Yes, you can link your checking account to PayPal, and it's the most direct way to move money in and out
PayPal lets you connect a checking account so you can send money to other people, receive payments, and move funds between PayPal and your bank. When you link your account, PayPal doesn't store your actual account number — instead, it uses a find connection to verify you own the account and to move money when you ask it to.
Linking takes about five minutes, though PayPal may take a few days to confirm the connection is real. Once it's confirmed, you can use your checking account as your funding source for payments, or have PayPal send money back to it.
Key Takeaways
- You link your checking account by giving PayPal your routing number and account number, which you can find on a check or your bank's website.
- PayPal will make two small test deposits to your account to confirm you own it — you'll need to tell PayPal the amounts to complete the link.
- Once linked, your checking account becomes a funding source you can choose when you send money or request a withdrawal from PayPal.
- You can unlink your account at any time from your PayPal settings, and linking does not give PayPal permission to take money without your approval.
What information PayPal needs from you
To link your checking account, PayPal will ask for your routing number and account number. Your routing number identifies your bank; your account number identifies your specific account at that bank. Both numbers appear on the bottom left of any check you have, or you can log into your bank's website and find them in the account details section.
You'll also need to confirm your full name and address as they appear in your bank's records. PayPal checks that these match before it allows the link.
How PayPal confirms you own the account
After you enter your account information, PayPal sends two small deposits — usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each — to your checking account. These deposits appear in your bank account within one to two business days. PayPal then asks you to tell it the exact amounts of those two deposits.
Once you enter the amounts correctly, PayPal knows you have access to the account and the link is confirmed. You can then use that account to fund payments or receive money. The test deposits stay in your account — you don't need to send them back.
Moving money between your checking account and PayPal
Once your account is linked, you have two directions you can move money. When you send money through PayPal to another person, you can choose your linked checking account as the funding source instead of a PayPal balance. PayPal will pull the money from your bank account to complete the payment.
You can also move money the other direction: if you receive a payment in PayPal or sell something, you can withdraw that money back to your checking account. This usually takes one to three business days, depending on your bank.
Security and what PayPal can and cannot do
Linking your account does not give PayPal permission to take money whenever it wants. PayPal can only pull money from your account when you actively choose to send a payment or request a withdrawal. You remain in control of when money moves.
PayPal uses encryption to protect your account information, which means your actual account number is not stored in a way that can be easily read if someone hacks PayPal's system. If you ever feel your account has been compromised, you can unlink it when ready from your PayPal settings, and PayPal will no longer be able to access your bank account.
Unlinking your account or switching to a different one
You can remove your checking account from PayPal at any time by going to your PayPal settings and selecting the account, then choosing the option to unlink it. Once unlinked, PayPal can no longer pull money from that account or send money to it.
If you want to link a different checking account — for example, if you switched banks — you can add a new account using the same process. You'll need to go through the two test deposits again to confirm the new account is yours.
What to do if the test deposits don't arrive
If you don't see the two test deposits in your checking account after two business days, the most common reason is that you entered your routing number or account number incorrectly. Check both numbers again against a check or your bank's website and try linking again.
If the numbers are correct and the deposits still don't appear after three business days, contact your bank to confirm they haven't blocked the deposits. Some banks flag small deposits from unfamiliar sources as suspicious. Once your bank confirms the deposits, you can tell PayPal the amounts and complete the link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does linking my checking account cost money?
No. Linking your account to PayPal is free. You may pay a fee if you choose certain ways to send money or withdraw funds, but the link itself costs nothing.
Can I link a savings account instead of a checking account?
Yes. PayPal accepts both checking and savings accounts. The process is the same — you provide your routing and account numbers, and PayPal sends two test deposits to confirm you own it.
What happens if I link the wrong account by mistake?
If you realize you linked the wrong account, unlink it when ready from your PayPal settings. The test deposits will stay in whichever account you linked, but PayPal won't be able to pull money from it once you unlink. Then you can link the correct account.
Do I have to use my checking account every time I send money through PayPal?
No. Once your account is linked, you can choose it as your funding source, but you don't have to use it for every payment. PayPal lets you pick which funding source to use each time you send money.