How do I transfer funds between my Betterment accounts?

You can transfer funds between most accounts or goals within your Betterment account through the web or mobile app. Here's how:

On a Web Browser:

Log in to your Betterment account.
On the home page, select “Transfer or rollover.”
From the menu, select "Transfer within Betterment."
Choose the source account.
Select the destination account.
Enter the amount you’d like to transfer.
Confirm and submit your transfer.

On the Mobile App:

Open the Betterment app and log in.
Select “Move Money” on the home page.
Select "Transfer" from the menu.
Choose the source and destination account.
Enter the amount you’d like to transfer.
Review and submit the transfer.

Important Notes:

Transfers involving investing accounts may result in the sale and reinvestment of assets, which can have tax implications. An estimated tax impact will be shown before you submit the request.
If an account is unavailable for transfers, there may be restrictions based on the account type or insufficient funds. Refer to the troubleshooting section below for details.
Trying to transfer to Betterment Checking? If you don't see Checking as an option for a transfer within Betterment, you likely need to add Checking as a funding source for the other account type. This can be done by visiting Settings > Funding Accounts and adding Betterment Checking as a funding account.
Transfer timelines between Betterment accounts vary. Check the Transaction Timeline Table for the exact timeline based on the account types involved.

Why are some accounts unavailable for transfer?

Here are a few reasons why you may not be able to transfer funds between certain Betterment accounts:

Insufficient Funds:
- The source account or goal doesn’t have enough available funds, or a recent deposit is still pending settlement.
- Solution: Try again once funds are available.
Unsupported Transfer Type:
- Transfers between specific account or goal types are not supported at this time. For a full list of eligible and ineligible transfers, see the breakdown below.

What account or goal types can I transfer funds between?

Eligible Transfers:

You can transfer funds between these Betterment accounts or goal types:

Individual ↔ Individual: Includes Investing and Cash Reserve accounts.
Individual ↔ Joint: Applies to Investing and Cash Reserve accounts if:
- You are married to the joint account owner, or
- You created the joint account and are listed as the primary account owner.
Checking ↔ Individual, Joint, or Trust: As long as Checking is added as a funding source.

Ineligible Transfers:

The following types of transfers aren’t supported:

Individual ↔ Trust
Joint ↔ Trust
Individual ↔ Joint: If you are not married to the account owner and are listed as a secondary owner.
Peer-to-Peer Transfers: Betterment is not designed for transferring funds between unrelated accounts or individuals. Learn more here.

Need help transferring between unavailable accounts or goals?

If you can’t submit a transfer between Betterment accounts or goals, chat with our virtual assistant for help. Type “Help with internal transfer” into the chat, and the assistant will gather details about your transfer and connect you to our Customer Experience team if needed.