How to Use Zelle^® to Safely Send Money

Zelle® should only be used with friends, family and others you trust. Why? Because you can't cancel a payment once it's been sent, if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. And if you send money to someone you don't know, or you do not get what you expected, you may not get your money back.

While Zelle® and cash are certainly different, both provide the recipient with fast access to the money you send. With Zelle®, money moves directly into the enrolled recipient's checking account within minutes¹. And again, once you authorize a payment to be sent, you can't cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled.

If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, a stranger selling online concert tickets at a steep discount and insisting you pay with Zelle® may be a scam.

Neither First National Bank of Tennessee nor Zelle^® offers purchase protection for 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.

Make sure you have the correct U.S. mobile number or email address for the person you want to send money to. When in doubt, contact your friend to double check. If you authorize a payment to be sent to the wrong person, you may not get your money back.

If you don't know a person or aren't sure you’ll get what you paid for, using your credit card may be a better payment option. Many credit card companies offer built-in buyer protections for cardholders. Check the terms and conditions of your credit card to see what's offered.