Zelle®: A Safe and Easy Way To Send Money
Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) has partnered with Zelle®—a fast, safe, and easy way to send and receive money with friends, family, and others you trust right from your CU SoCal Mobile app— even if they have a different credit union or bank1!
Whether you're settling up on a group gift, chipping in for your part of dinner out, or paying others you know and trust, all you need is the recipient's U.S. mobile number or email to send money directly to their credit union or bank account.
- There are no fees to send or receive money right from your CU SoCal Mobile app.
- Money is sent directly to their account typically in minutes1.
- Your information is protected with the same technology we use to keep your account safe.
- You only need their U.S. mobile number or email address to send money.
Please note: Zelle® is intended for sending money to family, friends, and people you are familiar with. We recommend that you not use Zelle® to send money to anyone you do not know.
- U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes.
Zelle® and Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
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Member FAQs
1. What is Zelle®?
Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send money directly between almost any bank accounts in the U.S., typically within minutes. With just an email address or U.S. mobile phone number, you can send money to people you trust, regardless of where they bank1.
2. Who can I send money to with Zelle®?
You can send money to friends, family and others you trust1.
Since money is sent directly from your bank account to another person’s bank account within minutes1, it’s important to only send money to people you trust, and always ensure you’ve used the correct email address or U.S. mobile phone number.
3. How do I use Zelle®?
You can send, request, or receive money with Zelle®. To get started, log into Credit Union of Southern California’s (CU SoCal’s) Mobile app and select “Send Money With Zelle®”.
Following the prompts, enter the information requested, accept the terms and conditions, receive a verification code, enter it, and you’re ready to start sending and receiving with Zelle®.
To send money using Zelle®, simply select someone from your mobile device’s contacts (or add a trusted recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile phone number), add the amount you’d like to send2 and an optional note, review, then hit “Send.” In most cases, the money is available to your recipient in minutes1.
To request money using Zelle®, choose “Request,” select the individual from whom you’d like to request money, enter the amount you’d like to request, include an optional note, review and hit “Request”3.
To receive money, just share your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile phone number with a friend and ask them to send you money with Zelle®.
4. Someone sent me money with Zelle®, how do I receive it?
If you have already enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to take any further action. The money will move directly into your CU SoCal account, typically within minutes1.
If you have not yet enrolled with Zelle®, log into Credit Union of Southern California’s (CU SoCal’s) Mobile app and select “Zelle®”. Following the prompts, enter the information requested, accept the terms and conditions, receive a verification code, enter it, and you are ready to receive the money using “Zelle®”. Be sure the email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the payment notification is the one that you use to enroll with Zelle® using that email address or U.S. mobile number to ensure you receive your money.
5. What types of payments can I make with Zelle®?
Zelle® is a great way to send money to family, friends, and people you are familiar with such as your personal trainer, babysitter or neighbor2.
Since money is sent directly from your account to another person’s account within minutes1, Zelle® should only be used to send money to friends, family and others you trust.
Zelle® payments are similar to cash transactions. Neither CU SoCal nor Zelle® offer a protection program for any authorized payments made with Zelle®. For example, if you do not receive an item you paid for, or if an item is not as described or as you expected.
6. Are there any fees to send money using Zelle®?
No, CU SoCal does not charge any fees to use Zelle®. Your mobile provider’s messaging and data rates may apply. Check with your provider for more information.
7. How do I get started?
It’s easy—Zelle® is already available within CU SoCal’s Mobile banking app! Log into our app and follow a few simple steps to enroll with Zelle® today.
8. What if I want to send money to someone whose credit union or bank doesn’t offer Zelle®?
You can find a full list of participating credit unions and banks live with Zelle® here.
If your recipient’s credit union or bank isn’t on the list, don’t worry! The list of participating financial institutions is always growing, and your recipient can still use Zelle® by downloading the Zelle® app for Android and iOS.
To enroll with the Zelle® app, your recipient will enter their basic contact information, an email address and U.S. mobile number, and a Visa® or Mastercard® debit card with a U.S. based account (does not include U.S. territories). Zelle® does not accept debit cards associated with international deposit accounts or any credit cards.
9. How does Zelle® work?
When you enroll with Zelle® through our CU SoCal app, we share your name, the email address or U.S. mobile number you enrolled with, and our name, CU SoCal, with Zelle®.
When someone sends money to your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile number, Zelle® looks up the email address or mobile number in its “directory” and notifies CU SoCal of the incoming payment. CU SoCal then directs the payment into your account, all while keeping your sensitive account details private.
10. Can I use Zelle® internationally?
In order to use Zelle®, the sender and recipient’s bank accounts must be based in the U.S.
11. Can I cancel a payment?
You can only cancel a payment if the person you sent money to hasn’t yet enrolled with Zelle®. To check whether the payment is still pending because the recipient hasn't yet enrolled, you can go to your activity page, choose the payment you want to cancel, and then select "Cancel".
