Add your bank account to Amazon's payment methods

Amazon accepts checking account payments through its bank account payment option, which links directly to your bank. You add your account once in your Amazon payment settings, then select it at checkout whenever you want to pay that way. The process takes about five minutes and requires your routing number and account number — both printed on the bottom left of your checks.

Go to Your Account (top right corner of Amazon.com), then select Your Account from the dropdown menu. Click Login & security on the left side. Scroll down to the section labeled Payments and click Manage payment methods. You'll see an option to add a new payment method — select Bank account from the list.

Amazon will ask for your full name as it appears on the account, your routing number, your account number, and your account type (checking or savings). If you don't have a check handy, you can find your routing number on your bank's website or by calling customer service. Enter the information, review it for accuracy, and click Add bank account. Amazon may place two small deposits (usually under $1 each) into your account within one to two business days to verify ownership — you'll need to confirm the amounts in your Amazon account once they arrive.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your routing number and account number from your checking account to add it to Amazon, both found on the bottom left of your checks.
  • Amazon verifies your bank account by depositing two small amounts and asking you to confirm them, which takes one to two business days.
  • Once verified, your checking account appears as a payment option at checkout and can be used for any Amazon purchase.
  • Bank account payments process as ACH transfers, which typically take one to three business days to debit from your account.
  • You can remove your bank account from Amazon's payment methods at any time through the same Manage payment methods page.

What information Amazon needs from you

Amazon requires four pieces of information to link your checking account: your full name (exactly as it appears on the account), your routing number, your account number, and confirmation that it's a checking account rather than savings. The routing number identifies your bank — it's a nine-digit code printed on the left side of the bottom line of any check. Your account number is the longer number next to it, usually 10 to 12 digits.

If you don't have a physical check, you can find both numbers online. Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for account details or account information — most banks display the routing and account numbers there. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number and account number; they'll provide both over the phone.

Do not use a savings account, money market account, or line of credit — Amazon specifically requires a checking account. If you try to add a different account type, the verification will fail and you'll need to start over with the correct account.

How the verification process works

After you enter your bank account information, Amazon sends two small deposits to your checking account — usually between 10 cents and $1 each. These deposits arrive within one to two business days. The amounts are random and different for each person, so you can't predict them in advance.

Once the deposits appear in your account, go back to Amazon's payment methods page and click on your bank account. Amazon will ask you to enter the two deposit amounts. Type them in exactly as they appear on your bank statement — if one deposit was $0.47 and the other was $0.83, enter those numbers in the order Amazon asks for them. Click Verify, and your account will be confirmed.

If you enter the amounts incorrectly, Amazon gives you a limited number of attempts (usually three) before you have to start the process over. If that happens, you'll need to remove the unverified account and add it again. Check your bank statement carefully before entering the amounts — some banks round or display deposits differently in their mobile app versus online banking.

Using your checking account at checkout

Once your bank account is verified, it appears in your payment methods list with the last four digits of your account number. At checkout, scroll down to the payment section and select Your payment methods. Click on your bank account to use it for that purchase. You can also set it as your default payment method so it's selected automatically on future orders.

When you complete the purchase, Amazon processes the payment as an ACH transfer — an electronic bank-to-bank transfer that typically takes one to three business days to debit from your account. The charge won't appear immediately like a credit card would. Most banks show ACH transfers as pending for one business day, then post the charge on the second or third day.

Your bank statement will show the charge as coming from Amazon or Amazon Payments, depending on your bank's system. If you need to dispute a charge or stop a payment, contact Amazon's customer service first — they can often reverse recent orders. If Amazon won't reverse it, contact your bank and ask them to dispute the ACH transfer; banks can reverse ACH payments up to 60 days after the transaction.

Removing or updating your bank account

To remove your checking account from Amazon, go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods. Find your bank account in the list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm — once you do, the account is removed and can no longer be used for purchases.

If your bank account information changes — for example, if you close the account and open a new one at the same bank — you'll need to remove the old account and add the new one. Amazon does not have an option to update account numbers; you must delete and re-add. The verification process with the two small deposits will happen again.

If your bank closes your account or you switch banks entirely, remove the old account from Amazon as soon as possible. If you try to make a purchase with a closed or invalid account, the transaction will fail at checkout and you'll need to select a different payment method.

What happens if a payment fails

If Amazon tries to process a payment and your bank declines it — usually because of insufficient funds or a frozen account — the order will not go through. Amazon will show an error message at checkout saying the payment was declined. You can try again immediately with the same account, switch to a different payment method, or contact your bank to find out why the transfer was blocked.

Some banks flag ACH transfers as suspicious if they're unusual for your account, especially if the amount is large or the transfer is to a new recipient. If this happens, your bank may decline the transfer without telling Amazon why. Call your bank's fraud department and ask if the Amazon charge was blocked. If it was, they can approve it and allow future Amazon transfers to go through.

If you see a charge on your statement that you didn't authorize, or if Amazon charged you twice for the same order, contact Amazon customer service immediately. Provide your order number and the transaction date. Amazon can reverse the charge or investigate the duplicate. If Amazon won't help, your bank can dispute the charge as an unauthorized ACH transfer.

Security and privacy considerations

When you add your checking account to Amazon, you're giving Amazon permission to initiate ACH transfers from that account. Amazon does not store your full account number — it encrypts and tokenizes the information, meaning Amazon's servers hold a secure reference to your account rather than the actual number. This is the same security method used by banks and payment processors.

Your bank account information is not shared with Amazon merchants or third parties. Only Amazon's payment system can access it, and only to process charges you authorize. If you're concerned about security, you can remove your bank account at any time, and Amazon will no longer have access to it.

If your Amazon account is hacked, a thief could potentially use your linked bank account to make purchases. To reduce this risk, use a strong, unique password for Amazon and enable two-factor authentication in your account settings. If you suspect your Amazon account has been compromised, change your password immediately and review your payment methods to remove any that you don't recognize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a savings account instead of a checking account?

No. Amazon only accepts checking accounts for bank account payments. If you try to add a savings account, the verification will fail. You must use a checking account, even if both accounts are at the same bank.

How long does it take for the verification deposits to arrive?

The two small deposits usually arrive within one to two business days. Weekends and bank holidays can add time, so if you submit your account on a Friday, the deposits may not appear until Tuesday or Wednesday. Once they arrive, you can verify immediately.

What if I can't find the verification deposit amounts in my bank statement?

Check your bank's mobile app and online banking separately — some banks display pending transactions differently in each place. If you still can't find them after two business days, contact your bank to confirm the deposits were received. If your bank says they weren't deposited, go back to Amazon and remove the unverified account, then add it again.

Can I use the same checking account on multiple Amazon accounts?

Yes, but each Amazon account must verify the bank account separately. The verification deposits will be sent to your bank account twice, so you'll see four small deposits total (two for each Amazon account). You'll need to confirm the amounts for each account separately.

What if I close my bank account after adding it to Amazon?

Remove the account from Amazon's payment methods as soon as possible. If you forget and try to make a purchase, the charge will fail because the account no longer exists. Your bank may also charge you a fee for the failed transfer attempt. Once you open a new account, you can add that account to Amazon and go through the verification process again.