What happens when you link your bank account to PayPal
When you link your bank account to PayPal, you give PayPal permission to pull money directly from your checking or savings account. This connection lets you fund PayPal transfers, pay bills, or make purchases without keeping a balance in your PayPal wallet. PayPal stores your bank routing number and account number, and uses those details to move money when you authorize it.
The link itself does not move any money. PayPal will verify your account by depositing two small amounts (usually under $1 each) into your bank account a few days after you connect. You then confirm those amounts in PayPal to prove you own the account. Only after verification is complete can PayPal actually pull funds from your bank.
Once linked and verified, your bank account becomes one of your funding sources in PayPal. You can choose it when you send money to someone, pay a bill, or make a purchase. You can also unlink it at any time from your PayPal settings.
Key Takeaways
- PayPal verifies your bank account by depositing two small test amounts and asking you to confirm them, which takes three to five business days.
- You need your bank's routing number and your account number to complete the link, both of which appear on the bottom left of your checks.
- Linking does not automatically transfer money; you choose when and how much to pull from your bank each time you make a payment.
- PayPal uses encryption and does not store your login credentials, only your routing and account numbers.
Step-by-step: linking your bank account
Start by logging into your PayPal account on a computer or the PayPal app. Go to Settings (the gear icon), then select Wallet or Banks and Cards depending on whether you are on desktop or mobile. Click Link a Bank Account or the plus sign to add a new funding source.
PayPal will ask you to choose between two verification methods: instant verification (if your bank is supported) or manual verification. Instant verification connects to your bank's login system and confirms your account in seconds. Manual verification requires you to enter your routing number and account number by hand, then wait for the two test deposits.
If you choose instant verification, PayPal will redirect you to your bank's login page. You log in there—not on PayPal—and authorize PayPal to view your account information. You are then sent back to PayPal, and the link is complete. If you choose manual verification, enter your routing number and account number, then watch for two deposits from PayPal in your bank account within three to five business days.
Once the deposits arrive, return to PayPal, go back to your bank account settings, and click Confirm or Verify. Enter the two amounts PayPal deposited. PayPal will confirm the match, and your account is now verified and ready to use.
Where to find your routing and account numbers
Your routing number and account number both appear on the bottom left of any check from your bank. The routing number is the first set of nine digits, the account number is the second set (usually ten to twelve digits), and a third number on the right is your check number. If you do not have checks, log into your bank's website or app and look for account details, account information, or routing information.
You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number and account number. Have your account number or card ready when you call. Some banks also print this information on statements or in account documents you can download.
Do not confuse your routing number with your bank's main phone number or your branch number. The routing number is specific to the Federal Reserve district where your bank processes payments. If you enter the wrong routing number, PayPal will reject the link or the test deposits will fail to arrive.
How long verification takes
Instant verification (if your bank is on PayPal's supported list) completes in seconds. You authorize PayPal to view your account, and the link is active immediately. Most major banks—Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and others—support instant verification.
Manual verification takes longer. The two test deposits usually arrive in your bank account within three to five business days, depending on your bank's processing speed. Once you see them, you log back into PayPal and enter the amounts. PayPal then confirms the match, which is instant. Your account is verified and ready to use right away after confirmation.
If you do not see the test deposits after seven business days, contact PayPal support. They can resend the deposits or switch you to a different verification method. Do not attempt to link the same account again; multiple attempts can trigger a security hold.
What happens if verification fails
Verification fails most often because you entered the wrong routing number or account number. If the test deposits do not arrive, check that you typed both numbers correctly. Log back into PayPal, find the bank account you added, and look for an option to edit or correct the details. Fix the numbers and resubmit.
If you entered the amounts from the test deposits incorrectly, PayPal will tell you the amounts do not match. You can try again, but you have a limited number of attempts (usually three). After that, PayPal will lock the verification and ask you to contact support or start over with a different method.
Sometimes a bank account cannot be linked because the account is closed, frozen, or flagged by your bank for suspicious activity. If your bank has blocked the connection, contact your bank first to resolve the issue, then try linking again in PayPal. If PayPal continues to reject the account, call PayPal support and ask them to review the rejection reason.
Security and what PayPal can access
PayPal does not store your bank login credentials. When you use instant verification, you log into your bank's website directly, not through PayPal. PayPal receives only a confirmation that your account is real and in good standing. Your username and password stay between you and your bank.
PayPal stores your routing number and account number in encrypted form. This means the numbers are scrambled and unreadable without a decryption key that only PayPal's systems hold. PayPal uses these numbers only to pull money when you authorize a payment. They cannot see your balance, transaction history, or other accounts you hold at your bank.
If you are concerned about security, you can limit what PayPal can do with your bank account. In your PayPal settings, you can set a daily or monthly spending limit, or you can unlink the account at any time. If your PayPal account is compromised, an attacker cannot access your bank account directly; they can only pull money through PayPal, which you can dispute through your bank.
Unlinking your bank account
To remove your bank account from PayPal, log into your account, go to Settings, then Wallet or Banks and Cards. Find the bank account you want to remove, click the three dots or menu icon next to it, and select Remove or Unlink. PayPal will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the link is deleted immediately.
Unlinking does not affect any pending transfers or payments. If you have authorized a payment that has not yet been processed, that payment will still go through using the bank account you linked. Check your pending transactions before unlinking if you want to avoid this.
If you unlink your account and then want to link it again later, you will have to go through the verification process a second time. Instant verification will be faster, but manual verification will require you to wait for the test deposits again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link multiple bank accounts to one PayPal account?
Yes. You can link as many bank accounts as you want to a single PayPal account. Each one must be verified separately. When you make a payment or transfer, you choose which bank account to pull the money from.
What if my bank is not on PayPal's instant verification list?
You can still link your account using manual verification. Enter your routing and account numbers, wait for the test deposits, and confirm the amounts. The process takes longer but works the same way.
Can someone else link my bank account to their PayPal without my permission?
No. PayPal requires verification—either instant verification (which requires your bank login) or manual verification (which requires you to confirm the test deposits). Someone would need access to your bank account or your PayPal account to link it.
Do I have to keep a balance in PayPal if my bank account is linked?
No. A linked bank account means PayPal can pull money directly from your bank when you authorize it. You do not need to transfer money into PayPal first.
What if I entered the test deposit amounts wrong and used up my attempts?
Contact PayPal support through the Help Center in your account. Explain that you entered the amounts incorrectly. PayPal can reset your attempts or resend the test deposits so you can try again.