PayPal asks you to confirm your bank account before you can withdraw money or use certain features

PayPal requires bank account confirmation to verify you own the account you linked. The process involves PayPal sending two small deposits (usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each) to your bank account over a few days. You then enter those amounts back into PayPal to prove you can access the account. Until you confirm, PayPal limits what you can do — you may not be able to withdraw funds, send money to friends, or use your balance for purchases.

The confirmation process is free and takes about three to five business days from start to finish, though the exact timing depends on your bank's processing speed. Some banks show deposits the same day; others take longer. You do not need to contact PayPal or your bank to complete it — the whole thing happens through your PayPal account.

Key Takeaways

  • PayPal sends two small test deposits to your bank account; you log into PayPal and enter the amounts to confirm you own the account.
  • The deposits usually arrive within three to five business days, but timing varies by bank and whether the transfer happens on a weekend or holiday.
  • Check your bank account online or through your bank's app rather than waiting for paper statements, since deposits may appear before mail arrives.
  • If deposits do not arrive after five business days, your bank may have blocked them, or you may have entered the account number incorrectly when you linked it.
  • Once confirmed, you can withdraw money from your PayPal balance and use certain features that require a verified account.

Where to find the confirmation prompt in PayPal

Log into your PayPal account on a computer or through the PayPal app. Go to Wallet (or Money on the app), then select Banks and Cards. Find the bank account you linked and look for a button or link that says Confirm, Verify, or Complete Verification. The exact wording varies depending on when you linked the account and which version of PayPal you are using.

If you do not see a confirmation prompt, your account may already be confirmed. You can check by looking at the status next to your bank account name — it should say Confirmed or Verified. If it says Pending or Unconfirmed, you need to complete the confirmation steps.

How the two-deposit method works

When you click the confirm button, PayPal tells you it will send two deposits to your bank account. You do not need to do anything at this point — PayPal handles the transfers automatically. The deposits are real money, not holds or pending charges. They will show up in your bank account just like any other deposit.

The first deposit usually arrives within one to three business days. The second deposit arrives a day or two after the first. Both amounts are small — typically less than one dollar combined — so they are straightforward to spot but do not add much to your account. Once both deposits appear in your bank account, you return to PayPal and enter the two amounts in the confirmation field. PayPal verifies the amounts match and marks your account as confirmed.

After confirmation is complete, PayPal automatically withdraws those small deposits from your bank account within a few days. You will not see them as separate charges — they straightforward disappear as part of the verification process.

Timing: when deposits arrive and what delays them

The timeline depends on when you start the confirmation and how your bank processes transfers. If you start on a Monday morning, the first deposit may arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday. If you start on a Friday afternoon, the first deposit might not arrive until Monday or Tuesday of the following week, because banks do not process transfers on weekends or federal holidays.

Some banks show deposits in your online account or app within hours. Others take a full business day. If your bank is slow, you may not see the deposits until the evening of the day they arrive, or the next morning. Check your account online or through your bank's app rather than waiting for a paper statement — statements can take weeks to arrive by mail, and you need to confirm the deposits much sooner.

If five business days have passed and you still do not see the deposits, something went wrong. The most common reasons are that you entered your account number incorrectly when you linked the account, your bank blocked the transfers, or PayPal encountered a technical error. See the troubleshooting section below.

What to do if the deposits do not arrive

First, double-check that you are looking at the right bank account. If you linked multiple accounts to PayPal, the deposits may have gone to a different one. Log into PayPal, go to your bank account settings, and confirm which account is linked.

Next, log into your bank account and search for any deposits from PayPal. Use your bank's search or filter feature to look for transactions from "PayPal" or "PAYPAL" over the past week. Some banks label them differently — you might see "PayPal Inc" or "PYPL" instead. If you find deposits but they are labeled as pending, wait another day or two for them to clear.

If you still cannot find the deposits after five business days, contact your bank's customer service and ask whether they blocked or rejected any transfers from PayPal. Some banks flag small transfers as suspicious or require you to add PayPal as a trusted recipient before accepting transfers. Your bank can tell you what happened and whether you need to take action on your end.

If your bank says they received the transfers but you do not see them, or if your bank says they rejected the transfers, you may need to re-link your bank account in PayPal. Remove the account from your PayPal wallet, wait a few minutes, and add it again, making sure you enter the account number and routing number exactly as they appear on a check or your bank statement.

Entering the deposit amounts to complete confirmation

Once both deposits have arrived in your bank account, return to PayPal. Go back to Wallet or Money, select Banks and Cards, and find the bank account you are confirming. Click the Confirm or Verify button again. This time, PayPal will ask you to enter the two deposit amounts.

Enter the amounts exactly as they appear in your bank account. If the first deposit was $0.23 and the second was $0.17, enter those numbers in the fields PayPal provides. Do not include dollar signs or extra characters — just the numbers. If you enter the amounts incorrectly, PayPal will tell you and let you try again.

After you enter both amounts correctly, PayPal will confirm your bank account when ready. You will see a message saying your account is confirmed or verified. You can now withdraw money from your PayPal balance, send money to friends, and use other features that require a verified account.

What happens after your account is confirmed

Once confirmed, your bank account is linked to PayPal permanently unless you remove it. You can withdraw money from your PayPal balance to this account at any time. Withdrawals typically take one to three business days to appear in your bank account, depending on your bank.

You will not need to confirm this account again unless you remove it from PayPal and re-add it later. If you add a different bank account in the future, you will need to confirm that new account using the same two-deposit method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I confirm my bank account on the PayPal app instead of a computer?

Yes. Open the PayPal app, tap Money, then Banks and Cards. Find your bank account and tap the confirm or verify option. The process is the same as on a computer — you wait for the deposits, then enter the amounts. Some users find it easier to check their bank account on their phone while confirming in the app.

What if I entered my bank account number wrong when I linked it?

The deposits will go to the wrong account, and you will not see them in your account. Remove the bank account from PayPal, wait a few minutes, and add it again with the correct account number. You can find your account number on a check, your bank statement, or by logging into your bank's website. Start the confirmation process over with the corrected account.

Do I have to wait for both deposits before I enter the amounts?

Yes. PayPal requires both deposits to arrive before you can complete confirmation. If you try to enter amounts before both deposits show up in your bank account, PayPal will reject them. Wait until you see both deposits, then enter both amounts together.

What if my bank shows the deposits but PayPal says they are wrong when I enter them?

Check that you are entering the exact amounts shown in your bank account. Some banks display amounts with or without cents — make sure you include the cents if your bank shows them. If you are still stuck, contact PayPal's support team through your account and describe what amounts you see in your bank. They can look up the deposits on their end and help you troubleshoot.

How long does confirmation take if I start on a holiday or weekend?

Banks do not process transfers on weekends or federal holidays, so the timeline extends. If you start confirmation on a Friday evening, the first deposit will not arrive until Monday or Tuesday. If you start on a holiday, the first deposit arrives the next business day. Plan for up to a week if you start near a holiday weekend.