Connect your bank account to PayPal in four steps

PayPal needs your bank account information to move money between your PayPal balance and your checking or savings account. You add this through your PayPal account settings, provide your routing and account numbers, and confirm the connection with two small test deposits that PayPal sends to your bank. The whole process takes about five to seven business days from start to finish, though you can usually transfer money before the test deposits arrive if you've already confirmed your account through other means.

The connection is one-way in terms of what you control: you decide when to transfer money out of PayPal to your bank, but PayPal can also pull money from your bank if you don't have enough PayPal balance to cover a payment or refund. This is called an automatic transfer, and it happens without asking you first.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your bank's routing number and your account number to connect PayPal to your bank account, both found on the bottom left of a check or through your bank's website.
  • PayPal sends two small test deposits (usually under $1 each) to confirm the connection is real, and you must log into PayPal and enter the amounts to complete the link.
  • The connection takes five to seven business days to fully activate, but you can transfer money out of PayPal before that if you've confirmed your identity another way.
  • Once connected, PayPal can automatically pull money from your bank account to cover payments if your PayPal balance runs short, unless you turn this off in your settings.
  • You can connect multiple bank accounts to one PayPal account, but only one can be set as your primary transfer destination.

What information you need before you start

Gather these details before you open PayPal: your bank's routing number and your account number. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have from that account—the routing number is the first set of nine digits, and the account number follows. If you don't have a check, log into your bank's website or app and look for account details, account information, or routing number in the settings or help section. Some banks also print this on statements.

You'll also need access to the email address or phone number linked to your PayPal account, because PayPal may ask you to verify your identity before allowing the connection. If you've already confirmed your identity through a credit card, government ID, or previous bank link, you may skip this step.

The four-step process to link your bank account

Log into your PayPal account on a computer or the PayPal app. Go to Settings (usually a gear icon), then select Wallet or Banks and Cards depending on your version. Click Link a Bank Account or the plus sign next to bank accounts.

Enter your bank's routing number and your account number. PayPal will ask whether the account is checking or savings—choose the correct type. You'll also enter the name on the account (should match your PayPal name) and confirm your bank's name from a dropdown list. PayPal then sends two small test deposits to your bank, usually within one business day.

Check your bank account for the two deposits. They appear as transfers from PayPal and show amounts like $0.23 and $0.17—the exact amounts vary. This step confirms that the account number and routing number are correct and that you actually own the account.

Return to PayPal, go back to your bank account settings, and enter the two amounts you saw in your bank account. PayPal verifies the amounts match, and your bank account is now linked. You can now transfer money out to this account or set it as your primary destination for refunds and sales proceeds.

How long the connection takes and when you can use it

The full process takes five to seven business days from the moment you enter your bank details. This timeline includes the time for PayPal to send the test deposits and for your bank to post them. Weekends and bank holidays extend the timeline—if you link your account on a Friday, expect the deposits to arrive Tuesday or Wednesday.

You can often transfer money out of PayPal before the test deposits arrive if you've already confirmed your identity another way. For example, if you've added and verified a credit card or uploaded a government ID to PayPal, you may be able to transfer funds within 24 hours of linking the bank account. PayPal will tell you whether this is available in your case when you complete the linking process.

Once the test deposits post and you've entered the amounts, transfers out of PayPal to your bank account usually arrive within one to two business days. Some banks post transfers the same day if you initiate the transfer before a certain time (often 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Eastern Time).

Automatic transfers and what happens if your PayPal balance runs low

After you link a bank account, PayPal can automatically pull money from that account if you don't have enough PayPal balance to cover a payment, refund, or fee. This is called an automatic transfer or instant transfer depending on PayPal's current terminology. It happens without asking you first—PayPal simply deducts the amount from your linked bank account.

You can turn this off in your PayPal settings. Go to Settings, then Payments or Money Movement, and look for Automatic Transfers or Backup Funding Source. Toggle it off if you don't want PayPal to pull from your bank account. If you leave it on and PayPal does pull money, you'll see the transaction in your bank account as a debit from PayPal.

