The main ways to fund your Discover savings account
You can add money to a Discover savings account through electronic transfer from another bank account, wire transfer, or mobile check deposit. The method you choose depends on how quickly you need the money to arrive and whether you have access to the tools Discover offers.
Discover does not have physical branches, so you cannot walk in and deposit cash or a check in person. All deposits happen remotely through your computer, phone, or by mailing a check to Discover's processing center. The most common route is linking your account at another bank and transferring money electronically — this is free and usually takes one to two business days.
If you are moving money from a different bank for the first time, Discover will ask you to verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under $1 each) and confirming the exact numbers. This takes a few extra days but only happens once per account you link.
Key Takeaways
- Electronic transfers from another bank are free and take one to two business days, and you can set them up through Discover's website or mobile app.
- Mobile check deposit through the Discover app lets you photograph a check and deposit it without mailing anything, though the check must be signed and made payable to you.
- Wire transfers arrive the same business day but cost money (Discover's fee varies) and require you to provide Discover with your receiving account details in advance.
- You can mail a physical check to Discover's processing address, but this method takes seven to ten business days and requires you to write the check to yourself or have someone else write it to you.
- Discover does not accept cash deposits, transfers from PayPal or other payment apps, or direct deposits from employers — only bank transfers, checks, and wire transfers.
Electronic transfer from another bank account
This is the fastest and cheapest way to fund your account if you have a checking or savings account at another bank. Log into your Discover account online or through the mobile app, find the "Transfer Money" or "Add Funds" section, and select the option to transfer from an external account.
Discover will ask for your routing number and account number from the other bank. You can find these on a check, in your other bank's app, or by calling that bank's customer service. Once you enter the details, Discover will initiate a transfer — you choose the amount and the date you want the money to move.
The first time you link a new account, Discover deposits two small amounts (usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each) into that account to verify you own it. You will need to log into your other bank's account, find those deposits, and report the exact amounts back to Discover. This verification step takes two to three business days. After that, future transfers from the same account are when ready to set up and arrive within one to two business days.
There is no fee for electronic transfers, and you can transfer as much as you want as long as you stay within Discover's daily and monthly transfer limits (these vary by account type, so check your account terms).
Mobile check deposit through the Discover app
If someone gives you a check, you can photograph it using the Discover mobile app instead of mailing it. Open the app, find the deposit option, and take clear photos of the front and back of the check. The check must be signed on the back, made payable to you (or to you and one other person), and dated within 180 days.
Describe what the check is for in the app (this is optional but helpful for your records), confirm the amount, and submit. Discover will tell you when the deposit has been received and when the funds will be available — usually one to two business days, though some checks take longer depending on the bank that issued them.
Do not deposit the same check twice, and do not mail it to Discover after you have already photographed it. Once you submit a mobile deposit, write "Mobile Deposited" on the back of the physical check and keep it for your records for at least 30 days in case Discover needs to verify it.
There is no fee for mobile check deposits, and you can deposit multiple checks in one session.
Wire transfer for same-day funding
A wire transfer moves money from another bank to your Discover account on the same business day, but it costs money and requires more steps than an electronic transfer. Discover charges a fee to receive a wire (the amount varies — check your account terms or call Discover to confirm the current fee). Your other bank may also charge a fee to send the wire.
To receive a wire, you need to provide the sending bank with Discover's wire instructions. Call Discover's customer service line and ask for the wire routing number, account number, and any other details your bank needs. Write these down carefully — a mistake in the routing number or account number can send the money to the wrong place, and recovering it is difficult and slow.
Your other bank will initiate the wire on your behalf. The money usually arrives within a few hours on the same business day if you send it before the bank's cutoff time (usually 2 or 3 p.m. in your time zone). If you send it after cutoff, it arrives the next business day.
Mailing a check to Discover
You can mail a physical check to Discover's processing center if you do not have access to mobile deposit or electronic transfer. Write the check to yourself or ask someone else to write it to you, and include a note with your Discover account number so Discover knows which account to deposit it into.
Mail the check to the address Discover provides in your account settings or on their website — the address varies depending on where you live. Include your account number on the check itself (write it in the memo line) so there is no confusion.
Mailed checks take seven to ten business days to arrive and be processed. During this time, the money is not in your Discover account, so plan accordingly if you need the funds by a specific date. There is no fee for mailed deposits.
What Discover does not accept
Discover savings accounts cannot receive direct deposits from employers, government agencies, or other sources that automatically send paychecks or benefits. If your employer or a government program offers direct deposit, you will need to direct it to a checking account at another bank and then transfer the money to Discover yourself.
You also cannot transfer money from PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or other payment apps directly into a Discover savings account. If you receive money through one of these services, you will need to move it to your bank account first, then transfer it to Discover.
Discover does not accept cash deposits in any form. If you have cash, you will need to deposit it at another bank you have an account with, then transfer it to Discover electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take money to show up in my Discover account?
Electronic transfers from another bank take one to two business days. Mobile check deposits and mailed checks take one to two business days for mobile deposits and seven to ten for mailed checks. Wire transfers arrive the same business day if sent before your bank's cutoff time, usually 2 or 3 p.m.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer at once?
Discover sets daily and monthly transfer limits that vary by account type. Check your account terms or log into your account to see your specific limits. If you need to transfer more than the limit allows, you can make multiple transfers on different days or contact Discover to ask about increasing your limit.
What if I make a mistake entering the account number for an electronic transfer?
If you enter the wrong account number, the transfer may go to a different account at the same bank or be rejected. Contact Discover when ready if this happens. Discover can sometimes stop the transfer or help you recover the money, but the faster you report it, the better your chances.
Can I set up automatic transfers to my Discover account?
Yes. Once you have linked an external bank account and completed the verification step, you can schedule recurring transfers on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis through Discover's website or app. This is useful if you want to move money to savings on a regular schedule without having to remember to do it manually each time.
Do I need to verify every account I link to Discover?
Yes. The first time you link a new account from another bank, Discover will deposit two small amounts and ask you to confirm them. After you verify, future transfers from that account are when ready to set up. If you link a different account later, you will need to verify that one too.