Yes, you can link a checking account to PayPal, and it's one of the safest ways to move money in and out
PayPal lets you connect a checking account directly to your account. Once linked, you can transfer money from PayPal to your bank, or from your bank to PayPal. You'll need your routing number and account number — the same information you'd give an employer for direct deposit. The connection is encrypted, meaning PayPal and your bank use security codes to protect the information as it travels between them.
Linking a checking account takes about five minutes, but PayPal will verify the connection by making two small test deposits to your account. You'll see these deposits (usually under $1 each) appear in your checking account within a few business days, and you'll need to confirm the amounts in PayPal to prove you own the account. After that, transfers work when ready or within one to three business days, depending on which direction the money is moving.
Key Takeaways
- You need your checking account's routing number and account number to link it to PayPal, which you can find on a check or by calling your bank.
- PayPal verifies the connection by depositing two small amounts into your checking account, and you must confirm those amounts in PayPal to complete the link.
- Once verified, you can transfer money from PayPal to your checking account (usually one to three business days) or from your checking account to PayPal (usually when ready).
- Linking a checking account is safer than using a debit card because PayPal never sees your full account number — only your bank does.
What information you need before you start
Gather these details before you open PayPal or log in. You'll need your routing number (a nine-digit code that identifies your specific bank) and your account number (the number of your checking account at that bank). Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have. If you don't have checks, call your bank's customer service line — they can read both numbers to you in under a minute.
You'll also need access to the email address or phone number linked to your PayPal account, because PayPal will ask you to confirm the connection there. Make sure you can log into your checking account online or through your bank's app, because you'll need to see those two test deposits when they arrive.
The step-by-step process to link your account
Log into PayPal on a computer or the PayPal app. Go to Wallet (or My Money on older versions), then select Link a bank account. Choose Checking Account from the options. Enter your routing number and account number, then your name as it appears on the account. PayPal will ask you to confirm the account holder's address — use the address on file at your bank.
After you submit this information, PayPal will tell you that two small test deposits are on the way. Check your checking account online or through your bank's app in two to four business days. When you see the deposits (they might be labeled "PayPal" or with a code like "PAYPAL MICRO"), note the exact amounts — usually something like $0.23 and $0.17.
Go back to PayPal and select the account you just linked. PayPal will ask you to enter those two amounts. Once you confirm them correctly, the account is verified and ready to use. You can now transfer money both directions.
How long transfers take and where the money goes
Money moving from your checking account into PayPal usually arrives when ready or within a few minutes. This is called a pull transfer — you're pulling money from your bank into PayPal. Your bank may charge a fee for this (some do, some don't), so check your bank's fee schedule if you plan to do this often.
Money moving from PayPal to your checking account takes one to three business days. This is called a push transfer — PayPal is pushing money to your bank. PayPal does not charge a fee for this, but the transfer speed depends on your bank's processing time. Weekends and bank holidays don't count as business days, so a transfer you start on Friday evening might not land until Tuesday morning.
Once the money reaches your checking account, it's yours to use like any other deposit. You can write checks against it, use your debit card, or transfer it elsewhere.
Why linking a checking account is safer than other options
When you link a checking account, PayPal never sees your full account number. Instead, your bank shares only what's necessary to verify the connection — the routing number and a partial account number. Your bank keeps the complete account number private. This means if PayPal's systems were ever compromised, a thief would not have enough information to drain your checking account.
Linking a checking account is also safer than using a debit card with PayPal. When you add a debit card, PayPal stores the full card number. If that information is stolen, someone could use the card number to make purchases. With a bank account link, there's no card number to steal — only a routing number, which is public information (it's printed on every check from your bank).
What to do if the test deposits don't arrive
If you don't see the two test deposits after five business days, log into PayPal and check the status of the link. PayPal will tell you whether the deposits are still pending or if something went wrong. Common problems include entering the routing number or account number incorrectly, or using an account that's not in your name.
If PayPal says the deposits failed, you can try linking the account again. Make sure you're using the exact routing number for your specific bank branch (some large banks have multiple routing numbers), and double-check the account number by looking at a check or calling your bank. If you've tried twice and it's still not working, contact your bank's customer service — they can confirm whether the deposits arrived and got stuck somewhere in their system.
Removing or replacing a linked checking account
You can unlink a checking account at any time. Log into PayPal, go to Wallet, find the account you want to remove, and select Remove or Unlink. PayPal will ask you to confirm. Once removed, you can no longer transfer money to or from that account through PayPal, but the account itself is not affected — your bank will continue to work normally.
If you want to link a different checking account (for example, if you switched banks), you can add a new one using the same process. PayPal will send new test deposits to the new account. You can have multiple checking accounts linked at once, which is useful if you have accounts at different banks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link a savings account instead of a checking account?
PayPal allows you to link a savings account, but the process is the same — you'll still need your routing number and account number, and PayPal will still send two test deposits. Transfers work the same way and take the same amount of time. The main difference is that some banks charge a fee for frequent transfers out of savings accounts (federal rules limit these to six per month), so check your bank's policy first.
What if I enter the wrong routing number or account number?
PayPal's system will catch most mistakes before the test deposits are sent. If you enter a routing number that doesn't match any real bank, PayPal will reject it when ready. If you enter a valid routing number but a wrong account number, the test deposits will fail and PayPal will tell you the link didn't work. You can try again with the correct information.
Do I have to keep the checking account open after I link it?
You should keep the account open as long as you want to use the PayPal link. If you close the checking account, PayPal won't be able to send or receive money from that account anymore. If you close the account and forget to unlink it from PayPal, future transfer attempts will fail, but no money will be lost — it will just stay in PayPal.
Can someone else see my checking account information if I link it to PayPal?
No. Your checking account information is private between you, your bank, and PayPal. If you send money to someone through PayPal, they see only your PayPal name and email — they never see your account number, routing number, or bank name. The connection is encrypted, so even PayPal employees cannot see your full account details.
How long does it take to unlink an account?
Unlinking is when ready. Once you select Remove or Unlink and confirm, the account is disconnected from PayPal when ready. Any transfers already in progress will still complete, but no new transfers can be started to or from that account.