If your recipient has already enrolled with Zelle®, the money is sent directly to their account and cannot be cancelled. This is why it’s critically important to only send money to people you trust, and always ensure you’ve used the correct email address or U.S. mobile number when sending money.
If you sent money to the wrong person, we recommend contacting the recipient and requesting the money back. If you aren't able to get your money back, please call CU SoCal's Member Care Center team toll-free at 866 CU SoCal (866.287.6225) so we can assist you.
12. How long does it take to receive money with Zelle®?
Money sent with Zelle® is typically available to an enrolled recipient within minutes1.
If you send money to someone who isn’t enrolled with Zelle®, they will receive a notification prompting them to enroll. After enrollment, the money will move directly to your recipient’s account, typically within minutes1.
If your payment is pending, we recommend confirming that the person you sent money to has enrolled with Zelle® and that you entered the correct email address or U.S. mobile phone number.
If you’re waiting to receive money, you should check to see if you’ve received a payment notification via email or text message. If you haven’t received a payment notification, we recommend following up with the sender to confirm they entered the correct email address or U.S. mobile phone number.
Still having trouble? Please call CU SoCal’s Member Care Center team toll-free at 866 CU SoCal (866.287.6225) or get in touch through our support page.
13. Will the person I send money to be notified?
Yes! They will receive a notification via email or text message.
14. Is my information secure?
Keeping your money and information safe is a top priority for CU SoCal. When you use Zelle® within CU SoCal’s Mobile banking app, your information is protected with the same technology we use to keep your CU SoCal account safe.
15. I’m unsure about using Zelle® to pay someone I don’t know. What should I do?
If you don’t know the person, or aren’t sure you will get what you paid for (for example, items bought from an online bidding or sales site), you should not use Zelle® for these types of transactions. These transactions are potentially high risk (just like sending cash to a person you don’t know is high risk).
Neither Credit Union of Southern California nor Zelle® offers a protection program for any authorized payments made with Zelle®— for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected.
16. Will a joint signer on my account be able to use Zelle® in their name?
No. Zelle® is linked to the primary Member’s name, email address or U.S. mobile phone number only.
17. Will all Members be eligible to use Zelle®?
No. Members are eligible to use Zelle® at CU SoCal if they are in good standing, at least 18 years of age and have a checking account.
18. Can I use Zelle® to send money to other CU SoCal Members?
Yes, although you can use Zelle® to send money to another CU SoCal Member, please continue the Transfer feature in CU SoCal's Online and Mobile Banking. Zelle® is meant for sending money to an account outside credit union or bank and have different limits than Member-to-Member transfers.
19. If I am already enrolled in the Zelle® app, can I still use Zelle® though CU SoCal?
If you were using Zelle® directly through the Zelle® app, you will be rerouted to use Zelle® within CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app. This happens because CU SoCal is now a participating partner with Zelle®, and the Zelle® app is only available to a consumer whose financial institution does not offer Zelle®.
20. I received a notice saying I can’t use the Zelle® app anymore. Why can’t I continue using the Zelle® app?
Because CU SoCal offers Zelle®, you can use Zelle® directly through CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app to send and receive money. The Zelle® app is only available to a consumer whose financial institution does not offer Zelle®.
21. What should I do now so I can continue using Zelle®?
Just start using Zelle® in CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app!
To get started, log into CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app and select “Zelle®”. Following the prompts, enter the information requested, accept the terms and conditions, enter your email address or U.S. mobile phone number, receive a verification code, enter it, and you’re ready to start sending and receiving with Zelle®.
22. What happens if I don’t do anything?
You’ll no longer be able to use the Zelle® app. To continue using Zelle®, you’ll need to enroll through CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app.
23. What happens to my pending payments?
Any pending payments and requests you’ve sent will be cancelled. But don’t worry, once you’ve enrolled with Zelle® through CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app, you can start sending and receiving money again.
24. Someone requested money from me, and I’m currently enrolled in the Zelle® app. The app keeps telling me to go to my credit union or bank. How can I respond to my friend’s request for money?
Follow the prompt in the Zelle® app, and enroll with Zelle® through CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app. Once you’re enrolled with Zelle® through CU SoCal, contact your friend and have them resend you a request. Or, if you already know the amount of money your friend is requesting, you can simply send the money with Zelle® through CU SoCal’s Mobile Banking app. Be sure to confirm their correct email or U.S. mobile number tied to the credit union or bank account they have enrolled with Zelle®.
Note: When you are no longer able to directly use the Zelle® app, any pending payment requests will be cancelled.
25. Do the new tax laws affect my Zelle® transactions?
For more information on Zelle® transactions and the IRS, visit FAQs on zellepay.com.
1 U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes.
2 Limits apply. Contact CU SoCal for more information.
3 In order to send payment requests or split payment requests to a U.S. mobile number, the mobile number must already be enrolled with Zelle®.
Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
