How to Add Money to Your Credit Karma Money Account

There are a few ways to add money to your Credit Karma Money Spend account — easily, cheaply, and quickly.

To add money to your Credit Karma account, you can:

1. Transfer money from a linked external bank account  
2. Set up direct deposit
3. Transfer from your Credit Karma Money Save account
4. Deposit a check using the Credit Karma mobile app

You can also withdraw cash for free at over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs — but Allpoint ATMs can’t be used to deposit cash into your account, only to take it out.

Credit Karma does not allow its users to send money to one another on their own app. They do, however, encourage their customers to use their debit card information and download popular P2P money transferring apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App.

Credit Karma does not have any physical branches, so any deposit method that would normally require a teller — like an over-the-counter cash deposit — isn’t an option here.

1. How to Add Money to Your Credit Karma Account Through a Linked Bank Account

An easy way to fund your Credit Karma account is by linking it to a traditional bank account you already have. This is done through the ACH (Automated Clearing House) network — the same system behind most bank-to-bank transfers. 

1. Log into your external bank’s own app or website to send money to your Credit Karma money account. 
2. Log into your Credit Karma app and get your Credit Karma account number and routing number from the app settings.
3. Initiate the ACH transfer by entering those numbers as an external transfer destination inside your other bank’s platform.
4. Set up a direct deposit by routing your paycheck or government benefits directly to your Credit Karma account to fund it automatically.

You should see a confirmation message, and Credit Karma may email you a confirmation too.

If this is your first time linking an external account, your bank may first send one to three small test deposits (each less than a dollar) to confirm the accounts are linked correctly before your first real transfer goes through.

You should see a confirmation message saying, “Your money is on the way!” as well. If you’ve set up email alerts, Credit Karma may send you an email confirming the transaction too. 

Standard ACH transfers usually take 1 to 3 business days to clear and show up in your Credit Karma balance.

2. How to Add Money to Your Credit Karma Account Using Direct Deposit

If you want to make your Credit Karma account your primary account, you’ll probably want to link it to your paycheck through direct deposit. All you need is your account information and your employer or benefits provider.

1. Log into the Credit Karma app and tap the details and settings button.
2. Tap Show on your account information.
3. Give the routing number, account number, name as it appears on your account, and bank name to your employer, and they should be able to deposit your paychecks automatically.

Setting up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $200 every 35 days with Credit Karma unlocks: 

1. Early Paydays, getting your paycheck up to two days early
2. Government benefits up to five days early
3. Fee-free overdraft coverage from $20 up to $200 over time
4. Paycheck Advances up to $500 with no credit check, mandatory fees, or interest once qualified

3. How to Add Money from a Credit Karma Money Save Account

Unlike transfers from an outside bank (see above), moving money between your own Credit Karma Spend and Save accounts is still handled inside the Credit Karma app.

1. Log into your Credit Karma app and go to your ‘Money’ home screen
2. Scroll down to ‘Quick actions’
3. Select ‘Transfer money’ 
4. Choose  ‘Internal Transfer’
5. Choose which account the money is coming from and which account it’s going to.
6. Enter the amount you want to deposit and confirm the transfer

You can withdraw an unlimited amount from your Spend account, but Money Save accounts are limited to six withdrawals per statement cycle. Exceeding that may result in Credit Karma converting the account to a Spend account or closing it.

4. How to Deposit a Check Using the Credit Karma Mobile App

Like most banking institutions, Credit Karma lets customers deposit checks directly through the mobile app by photographing them.

1. There are two places to start a mobile check deposit: from the Money page under Quick Actions → Transfer Money → Deposit check, or by selecting the account you want to deposit into directly, then Add Cash → Mobile Check Deposit.
2. If it’s your first time using mobile deposit, you’ll be asked to accept the mobile deposit terms and conditions before continuing.
3. Enter the check amount manually, then choose whether to deposit into your Money Spend or Money Save account (if you only have one account, it’s selected automatically).
4. Grant camera access if prompted, and check the “Tips for a Better Photo” guidance if it’s your first time.
5. Photograph the front of the check, making sure the date, your name, and the dollar amount are all clearly legible.
6. Credit Karma will do a quick quality check on the image, confirming all four corners are visible and the text is readable.
7. Endorse check: Sign your name on the back of the check and write “for mobile deposit only” or if that text is already on the check, just check the box 
8. Photograph the front and back of the check.  
9. Re-enter the check amount to confirm it matches.
10. Credit Karma’s automated system verifies the amount against the images — if there’s an issue, you may be asked to retake a photo.
11. If everything looks correct, tap Continue to submit the deposit. Keep the physical check in a safe place until the money clears 

Withdrawing Cash at an ATM

Customers coming from a traditional bank may wonder whether an ATM is still part of the picture with an online-only account like this.

It is — for withdrawals. Credit Karma has partnered with the Allpoint Network to give customers fee-free access to over 55,000 ATMs, found at popular retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Target. Allpoint ATMs can’t be used to deposit cash, though — if you need to deposit cash, your best options are linking an external account that accepts cash deposits (see the transfer method above) or depositing a check through the app.

Using an ATM outside the Allpoint network will typically come with a $2.50 out-of-network fee, though this is often waived if you have qualifying direct deposits into your account.

Are There Any Other Ways to Add Cash to my Credit Karma Account?

If you have cash and want to deposit it into your Credit Karma account, you have a couple of options. You can use the AllPoint ATM system like I mentioned above, or you can move money through an external account.

If you still do business with a traditional bank — one that has their own ATMs you can use — you’re always able to deposit that cash into your brick-and-mortar bank’s ATM. Once it’s in your external account, you can transfer it over to your Credit Karma account through their External Transfer feature. 

It may not be instant, as Credit Karma must review the funds before they make them available, but it is a secure and reliable way of depositing cash into your online bank account. 

Conclusion

The Credit Karma app and card are useful and accessible online banking options. Customers have five ways to add money to their Credit Karma Cards: through ACH deposit, direct deposit, transferring from their Credit Karma Money Save Accounts, through Mobile Deposit on the app, depositing money at ATM, and finally, transferring money from an external account.