canceled once you send it.
Similarly, the speed of the transfer makes it a target for criminals.
Zelle does not have fee protection, so if you are a victim of a scam there may be no way to recover those funds through Zelle.
If your account is hacked, Zelle recommends you contact your financial institution to see if you can report the fraud and get your money back.