What confirming your bank account means and why PayPal requires it
Confirming your bank account with PayPal means proving to PayPal that you own the bank account you linked to your wallet. PayPal does this by sending two small deposits (usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each) to your bank account, then asking you to tell PayPal the exact amounts. Once you confirm those amounts, PayPal knows the account is yours and unlocks higher transaction limits and the ability to withdraw money.
Without confirmation, you can receive money into PayPal and spend it there, but you cannot transfer it to your bank account or use certain payment features. Confirmation is free and takes a few business days to complete.
Key Takeaways
- PayPal sends two small test deposits to your linked bank account; you log into PayPal and enter the exact amounts to confirm you own the account.
- The deposits arrive within one to three business days, and you must confirm them within 30 days or you will have to start over.
- After confirmation, you can withdraw money to your bank account and access higher sending and receiving limits.
- If deposits do not arrive, check that your bank account number and routing number are correct in PayPal, or contact your bank to ask if they blocked small deposits.
Step-by-step process to confirm your bank account
Log into your PayPal account on a computer or the PayPal app. Go to Wallet, then select Link a bank account if you have not already added one. If your bank account is already linked, skip to the next paragraph.
Once your bank account is linked, PayPal will send two small deposits within one to three business days. Check your bank statement or online banking portal for these deposits. They will appear as small charges from PayPal, usually labeled something like "PAYPAL DEPOSIT" or "PAYPAL TEST."
When you see both deposits in your bank account, return to PayPal. Go to Wallet and find the bank account you linked. Click on it and select Confirm bank account or Verify (the exact wording varies by app version). Enter the two deposit amounts in the exact order PayPal asks for them. Click Confirm. PayPal will verify the amounts and confirm your account within seconds.
How long confirmation takes and what to expect
The two test deposits typically arrive within one to three business days. Weekends and bank holidays can add time, so if you linked your account on a Friday, the deposits may not show until Tuesday or Wednesday. Once you see both deposits, you can confirm immediately—the confirmation itself takes seconds.
After you confirm, PayPal removes the two small deposits from your account. You will not see them charged to your bank account; they are reversed automatically. Your bank account is now confirmed, and you can withdraw money to it and use higher transaction limits right away.
If 30 days pass and you have not confirmed the deposits, PayPal will cancel the confirmation process and you will have to start over. You do not lose money—the deposits are simply reversed—but you will have to wait another one to three business days for new test deposits.
What to do if the deposits do not arrive
First, check your bank statement carefully. Some banks show PayPal deposits under a different name or label, or they may appear as pending for a day or two. Log into your online banking and search for "PayPal" or look for any deposits under $1.00 from the date you linked your account.
If you still do not see the deposits after three business days, the most common reason is that your bank account number or routing number is incorrect in PayPal. Go back to Wallet, click on your bank account, and select Edit. Double-check that the account number and routing number match exactly what your bank shows. If they do not match, correct them and PayPal will send new deposits.
Another reason deposits may not arrive is that your bank blocked them. Some banks flag very small deposits as suspicious or do not process them at all. Contact your bank's customer service and tell them you are expecting small test deposits from PayPal. Ask them to confirm that they are not blocking deposits under $1.00. If your bank is blocking them, you may need to call PayPal to discuss alternative confirmation methods.
Confirming a bank account on mobile versus desktop
The process is nearly identical on both, but the menu locations differ slightly. On the PayPal app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap Wallet. Find your bank account and tap it. Look for Confirm or Verify. On a computer, log in at paypal.com, click Wallet in the top menu, find your bank account, and click the confirmation option.
Some users find it easier to confirm on a computer because the screen is larger and the menu is clearer, but both work equally well. If you start the process on one device, you can finish it on another—PayPal tracks your confirmation status across all devices.
What happens after your bank account is confirmed
Once confirmed, your bank account becomes your primary withdrawal method. Any money you receive through PayPal can now be transferred to this account. Transfers to a confirmed bank account usually take one to three business days, depending on your bank.
Confirming your bank account also raises your transaction limits. New PayPal accounts have lower limits on how much you can send and receive. Confirming a bank account increases these limits significantly, though the exact amounts vary by account age and history. You will see your new limits in the Account Limits section of your PayPal settings.
If you ever need to remove this bank account from PayPal, you can do so at any time from your Wallet. Removing it does not affect your PayPal balance—money stays in your PayPal account until you transfer it elsewhere or spend it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I confirm my bank account without waiting for the deposits?
No. PayPal requires you to receive and report back the exact amounts of the two deposits. There is no way to skip this step or confirm instantly. The wait is PayPal's way of verifying that you control the bank account.
What if I enter the wrong deposit amounts?
PayPal will tell you the amounts are incorrect and ask you to try again. You have multiple attempts, so you can check your bank statement again and re-enter the correct amounts. If you have tried several times and keep getting rejected, contact PayPal support—there may be a technical issue.
Do I have to confirm my bank account to use PayPal?
No. You can receive money and make purchases with PayPal without confirming a bank account. However, you cannot withdraw money to your bank account or access higher transaction limits without confirmation. If you only plan to spend money within PayPal, confirmation is optional.
Can I confirm multiple bank accounts?
Yes. You can link and confirm up to four bank accounts to a single PayPal account. Each one goes through the same two-deposit confirmation process. You can choose which account to withdraw to each time you transfer money.
What if my bank account information changes?
If you close the bank account or change banks, you will need to unlink the old account from PayPal and link a new one. The new account will need to go through the confirmation process again with two test deposits. Your PayPal balance is not affected—it stays in your PayPal wallet until you transfer it to the new confirmed account.