How To Withdraw Money From Varo Without a Card

Are you looking to withdraw cash from your Varo account but don't have a card on your person? While it can be a bit tricky, fortunately, it's possible to withdraw money from Varo without a card so long as you have a friend who uses a Varo card or you have another bank account to which you can transfer money and withdraw.

However, as of October 2021, there is no way to withdraw money from Varo without a card in the strict sense, as the mobile bank doesn't offer cardless withdrawals. In this guide, we explore some helpful tips for getting money out of Varo without a card and weigh up practical alternatives to use instead.

Does Varo Offer Cardless Withdrawals?

Simply put, you cannot use a cardless ATM to withdraw money from Varo if you don't have your debit card on you.

Despite having access to free withdrawals from over 55 thousand ATMs nationwide (around 19 thousand of which offer cardless withdrawal services¹), it's currently not possible to withdraw money from any of these machines without a card because Varo hasn't yet rolled out the functionality to process these types of transactions.

As such, the only way to withdraw cash from Varo is using your debit card at an ATM or over-the-counter* at most major banks or credit union branches, in which case you'll also be required to show your debit card.

* Up to a maximum of $1,000 per day.

Option 1 — Use Another Account or Card

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This one is pretty obvious. If you don't have a Varo debit card, you'll more than likely have another card to withdraw money from an ATM. This can either be a debit card linked to a bank account at another bank or a credit card.

If you have a second debit card, you can even transfer money from your Varo account to the associated bank account via ACH or bank wire (although this process can take up to two days to complete) after linking your account via Plaid². Once the transfer has arrived, you'll be able to withdraw money from an ATM via debit card using cash that had initially been from your Varo account.

However, naturally enough, this method won't work if you've lost or forgotten your entire wallet along with your Varo card!

What You'll Need

1. An account and card from another bank or
2. A credit card.

Option 2 — Ask a Friend To Do It for You

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If you have a friend who uses Varo themselves and is ready and available to help, then asking them to withdraw the money for you is an excellent option if you don't have a Varo card yourself.

To get the job done, all you need to do is go to the Move Money button on the Varo mobile app, select Varo to Varo transfer, enter the amount and your friend's details, and then tap Send Money to instruct the transfer.

The good part of this method is that not only are transfers between Varo users free of charge, but they're also instant, meaning you can send your friend some cash and ask them to withdraw it for you using their card quickly and cheaply. However, be mindful that you can only transfer up to 50 times per day and up to $2,000 per 30-day period³.

What You'll Need

1. A friend;
2. A Varo account with sufficient balance;
3. A smartphone or other device with an internet connection.

Option 3 — Use a Mobile Payment App

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This is available if you don't necessarily need to withdraw cash from an ATM but want to access your Varo balance to pay using other methods (e.g. online or point-of-sales payments). In this case, it's always a good idea to have your Varo account linked to a mobile wallet or digital payment solution, the most popular of which in the US include:

• Apple Wallet;
• Google Pay;
• Vemo;
• PayPal;
• Zelle;
• Cash App.

To link your Varo account to one of these mobile payment solutions, you can add your Varo account as a payment method in their mobile app and transfer money to your Varo account via ACH transfer or even using a Varo instant transfer.

You can also use your smartphone to pay by scanning a barcode and having the money deducted directly from your Varo balance (a feature also available through the Varo app).

What You'll Need

1. A smartphone;
2. A Varo account with sufficient balance;
3. A P2P mobile payments app.

Option 4 — Use a Global Debit Card

Whether you don't own a Varo card, lost it, or forgot it at home, the most effective way to withdraw cash is to use a prepaid debit card specially designed for low-fee transactions — including ATM withdrawals.

Using a competitive travel card product, you can dodge ATM withdrawal fees altogether, even when travelling overseas and spending in a foreign currency. (The only costs you might incur in these instances could be network fees from the ATM itself or a small Visa or Mastercard exchange rate markup, although it depends on the card.)

If you travel abroad from the US frequently, one of the best options available is to open a Wise Multi-Currency Account, which gives you access to a current online account, multi-currency balances, and a debit Visa or Mastercard.

Once you're signed up, and your card has arrived (which takes up to 3 weeks in the US), you'll be able to take advantage of the following unique features:

• Local bank details in the US, Eurozone, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Romania, Canada, Hungary, and Turkey;
• Hold, exchange, and top-up up to 56 currencies;
• A multi-currency Mastercard debit card that's handy for paying in foreign currencies without hidden fees;
• Access to Wise's powerful international money transfer service right from your account balance.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a similar alternative to Varo, we recommend Chime®, which offers an online checking account and no daily account management fees (including no withdrawal fees from all ATMs belonging to the Allpoint network, MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven location, or Visa Plus Alliance ATMs). Chime is one of the lowest-cost mobile finance apps and debit card and it offers an excellent alternative to accounts such as Varo for your everyday finances.

We also recommend taking a look at our pick of the best banks for international travel (number one is among the best options out there for fee-free international withdrawals).

What You'll Need

1. Proof of residence;
2. A valid ID (e.g. driver's license, passport, social security card, etc.);

References Used in This Guide

1. CSP: Cardtronics Enables Withdrawals With No Cards From ATMs (4.5.2019)

2. Varo Help Center: How do I link an external bank account? (Accessed 10.8.21)

3. Varo Help Center: Varo to Varo transfers (Accessed 10.8.21)