The basic steps to connect your bank to Apple Cash
To add a bank account to Apple Cash, open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the plus sign in the upper right corner, select "Apple Cash," and follow the prompts to enter your bank details. Apple will ask for your routing number and account number — both are on the bottom left of your checks, or you can find them by logging into your bank's website or app. The whole process takes about five minutes.
Once you've entered your information, Apple verifies the account by making two small deposits (usually under a dollar each) to your bank account within one to three business days. You'll see these deposits in your bank account online, and you'll need to confirm the amounts in the Wallet app to finish linking. After that, you can transfer money from your bank to Apple Cash whenever you want.
You don't have to link a bank account to use Apple Cash — you can receive money from other people and spend it without one. But linking a bank account is the only way to add your own money to the account from scratch.
Key Takeaways
- You need your bank's routing number and your account number to link your bank, both of which appear on the bottom of your checks or in your bank's app.
- Apple verifies the account by depositing two small amounts of money and asking you to confirm those amounts in the Wallet app.
- The verification process takes one to three business days, and you cannot transfer money until it is complete.
- You can receive Apple Cash payments from other people without linking a bank account, but you cannot add your own money without one.
Where to find your routing and account numbers
Your routing number identifies which bank you use. Your account number identifies which specific account within that bank is yours. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have — the routing number comes first (usually nine digits), then your account number (usually ten to twelve digits).
If you don't have checks, log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for account details, account information, or settings. Most banks display both numbers there. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask them to read the numbers to you — they will verify your identity first.
Do not share these numbers with anyone except Apple. They are the information someone would need to move money out of your account without permission.
What happens during the verification process
After you enter your routing and account numbers, Apple sends two small deposits to your bank account — usually between 1 cent and 99 cents each. These deposits appear in your bank account within one to three business days, depending on how fast your bank processes transfers.
Once you see the deposits in your bank account, go back to the Wallet app and enter the two amounts. Apple checks that the amounts match what it sent. This step proves that you actually own the bank account and have access to it. After you confirm the amounts correctly, the link is active and you can transfer money.
If you enter the amounts wrong, you usually get two more tries before the link fails. If it fails, you can start over and request new verification deposits.
Transferring money from your bank to Apple Cash
Once your bank account is linked and verified, open the Wallet app, tap Apple Cash, and look for an option to add money or transfer funds. The exact wording varies depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, but it will be near the top of the Apple Cash card.
Tap that option and enter the amount you want to transfer. Apple will show you the money in your Apple Cash balance within minutes, though it may take a few hours to appear on your bank statement as a debit. There is no fee for transferring money from your bank to Apple Cash.
You can transfer as much or as little as you want, as often as you want. There is no daily or monthly limit on how much you can move between your bank and Apple Cash.
Removing or changing your linked bank account
If you want to stop using a particular bank account with Apple Cash, open the Wallet app, tap Apple Cash, scroll down to find the linked bank account, and tap "Remove." The account will no longer be connected, and you won't be able to transfer money from it.
You can add a different bank account by going through the same process again — entering the routing and account numbers and confirming the verification deposits. You can have more than one bank account linked to Apple Cash at the same time, though you can only transfer from one at a time.
If your bank account information changes — for example, you switch banks or close an account — you should remove the old account and add the new one. Using outdated account information can cause transfers to fail.
What to do if verification deposits don't arrive
If you don't see the two verification deposits in your bank account after three business days, check that you entered your routing and account numbers correctly. Log into your bank's website or app and look at your recent transactions to see if the deposits are there under a different name — sometimes they appear as "Apple" or "APPLE CASH VERIFY" rather than the full company name.
If the deposits genuinely aren't there, your bank may have blocked them. Some banks flag small transfers from unfamiliar sources as suspicious. Call your bank's customer service line and ask if they blocked any deposits from Apple. If they did, ask them to allow the transfers and request that Apple send the verification deposits again.
If your bank says the deposits never arrived and you're sure your account number is correct, you can try linking a different bank account. Some people find that switching banks solves the problem, though this is rare.
Security and what Apple sees
When you link your bank account to Apple Cash, Apple stores your routing number and account number on your phone, encrypted so that even Apple employees cannot read them. Apple does not store your bank password, and it does not need it — the routing and account numbers are enough to verify that the account is yours.
Your bank can see that money is moving to Apple Cash, but Apple Cash transactions themselves are separate from your bank account. Once money is in Apple Cash, your bank doesn't track what you do with it — that's between you and Apple.
If your phone is lost or stolen, the person who finds it cannot use your linked bank account to transfer money without your Face ID or passcode. If you're worried about security, you can remove the bank account from Apple Cash remotely by signing into your Apple account on another device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link a joint bank account to Apple Cash?
Yes. If both names are on the account, either person can link it using the routing and account numbers. However, only the person whose name appears first on the account will receive the verification deposits, so that person needs to be the one who confirms them in the Wallet app.
What if I enter my routing number wrong?
The verification deposits will go to the wrong bank or fail to process. You'll know within a few days because the deposits won't show up. You can then remove the account and try again with the correct routing number. Double-check the number before you submit it.
Do I have to keep money in my bank account to use Apple Cash?
Yes. When you transfer money from your bank to Apple Cash, that amount must be available in your bank account at the time of the transfer. If you try to transfer more than you have, the transfer will fail. Once the money is in Apple Cash, you can spend it even if your bank account balance drops.
Can I transfer money from Apple Cash back to my bank account?
Yes. Open the Wallet app, tap Apple Cash, look for a transfer or send money option, and choose to send the money back to your linked bank account. The transfer usually takes one to three business days. There is no fee for this either.
What if my bank doesn't support Apple Cash?
Most U.S. banks work with Apple Cash, but a small number do not. If your bank isn't supported, you'll see an error message when you try to link it. Contact your bank's customer service to ask if they plan to support Apple Cash in the future, or consider opening an account at a bank that does.