How to use Zelle without a bank account

If you are in the United States, you’ve likely encountered individuals and businesses using Zelle to send money or process payments. Fast outpacing Venmo and PayPal, Zelle has registered the highest ever total transaction volume for P2P payments, processing over $1 trillion in 2024 alone. By the end of that year, it already had over 151 million accounts — that’s roughly half the population of the entire United States.¹

Still, there are some who are unable to use Zelle for one reason: they don’t have a U.S. bank account. You see, to sign up, you must have an eligible account from one of the banks in their network. 

This leaves many to ask: Can I use Zelle without a bank account? Is there a legitimate workaround to bypass this restriction?

That’s what we explore in this article. We’ll determine if there are ways you can use Zelle even without a traditional bank account. We’ll also explore other tools, like BOSS Money, which serve as alternatives for sending money internationally.

Can you use Zelle without a bank account?

Officially, no. Zelle explicitly states that individuals or business entities must have a savings or checking account at a U.S. bank or credit union to be able to use Zelle for sending or receiving money. You can’t sign up with only a credit card or wallet. 

However, there are workarounds available. In some rare cases, an eligible prepaid debit card issued by a Zelle partner institution may let you access Zelle services. We’ll explore these in the next section.

Workarounds – How to receive or send money with Zelle without a traditional bank account

There are three potential workarounds for sending or receiving money with Zelle without a traditional checking or savings account: using a debit card, a prepaid card, or an alternative money transfer app.

1. Using a debit card

If you have a debit card from a Zelle member bank, you might be able to use that card for Zelle transfers. Zelle used to have a feature that allowed users to enroll directly with a debit card and phone number via the standalone Zelle app. As long as the card was linked to a valid U.S. bank account and had sufficient funds, it could be used to send money.

However, with the Zelle app discontinued, this feature is no longer available. Now, you must use Zelle through a participating bank's app or website. Even fintechs like Chime, which used to offer partial support through workarounds, are now no longer compatible with Zelle.^4,5

To check if your bank or card supports Zelle, go to Zelle's official partner list and search for your bank or credit union. If your bank is listed and you already have a debit card, link it to Zelle through your bank's mobile app or website, not via a third-party app. 

If your bank isn’t listed, try enrolling directly through your bank’s app or website. If you’re unable to register, the bank or card is likely not eligible. 

2. Using a prepaid card

Zelle doesn’t officially support prepaid debit cards, and most, like Green Dot, Bluebird, or Netspend, will not work. There were exceptions in the past. For instance, the Fifth Third Bank Access 360° reloadable card, issued by a Zelle partnered bank, could sometimes be linked successfully.⁶ Users only needed to enter the account number during registration to activate Zelle transfers.⁷

But with the Fifth Third Bank deactivating Access 360° accounts in 2023, and without the standalone Zelle app, there’s currently no consistent way to use prepaid cards with Zelle.

3. Using an alternative app

Since prepaid and fintech debit cards are no longer reliable for Zelle, the most practical workaround today is to use alternative apps like PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo.

While you can't link Zelle directly to these services, you can:^8,9

• Receive money through PayPal or Cash App,
• Transfer that money to a linked bank account, and
• Then use Zelle via that bank account.

Keep in mind that this process still requires a traditional bank account. Also, this roundabout method involves extra steps and delays.

Security and privacy risks when using workarounds

Before using unofficial workarounds or attempting to access Zelle via unsupported methods, understand that these come with risks. Take caution and watch out for these: 

• Third-party apps or card-linking services that claim to offer “Zelle support” are often scams. They can steal your personal or financial information.
• Using outdated APKs of the discontinued Zelle app exposes your device to malware or unauthorized access.
• Bypassing Zelle's official registration process may violate the terms of service. This can result in frozen funds or permanent bans.
• No dispute resolution or buyer protection is available if you are using unsupported cards or services outside of Zelle's ecosystem.

If you’re linking through a fintech service, ensure the service is FDIC-insured and offers fraud protection. This provides added security while reinforcing trustworthiness.

Prepaid cards that work with Zelle

Zelle does not officially support prepaid cards. But some people were able to work around the restrictions. What prepaid cards work with Zelle? Here are some cards that Reddit users reported to have tried:

• PayPal Debit Card. Some users in 2023 linked it successfully^10,11,12, but that isn’t possible now without the Zelle App.
• Fifth Third Bank Access 360°. Since it was issued by a Zelle partner bank, it worked well with Zelle before it was deactivated.  
• Chime. Used to work, particularly in old accounts. New policies, though, restrict its use.
• Varo, Netspend, Green Dot, and Bluebird. Generally, these are not supported by Zelle. 

In a nutshell, Zelle rarely supports prepaid and debit cards outside its partner network, and functionality can change without notice.

Because of this, Zelle may not be a reliable payment option for those without access to traditional banking services. Cash App, Netspend, and Revolut may be better options for sending and receiving money. 

If you need to send money abroad, your best alternative is BOSS Money. You can download the app for free and create an account using just your mobile phone number and one ID.

Does Zelle have a debit or prepaid card?

So if you see ads for a “Zelle debit card,” they are misleading. Don’t click on those ads.

Final thoughts

Zelle is technically not for people without bank accounts. The only way you can enroll in its services is through a U.S. bank or credit union in the Zelle network. And although it may sometimes work with a few debit or prepaid cards, it definitely does not support credit cards. 

So how to receive money from Zelle without a bank account? You can’t.

To use Zelle, your only options for now are either to use a card from a partner bank or to open a minimal checking account. If you are unable to open any bank account in the United States, your best alternative is to use other P2P platforms or money transfer service providers like Cash App, PayPal, Wise, or WorldRemit.

If you need to receive or send money internationally without a bank account, Zelle definitely isn’t the tool for it. Instead, use a service that doesn’t require a U.S. bank. BOSS Money is one such service that offers fast international money transfers without having to link to a U.S. bank account.

Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of July 28, 2025

1. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/12/zelle-payments-top-1-trillion-in-2024.html

2. https://www.zellepay.com/faq/ive-heard-theres-change-zeller-app-what-happening

3. https://www.zellepay.com/press-releases/were-evolving-how-consumers-send-money-zelle

4. https://www.reddit.com/r/zelle/comments/1kkulis/comment/mrxnd7w/

5. https://www.reddit.com/r/chimefinancial/comments/1i60ejn/is_there_a_way_to_accept_zelle/

6. https://www.53.com/content/dam/fifth-third/docs/legal/cards/fifth-third-access360-faqs.pdf

7. https://www.wikihow.com/Receive-Money-from-Zelle-Without-Bank-Account

8. https://www.wikihow.com/Zelle-to-Cash-App

9. https://www.reddit.com/r/CashApp/comments/1ida2sb/any_way_at_all_to_send_my_cashapp_balance_through/

10. https://www.wikihow.com/PayPal-to-Zelle#

11. https://www.reddit.com/r/zelle/comments/14b9iys/can_zelle_transfer_to_my_paypal_account/

12. https://www.reddit.com/r/zelle/comments/ospnpx/landlord_has_zelle_but_i_have_paypal/

13. https://www.zellepay.com/faq/no-longer-send-receive-money

14. https://www.zellepay.com/press-releases/were-evolving-how-consumers-send-money-zelle

This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.