Be aware that if automatic transfers are on and your bank account doesn't have enough money, the transfer will fail and PayPal may charge you a fee. Your payment or refund may also be delayed or rejected. Turning off automatic transfers means you must manually transfer money into your PayPal balance before making a payment if your PayPal balance is too low.

Connecting multiple bank accounts and changing your primary account

You can link more than one bank account to your PayPal account. Each one goes through the same test-deposit process. This is useful if you have accounts at different banks or want to keep business and personal accounts separate.

Only one account can be your primary transfer destination—this is where money goes by default when you request a transfer out of PayPal. You can change which account is primary in your settings at any time. Go to Settings, Wallet, and look for your linked bank accounts. The primary account usually has a label or checkmark next to it. Click on a different account and select Make Primary to change it.

When you request a transfer, PayPal will show you which account the money will go to. You can override this and choose a different linked account before you confirm the transfer, so you're not locked into using the primary account every time.

What to do if the test deposits don't arrive or the connection fails

If you don't see the two test deposits in your bank account after seven business days, the routing number or account number you entered may be wrong. Go back to your PayPal settings and check the numbers against your check or your bank's website. If they don't match, delete the bank account from PayPal and start over with the correct numbers.

If the numbers are correct but the deposits still haven't arrived, contact your bank. Ask whether there are any pending transfers from PayPal or whether there's a hold on your account. Some banks flag transfers from new sources as suspicious and delay them. Your bank can release the hold or confirm that the deposits are on the way.

If PayPal shows an error message when you try to link the account—such as "account not found" or "routing number invalid"—double-check that you've selected the correct bank from the dropdown list. Some large banks have multiple routing numbers depending on which branch or service you use. Contact your bank to confirm which routing number applies to your account type.

Security and fraud protection when your bank account is linked

Linking your bank account to PayPal creates a connection that PayPal can use to pull money, so it's important to monitor both your PayPal account and your bank account for unauthorized activity. PayPal offers Seller Protection and Buyer Protection depending on whether you're receiving or sending money, but these protections don't cover all scenarios.

If someone gains access to your PayPal account, they can transfer money out to your linked bank account or use automatic transfers to pull money from your bank. Set a strong, unique password on your PayPal account and enable two-factor authentication (also called 2FA or two-step verification). This requires you to enter a code from your phone or email every time you log in from a new device, making it much harder for someone else to access your account.

Check your bank account and PayPal activity regularly. If you see a transfer you didn't make, contact PayPal and your bank immediately. PayPal has a dispute process, and your bank can also reverse unauthorized transfers under consumer protection rules, though the timeline and outcome depend on how quickly you report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. When you enter your bank details in PayPal, you'll choose whether the account is checking or savings. Both work the same way—PayPal sends test deposits and you confirm the amounts. Some banks process transfers to savings accounts slightly slower than checking accounts, but most complete within one to two business days.

What if I enter the wrong routing number or account number?

PayPal's test deposits will fail to arrive, and you'll see an error when you try to confirm the amounts. Delete the account from your PayPal settings and start over with the correct numbers. There's no penalty for trying again—you just have to wait for the new test deposits to arrive.

Do I have to keep my bank account linked to PayPal?

No. You can unlink your bank account at any time in your PayPal settings. If you do, PayPal can no longer pull money from your bank account automatically, and you won't be able to transfer money out to that account. You can link it again later if you change your mind.

Can someone else see my bank account information if I link it to PayPal?

No. Your routing number and account number stay in your PayPal account and are not shared with other PayPal users or merchants. When you receive a payment from someone, they don't see your bank details—they only see that the money went to your PayPal account.

How do I know if automatic transfers are turned on?

Go to Settings, then Payments or Money Movement, and look for Automatic Transfers or Backup Funding Source. If it's toggled on, PayPal can pull from your linked bank account. If it's off, PayPal will not automatically transfer money from your bank, and you'll need to manually add funds to your PayPal balance if it runs low.