{
  "id": 19166096,
  "title": "A major Venmo update could change how you pay for dinner with friends",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/a-major-venmo-update-could-change-how-you-pay-for-dinner-with-friends",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-09T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91637667/a-major-venmo-update-could-change-how-you-pay-for-dinner-with-friends"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Venmo, the popular payment app, is set to revolutionize the way friends split restaurant bills with a new receipt-scanning feature. This tool, now available in the app, simplifies the often complex process of dividing up the cost of a group meal. Users can simply take a photo of their receipt, and Venmo will automatically identify and itemize each purchase. The app then allows users to assign these charges to the appropriate individuals, and even factors in taxes and tips. Alexis Sowa, Venmo's general manager, highlighted how this feature eliminates the tedious math involved in splitting bills. The launch of this feature coincides with a Venmo survey revealing that younger adults (18-22) often take the first step in covering group expenses and collect payments later. The survey also revealed diverse approaches to dividing shared expenses, with some splitting bills based on individual orders, others splitting evenly, and others taking turns or dividing the bill differently. Beyond dining out, Venmo's receipt scanning feature can be used for managing other shared expenses, like groceries for roommates or shared purchases during travel. The tool also works alongside Venmo Groups, a feature that allows users to track shared expenses over time. The new receipt scanner is part of a broader Venmo app update, introducing features like scheduling recurring payments and earning rewards through Venmo Stash.",
  "summary": "Splitting the bill after a group dinner can sometimes feel like an Olympic sport. One friend ordered the expensive steak, their girlfriend stuck to a salad, and your friend Greg has been drinking expensive bourbon all night but thinks you should all just split the bill evenly. Venmo is finally taking some of the mental gymnastics out of the equation. The payment app is rolling out a new…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}