The fastest way to link your bank account and transfer money
To transfer money from your bank account to PayPal, you link your bank account to your PayPal wallet, then initiate a transfer from PayPal's website or app. The money moves through the ACH system, which is the automated clearing house that handles bank-to-bank transfers in the United States. Most transfers take three to five business days to complete, though PayPal sometimes offers instant transfers for a small fee.
You will need your bank's routing number and your account number to set up the link. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have, or you can call your bank's customer service line and ask for them. PayPal will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under a dollar each) into your account within a few days, then asking you to confirm those amounts in your PayPal settings.
Key Takeaways
- Link your bank account by entering your routing number and account number, which you can find on a check or by calling your bank.
- PayPal verifies the account by depositing two small test amounts that you must confirm in your account settings before transfers can begin.
- Standard transfers take three to five business days and cost nothing; instant transfers arrive within 30 minutes but charge a percentage fee (usually 1.5% to 2%).
- Once linked, you can transfer money from your bank to PayPal as often as you need, but you cannot reverse a transfer once it leaves your bank account.
- If a transfer fails or takes longer than expected, check your bank's fraud filters and PayPal's resolution center, where you can see the status and reason for any hold.
Step-by-step: linking your bank account to PayPal
Start by logging into your PayPal account on a computer or the PayPal app. Go to the Wallet section (on the app, this is usually a tab at the bottom). Look for an option that says "Link a bank account" or "Add a bank account." PayPal will ask you to choose between a checking or savings account, then enter your bank's name, your routing number, and your account number.
After you submit this information, PayPal sends it to your bank through a secure connection. Within one to three business days, your bank will deposit two small amounts into your account—typically between $0.01 and $0.99 each. You do not need to do anything when these deposits arrive; just wait for them to show up in your bank statement or online banking.
Once the deposits appear, return to PayPal and go to the bank account settings. PayPal will ask you to enter the two amounts you received. Type them in exactly as they appear, then click confirm. Your account is now linked and ready to use for transfers.
How to actually move the money: standard vs. instant transfers
Standard transfers are free and take three to five business days. To start one, go to your PayPal Wallet, find the linked bank account, and select "Transfer to your bank." Enter the amount you want to move and confirm. The money leaves your PayPal balance immediately, but it will not arrive in your bank account until the ACH system processes it—usually by the fifth business day, though it often arrives sooner.
Instant transfers move money to your bank account within 30 minutes, but PayPal charges a fee of 1.5% to 2% of the amount transferred (the exact percentage depends on your account history and PayPal's current rates). If you transfer $100 instantly, you might pay $1.50 to $2.00. To use instant transfer, select that option when you initiate the transfer, and PayPal will show you the fee before you confirm.
Not all bank accounts are may be able to access for instant transfer. If the option does not appear when you try to transfer, your bank may not be in PayPal's instant transfer network, or your account may not have been linked long enough. In that case, standard transfer is your only choice.
What happens if the transfer fails or gets stuck
A transfer can fail for several reasons: your bank's fraud filter may block it, your account may not have enough balance, or PayPal may flag the transaction as unusual. If a transfer fails, PayPal sends you a notification explaining the reason. Check your PayPal Resolution Center (under Account Settings) to see the status of any transfer and the specific error message.
If your bank blocked the transfer, you will need to contact your bank's customer service and tell them you authorized the PayPal transfer. Many banks hold transfers from new linked accounts or flag them as suspicious until you confirm them. Once you confirm with your bank, you can retry the transfer in PayPal.
If a transfer is simply slow—more than five business days have passed—check whether the transfer was actually initiated. Some users think they started a transfer but did not complete the final confirmation step. If you did confirm it, contact PayPal's Resolution Center and open a case. PayPal can see the exact status of the ACH transaction and will tell you whether it is still in progress or whether something went wrong.
Why a transfer might take longer than expected
The ACH system processes transfers in batches, usually once or twice per day. If you initiate a transfer late in the evening or on a weekend, it will not enter the queue until the next business day. Transfers initiated on Friday evening may not start processing until Monday morning, which means they could arrive as late as Wednesday or Thursday.
Holidays also delay ACH processing. If you transfer money the day before a federal holiday, the transfer will not move until the day after the holiday ends. Your bank may also hold transfers for a day or two if your account is new or if the transfer amount is unusually large for your account history.
PayPal's instant transfer option bypasses the ACH queue, which is why it arrives in 30 minutes instead of days—but you pay a fee for that speed. If you do not need the money urgently, standard transfer is always free.
Protecting yourself from fraud and unauthorized transfers
Once your bank account is linked to PayPal, anyone with access to your PayPal password can transfer money out of your account. Use a strong, unique password for PayPal—one you do not use anywhere else. Enable two-factor authentication in your PayPal security settings so that anyone trying to log in from a new device has to enter a code sent to your phone or email.
Check your PayPal transaction history regularly. If you see a transfer you did not authorize, report it to PayPal immediately through the Resolution Center. PayPal's Buyer Protection does not cover transfers to your own bank account, but PayPal will investigate unauthorized transfers and may reverse them if you report them quickly—usually within 60 days of the transaction.
If your bank account itself is compromised, contact your bank right away and ask them to unlink it from PayPal. You can also unlink the account yourself in PayPal's Wallet settings by selecting the bank account and choosing "Remove." Once removed, no transfers can be initiated to that account through PayPal.
Reversing or canceling a transfer after it has started
Once a transfer leaves your PayPal account and enters the ACH system, you cannot cancel it through PayPal. The money is on its way to your bank, and PayPal has no way to stop it mid-journey. If you made a mistake—transferred the wrong amount or transferred to the wrong account—you have to wait for the money to arrive in your bank account, then transfer it back to PayPal or to the correct account.
The only exception is if you catch the error within a few minutes of initiating the transfer and the ACH batch has not yet been sent to your bank. In rare cases, PayPal can cancel a transfer that has not left their system yet. Open a case in the Resolution Center immediately and explain the situation. PayPal will tell you whether cancellation is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from PayPal to my bank account the same day I link it?
No. PayPal requires you to confirm the two test deposits before any transfer can happen. This verification usually takes three to five business days. Once confirmed, you can transfer immediately, but the money will still take three to five business days to arrive at your bank using standard transfer.
What if I do not have checks and cannot find my routing number?
Call your bank's customer service number (on the back of your debit card or on your bank's website). Tell them you need your routing number and account number. They will provide both over the phone. You can also log into your online banking and look for account details or statements—most banks display the routing number there.
Does PayPal charge a fee to transfer money to my bank account?
Standard transfers are free. Instant transfers charge 1.5% to 2% of the amount transferred. If you transfer $500 instantly, you might pay $7.50 to $10. Standard transfer costs nothing but takes three to five business days.
What happens if I transfer money to the wrong bank account by mistake?
Once the transfer enters the ACH system, you cannot stop it. The money will arrive at the account you specified. You will need to contact the bank that received the money and ask them to return it, or contact the account holder and ask them to send it back. This process can take weeks. Always double-check the account number before confirming a transfer.
Can I link multiple bank accounts to PayPal?
Yes. You can link as many bank accounts as you want, but only one can be your primary transfer account. When you initiate a transfer, you choose which linked account to send the money to. Each account must be verified separately with the two test deposits.