The basic steps to connect your savings account

PayPal lets you link a savings account so money can move between the two. The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in the PayPal app or website. You'll need your bank's routing number and your account number — both appear on a check or in your bank's online portal — plus your PayPal login.

Start by opening PayPal, going to your Wallet, and selecting "Link a bank account." Choose "Savings" as the account type. Enter your bank's name, routing number, and account number. PayPal will then send two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your savings account within one to two business days. Once those deposits land, you return to PayPal, confirm the exact amounts, and the account is live.

After confirmation, you can transfer money from your savings account into PayPal to send to others, or request PayPal to pull funds from savings when you need to cover a payment. The connection stays active until you remove it.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your savings account's routing number and account number, both found on a check or in your bank's online banking portal.
  • PayPal sends two small test deposits to confirm the account is yours; you must confirm the amounts to complete the link.
  • The entire process takes one to two business days for the test deposits to arrive, then a few minutes to verify them.
  • Once linked, you can transfer money from savings into PayPal or have PayPal pull from savings when you send money to others.
  • You can unlink the account at any time through your PayPal wallet settings without affecting your savings account.

Where to find your routing and account numbers

Your routing number identifies which bank holds your account. Your account number is unique to that specific savings account. Both appear on the bottom left of any check you have — the routing number comes first, then the account number. If you don't have checks, log into your bank's website or mobile app, go to account details or statements, and both numbers are listed there.

Some banks also print these numbers on statements or deposit slips. If you can't locate them, call your bank's customer service line (the number is on your debit card or bank statement) and ask for your routing number and savings account number. Have your account holder name and ID ready.

What happens during the verification step

After you enter your account information, PayPal deposits two amounts — usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each — into your savings account. This confirms you own the account and have access to it. The deposits appear within one to two business days, depending on your bank's processing speed.

Once the deposits land, return to PayPal and enter the exact amounts you see in your savings account. This step proves you can access the account. After you confirm the amounts correctly, the account is fully linked and ready to use. If you enter the wrong amounts, PayPal will ask you to try again; you get multiple attempts.

Moving money between your savings account and PayPal

Once linked, you have two directions of movement. You can transfer money from your savings account into PayPal to build your PayPal balance before sending it to someone else. You can also let PayPal pull from your savings account when you send money, pay a bill, or make a purchase — this happens when ready or within one business day depending on the transaction type.

To manually transfer from savings to PayPal, go to your Wallet, select "Transfer Money," choose "From your bank," pick the linked savings account, enter the amount, and confirm. The money usually arrives within one to three business days. To let PayPal pull from savings automatically, straightforward choose that account as your payment method when you're sending money or making a purchase.

Security and what PayPal can and cannot do

PayPal cannot withdraw money from your savings account without your permission for each transaction. Once linked, you control when and how much moves. PayPal uses encryption to protect your routing and account numbers — they don't store the full account number on their servers.

Your bank and PayPal are separate companies. If PayPal has a security breach, your bank account itself is not compromised — the breach would affect your PayPal balance and any stored payment methods. Similarly, if your bank is breached, PayPal's security is not affected. You should still monitor both accounts for unauthorized activity and report anything suspicious to the relevant company within 60 days.

Removing the link or switching to a different savings account

You can unlink your savings account from PayPal at any time. Go to your Wallet, find the linked account, and select "Remove." The account is disconnected when ready, and no future transfers can happen. Your savings account itself is not affected — the money stays there, and the account continues to work normally with your bank.

If you want to link a different savings account, straightforward add the new one using the same process. You can have multiple bank accounts linked to PayPal at once, though you'll choose which one to use each time you transfer money. If you close a savings account at your bank, you should remove it from PayPal as well to avoid confusion.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the test deposits don't arrive within two business days, check that you entered the routing number and account number correctly. Log back into PayPal, remove the account, and try adding it again. Confirm the numbers match what your bank shows — even one digit wrong will cause the deposits to fail.

If you confirm the deposit amounts but PayPal says they're incorrect, the amounts you entered didn't match what actually landed in your account. Check your savings account statement again and re-enter the exact amounts. If the deposits have disappeared from your account (some banks remove test deposits automatically), contact PayPal support and they can verify the account another way.

If PayPal says your bank isn't supported, it's rare but possible with very small or regional banks. PayPal works with most U.S. banks, but not all. In that case, you can link a debit card instead, or contact your bank to ask if they have a different routing number for online transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link a joint savings account?

Yes, as long as your name is on the account. PayPal doesn't verify whose name appears on the account during linking — it only confirms the account exists and you can access it. If the account is in someone else's name only, you cannot link it.

Does linking my savings account cost money?

No. PayPal doesn't charge to link a bank account. Your bank may charge a fee if you make frequent transfers, but that's between you and your bank, not PayPal. Check your bank's transfer limits and fees in their terms.

How long do transfers from savings to PayPal take?

Manual transfers from your savings account into PayPal usually take one to three business days. Transfers from PayPal back to savings also take one to three business days. Weekends and bank holidays can add time. Some banks process faster than others.

What if I accidentally linked the wrong account?

Remove it when ready from your Wallet and add the correct account. The test deposits will go to the wrong account, but they're small amounts and will either stay there or be removed by your bank. You can then link the correct account and complete the verification process.

Is my savings account safer linked to PayPal or not linked?

Linking doesn't make it less safe. PayPal cannot take money without your permission, and your bank account is protected by your bank's security. The main risk is if someone gains access to your PayPal account — they could then transfer from your linked savings. Use a strong PayPal password and enable two-factor authentication to reduce that risk.