GTA 6 keeps cash on hand separate from your bank balance. Stolen goods collected during robberies are not immediately spendable money: you need to sell them to a fence first.
Key points
- Money information appears in the upper-right corner of the game screen in views such as the item wheel. The purple BuckMe icon shows your bank balance; the green wallet icon shows cash on hand.
- Cash you carry can be lost if you die or get arrested. Banked money is treated separately.
- You must visit an ATM to deposit cash. You cannot deposit physical cash through BuckMe on your phone.
Money Types and the HUD
The money display is not always visible. When it appears in the upper-right corner of the game screen, such as while using the item wheel, you can check your bank balance and cash separately. Use the icon beside each amount to tell them apart.
What are the circular meters around the icons?
The circular meters may show how much cash you are carrying or how much money you have banked as a proportion of the maximum allowed. However, the meaning of these meters and any specific limits remain unconfirmed.
Bank Balance
The purple BuckMe icon identifies money deposited in the bank, which Jason and Lucia share. Banking money protects it from the losses that can affect cash on hand when you die or get arrested.
Cash on Hand
The green wallet icon identifies money you are carrying. It is tracked separately from your bank balance, so picking up cash does not automatically increase the amount in your account.
Unsold Loot
Stolen goods in your bag, such as jewelry, are separate from both banked money and cash. Valuable items do not become spendable money until you sell them to a fence, a dealer who buys stolen goods. The HUD images above show banked money and cash, not the value of your loot.
Money Lost on Death or Arrest
Carrying a large amount of cash puts that money at risk if you die or get arrested. The same amount of money is safer in the bank than in your pocket.
If You Die
You lose cash you are carrying. The exact amount or proportion lost and any additional conditions will be added once verified.
If You Get Arrested
You lose all the cash you are carrying. This is separate from money already deposited in the bank.
The bank lets you move earnings out of your pocket and into safekeeping. Depositing cash at an ATM helps protect it against losses from death or arrest. For the police HUD, see how police and wanted levels work.
ATM Deposits and BuckMe
To deposit cash, you must physically visit an ATM. Although the BuckMe phone app lets you manage your bank account, it does not let you turn the cash you are carrying into banked funds wherever you are.
- Get CashCarry it as cash on hand
- Visit an ATMDeposit your cash
- Keep It BankedManage it as your bank balance
What ATMs Do
ATMs let you deposit the cash you are carrying. After collecting a large amount from a robbery or another activity, a deposit reduces how much money you have on you.
What BuckMe Does
BuckMe is a phone app for managing your bank account. Its purple icon also appears on the HUD. It serves a different purpose from an ATM, where you deposit physical cash.
Basic Ways to Earn Money
You can obtain cash through robberies or turn stolen goods and vehicles into money by selling them. Whether you collect cash or an item that needs to be sold determines what you need to do next.
Robberies
Targets include stores, gas stations, jewelry stores, banks, and armored vans. You can find cash or goods to sell depending on the target, while layouts, safes, and security vary between locations.
Selling Stolen Goods
Sell items such as jewelry and drugs to a fence who handles that type of goods. Criminal compounds can also contain cash and items you can sell.
Selling Stolen Vehicles
You can earn money by selling stolen vehicles. Their condition affects the payout: damage reduces the amount you receive. For entry tools and security systems, see car theft and anti-theft devices.
Small stores may be robbery targets even without a dedicated map marker. Some larger opportunities show an estimated payout on the map. Events around the city and tips from people you meet can also lead you to opportunities.
Selling Loot to Fences
Sell stolen goods to a fence who specializes in that type of loot. Different dealers handle jewelry, drugs, vehicles, and other goods, and more contacts become available as the story progresses.
- Collect LootTake jewelry or other goods
- Sell to a FenceUse a dealer who handles the goods
- Deposit the CashVisit an ATM to bank it
Finding valuable loot does not guarantee that you can sell it immediately: a suitable fence may not yet be available. In contrast, cash collected directly can go straight into an ATM without a sale first.
Shared Funds and Spending
Jason and Lucia share the money deposited in the bank. The bank balance serves as funds for both characters. See the character relationship system for how their time together and actions affect their bond.
Money can be spent on garage purchases, fees to register stolen cars as personal vehicles, food, drinks, and other items. Banked money still decreases when you spend it. Keeping it safe refers to protection from the cash losses associated with death or arrest.
At certain points, you also need to raise a required amount of money to continue the story. Earning money around the city plays a role in progression alongside completing missions.
For other controls and basic features, visit the game systems guide.