Zelle® Payments

Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send money directly between bank accounts in the US. With Zelle®, enrolled customers typically receive payments within minutes and don't incur transaction fees within our app. With just an email address or US mobile phone number, you can send Zelle® payments to people you trust, regardless of where they bank in the US.

You can send money to friends, family and others you trust. Because Zelle® payments are sent directly from your bank account to another person's bank account within minutes, it's important to only send money to people you trust, and always ensure you've used the correct email address or US mobile number.

If you don't know the person or aren't sure you'll get what you paid for—like items bought from an online bidding or sales site—you shouldn't use Zelle®. These transactions are potentially high risk, similar to sending cash to someone you don't know.

Neither First Citizens nor Zelle® offers a protection program for any authorized payments made with Zelle®—for example, if you don't receive the item you paid for or the item isn't as described or as you expected.

You can send, request or receive money with Zelle®. To get started, log into First Citizens Digital Banking and select Send Money with Zelle®. Enter your email address or US mobile phone number, receive a one-time verification code, enter it, accept terms and conditions, 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 US mobile phone number), add the amount you'd like to send and an optional note, review, then select Send. In most cases, the money is available to your recipient in minutes.

To request money using Zelle®, choose Request, select the individual(s) from whom you'd like to request money, enter the amount you'd like to request, include an optional note, review and select Request. Payment requests to persons not already enrolled with Zelle® must be sent to an email address.

To receive money, just share your enrolled email address or US mobile phone number with a friend and ask them to send you money with Zelle®.

For your security, we limit the amount of money that can be sent from your accounts to others but not the amount you can receive. However, remember that the person sending you money will most likely have limits set by their own financial institution on the amount of money they can send you.

There are daily and rolling 30-day send limits, typically $1,000 per day and $3,500 per rolling 30-day period. Your limits may be different and are subject to change. Access yours by logging in to First Citizens Digital Banking and selecting Send Money with Zelle®.

If you've already enrolled with Zelle®, you don't need to take further action. The money will move directly into your bank account, typically within minutes.

If you have not yet enrolled with Zelle®, follow these steps:

1. Select the link provided in the payment notification you received through email or text message.
2. Select First Citizens Bank.
3. Follow the instructions provided on the page to enroll and receive your Zelle® payment. Pay attention to the email address or US mobile number where you received the payment notification. You should enroll with Zelle® using that email address or US mobile number to ensure you receive your money.

Yes. Zelle® is available for both business and consumer Digital Banking customers at First Citizens. To learn more, visit our Zelle® for your business page.