PayPal verifies your bank account by sending two small deposits to your checking account, then asking you to confirm the amounts

When you link a bank account to PayPal, the company deposits two amounts—usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each—into your account within one to two business days. You then log into PayPal, enter those exact amounts, and confirm them. Once you do, your account is verified and you can transfer money to and from that bank account without limits. The whole process typically takes three to five business days from start to finish.

Verification is required before you can withdraw money from PayPal to your bank account or use certain payment features. If you skip this step, PayPal will eventually lock your ability to move money out, so it is worth doing right away even if you do not need to transfer funds immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • PayPal sends two small test deposits to your bank account; you must confirm the exact amounts in your PayPal account to complete verification.
  • The deposits arrive within one to two business days, and the entire verification process takes three to five business days.
  • You need a checking account in your own name at a U.S. bank; PayPal does not verify savings accounts, money market accounts, or accounts held jointly.
  • If deposits do not arrive after five business days, check that you entered your routing and account numbers correctly, then contact your bank to confirm the deposits were not rejected.
  • Once verified, you can withdraw money to that account at any time and link additional bank accounts using the same method.

What information PayPal needs before sending the test deposits

Before PayPal can send the verification deposits, you must provide your bank's routing number and your account number. You can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website and look for account details. PayPal will also ask you to confirm the account holder's name—it must match the name on your PayPal account exactly.

Double-check the routing and account numbers before you submit them. If either is wrong, the deposits will be rejected by your bank and you will have to start over. PayPal will not attempt to resend deposits to an incorrect account; you will need to remove the account and add it again with the correct information.

Where to find the test deposit amounts in your bank account

Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look at your checking account transactions. The two deposits will appear as small credits from PayPal, usually labeled something like "PayPal" or "PAYPAL VERIFICATION" in the transaction description. They may take one to two business days to show up, so do not check immediately after you link the account.

If you do not see the deposits after five business days, contact your bank's customer service and ask whether the deposits were rejected. Some banks flag small deposits as suspicious and block them. If that happened, ask your bank to allow PayPal deposits through, then ask PayPal to resend the verification deposits by going to your wallet settings and selecting the option to re-verify the account.

How to confirm the deposit amounts and complete verification

Once the two deposits appear in your bank account, log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app. Go to your Wallet, select the bank account you linked, and look for a prompt to confirm the deposit amounts. Click that option and enter the two amounts you saw in your bank account—for example, $0.23 and $0.17. The amounts must be exact.

After you enter both amounts correctly, PayPal will confirm that your account is verified. The two test deposits will remain in your bank account; PayPal does not pull them back. You can now transfer money from PayPal to your bank account whenever you want, and the money will arrive within one to three business days depending on your bank.

What to do if the deposits never arrive or you cannot find the amounts

If five business days have passed and you still do not see the deposits, first check that you entered your routing and account numbers correctly. Log back into PayPal, go to your Wallet, and click on the bank account to see what numbers PayPal has on file. Compare them to a check or your bank's website.

If the numbers are wrong, remove the account from PayPal and add it again with the correct information. If the numbers are correct, contact your bank and ask whether PayPal's deposits were rejected or blocked. Some banks require you to whitelist PayPal or adjust your security settings before they will accept the deposits. Once your bank confirms it will accept them, go back to PayPal and request that the verification deposits be resent.

If you still cannot locate the amounts after the deposits arrive, write them down exactly as they appear in your bank account, including the decimal point. Do not round or estimate. If PayPal rejects your entry, try again with the amounts copied directly from your bank's transaction record.

Linking additional bank accounts after your first account is verified

Once you have verified one bank account, you can link more accounts using the same process. Go to your Wallet, select the option to add a new bank account, and enter the routing and account numbers for the new account. PayPal will send two new test deposits to that account, and you will confirm the amounts just as you did the first time.

Each additional account requires its own verification deposits, so plan for another three to five business days per account. You can have multiple verified bank accounts linked to PayPal at the same time, and you can choose which account to transfer money to when you withdraw funds.

Why PayPal uses this verification method and what it protects

The two-deposit method confirms that you own the bank account and have access to it. If someone else tried to link your bank account to their PayPal account without your permission, they would not be able to complete verification because they would not see the deposits in your account. This protects you from unauthorized withdrawals.

It also protects PayPal by confirming that the account is real and active. A fake or closed account will reject the deposits, and PayPal will know not to process transfers to it. The small amounts are intentional—they are cheap for PayPal to send and unlikely to trigger fraud alerts at your bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I verify a savings account or money market account instead of checking?

No. PayPal only verifies checking accounts. If you try to link a savings account, the deposits may be rejected or PayPal may not allow you to complete verification. You must use a checking account in your own name.

What if my name on PayPal does not match my bank account exactly?

The names must match for verification to work. If your PayPal name is "John Smith" but your bank account is under "John Michael Smith," you will need to update one of them first. Update your PayPal name in your account settings, or contact your bank to change the account holder name. Then link the account again.

Do I have to verify my bank account right away, or can I wait?

You can wait, but PayPal will eventually restrict your account if you do not verify. You will not be able to withdraw money or use certain features. It is easier to verify now than to deal with a locked account later.

What happens to the two test deposits after I confirm them?

They stay in your bank account. PayPal does not pull them back. You can spend them or leave them there—they are yours.

Can I verify the same bank account on multiple PayPal accounts?

No. Each bank account can only be linked to one PayPal account. If you try to add it to a second account, PayPal will reject it or ask you to remove it from the first account.