Add your bank account through the Wallet section
Open PayPal on your phone or computer and go to Wallet in the menu. Select Link a bank account. PayPal will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number — both appear on a check or in your bank's app under account details. Enter them exactly as they appear, including leading zeros.
PayPal will then ask for your account type (checking or savings) and confirm your name matches your bank records. After you submit, PayPal sends two small deposits to your bank account — usually within one to three business days. These deposits are real money; you keep them. They exist only so PayPal can verify you own the account.
Once the deposits land, go back to PayPal and enter the exact amounts. This step proves you have access to the account. After you confirm the amounts correctly, your bank account is linked and ready to use.
Key Takeaways
- You need your bank's routing number and your account number, both found on a check or in your bank's app.
- PayPal sends two small test deposits to your account; you must confirm the amounts to complete the link.
- The whole process takes three to five business days from start to finish.
- Once linked, you can transfer money from PayPal to your bank account or use your bank account to fund PayPal payments.
- PayPal stores your bank details securely and does not share them with merchants or other PayPal users.
Why you need a bank account linked to PayPal
A linked bank account gives you two main options: you can transfer money out of PayPal into your checking or savings account, and you can use your bank account to fund PayPal payments instead of a credit card. Transfers out usually take one to two business days. Funding a payment from your bank account is free, whereas credit cards often trigger a fee.
If you receive money through PayPal — from a friend, a refund, or a sale — that money sits in your PayPal balance until you move it. Without a linked bank account, you cannot get the money into your actual bank. You can spend it through PayPal, but you cannot withdraw it.
What information PayPal needs from you
PayPal requires your routing number (a nine-digit code that identifies your bank) and your account number (the unique number for your specific account). Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have. If you do not have checks, log into your bank's website or app and look for account details, account information, or routing and account numbers — most banks display both in one place.
Do not confuse your account number with your card number. Your card number is on the front of your debit or credit card. Your account number is tied to the checking or savings account itself. If you have multiple accounts at the same bank, each has its own account number.
PayPal also confirms that the name on your PayPal account matches the name on your bank account. If your name differs — for example, you go by a nickname on PayPal but your bank account is under your legal name — you may need to update your PayPal name or contact your bank to add an authorized user.
How long the verification process takes
From the moment you enter your bank details to the moment your account is fully linked, expect three to five business days. The first step — PayPal sending the two test deposits — takes one to three business days. The second step — you confirming the amounts — is instant once you see the deposits in your bank account.
Weekends and bank holidays slow this down. If you link your account on a Friday, the deposits may not arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday. Once you confirm the amounts, PayPal activates the link immediately, and you can transfer money or use your bank account to pay right away.
What to do if the test deposits do not arrive
If more than three business days have passed and you do not see the two small deposits, log into your bank account and search for recent transactions from PayPal. Sometimes the deposits appear under a generic name like "ACH DEBIT" or your bank's processing name rather than "PayPal." Check your bank's pending transactions tab as well — deposits sometimes show there before they settle.
If you still cannot find them, contact PayPal through the Help Center. Go to Help in the menu, search for "link bank account," and select the option to contact support. PayPal will ask you to confirm the routing and account numbers you entered. If there was a typo, PayPal can cancel the failed link and let you try again. If the numbers were correct, PayPal may resend the deposits or investigate with your bank.
In rare cases, your bank blocks PayPal's deposits as fraud. Call your bank's customer service number on the back of your debit card and ask whether any ACH deposits from PayPal were declined or flagged. If so, ask your bank to allow them through, and PayPal can resend them.
Security and what happens to your bank details
PayPal encrypts your routing and account numbers and stores them on secure servers. PayPal does not share your bank details with merchants, other PayPal users, or third parties. When you make a payment using your linked bank account, the merchant sees only that you paid through PayPal — they never see your account number.
If your PayPal account is hacked, the thief cannot see your bank details. They can transfer money out of your PayPal balance if you have one, but they cannot access your bank account directly. If you notice unauthorized transfers, contact PayPal immediately and then contact your bank. Your bank account has its own fraud protections separate from PayPal.
You can unlink your bank account at any time. Go to Wallet, find your linked bank account, and select Remove. The link is deleted instantly, and no future transfers can happen. Your old transactions remain in your PayPal history.
Transferring money from PayPal to your bank account
Once your bank account is linked, you can move money out of PayPal. Go to Wallet, select your bank account, and choose Transfer to bank. Enter the amount you want to move. PayPal shows you the arrival date — usually one to two business days, though some banks take longer.
There is no fee to transfer money from PayPal to your bank account. The money comes from your PayPal balance, which is separate from any credit or debit card you have linked. If your PayPal balance is zero, you cannot transfer anything.
Transfers are not instant. If you need money urgently, a transfer may not be fast enough. Some PayPal users keep a small balance in PayPal for immediate spending and transfer the rest to their bank account weekly or monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link a savings account instead of a checking account?
Yes. PayPal accepts both checking and savings accounts. When you enter your account details, you will choose the account type. Transfers to a savings account work the same way as transfers to checking — they take one to two business days and have no fee.
What if I enter the wrong routing or account number?
PayPal's test deposits will go to the wrong bank or account. When you try to confirm the amounts, you will not see any deposits in your account, and PayPal will not let you complete the link. Contact PayPal support, and they can cancel the failed link so you can try again with the correct numbers.
Do I have to use my real name on PayPal if my bank account is under a different name?
Your PayPal name must match your bank account name for the link to work. If they do not match, update your PayPal name to match your bank records, or contact your bank to add an authorized user under the name on your PayPal account. Some banks allow this without a fee.
Can someone else link my bank account to their PayPal?
No. PayPal requires you to confirm the test deposit amounts, which only you can see in your bank account. Even if someone knows your routing and account numbers, they cannot complete the link without access to your bank account. Once linked, only your PayPal account can transfer money from that bank account.
What happens to my linked bank account if I close my PayPal account?
The link is deleted automatically. Your bank account itself is not affected — it remains open and active. If you reopen PayPal later, you will need to link your bank account again and go through the verification process.