What payment redirect emails are and why you're getting them
A payment redirect email is a message your bank sends when you set up a payment to go to a different account than usual — either a different bank account of your own, someone else's account, or a new payee you've never paid before. The bank is confirming the change and often asking you to verify it's really you making the request.
You're getting these emails because you (or someone with access to your account) recently changed where a payment is going. Banks send them as a security step. If you didn't make that change, or if you're tired of getting them for legitimate payments you make regularly, there are ways to stop them.
Key Takeaways
- Payment redirect emails come from your bank when a payment destination changes, and you can turn them off in your account settings if the payee is now trusted.
- If you don't recognize the redirect email, do not click any links — contact your bank directly using the number on your debit card or bank statement instead.
- Some banks let you mark a payee as "trusted" or "verified" after the first payment, which stops future redirect emails for that payee.
- If redirect emails keep coming for the same payee after you've verified them, check your bank's notification settings or contact customer service to disable them.
How to turn off redirect emails for payees you trust
Once you've made a payment to a new payee and confirmed it went through correctly, most banks let you mark that payee as trusted so you stop receiving redirect emails for future payments to them. The steps vary by bank, but the general process is the same.
Log into your online banking or mobile app and find the section where you manage your payees or saved recipients. Look for an option that says "trusted payee," "verified payee," or "mark as trusted." Click it for the payee you want to stop getting emails about. Some banks do this automatically after your first successful payment; others require you to do it manually. If you're not sure where this setting is, your bank's help section or a quick call to customer service can point you to it.
After you mark a payee as trusted, redirect emails should stop for payments to that account. If they don't, move to the next section.
Checking your notification settings in online banking
Your bank may have a separate notification control panel where you can turn off redirect emails entirely, or turn them off for specific types of transactions. This is usually found under "Settings," "Preferences," "Notifications," or "Alerts."
Open your bank's website or app and look for a settings menu — often a gear icon or your name in the top corner. Find the notifications or alerts section. You should see a list of different types of messages your bank can send you: login alerts, large transaction alerts, payment alerts, and so on. Look for anything labeled "payment redirect," "new payee," "payment verification," or "payment confirmation." Uncheck the box next to it, or toggle it off. Save your changes.
Be careful not to turn off security alerts you actually want — like notifications when someone logs into your account from a new device. Only disable the redirect emails.
What to do if you don't recognize the redirect email
If you received a payment redirect email for a payee you did not set up, or a payment you did not authorize, do not click any links in the email. This could be a phishing attempt — a fake email designed to steal your login information or banking details.
Instead, go directly to your bank's website by typing the address into your browser (not by clicking a link in the email), or call the phone number on the back of your debit card or on a recent bank statement. Tell them you received an unexpected redirect email and ask them to check your account for unauthorized activity. If someone else did set up the payment without your permission, your bank can help you reverse it and find your account.
Redirect emails for automatic or recurring payments
If you set up a recurring payment — like a monthly bill payment or a regular transfer to savings — you may get a redirect email the first time only, or every single time. This depends on your bank's policy and your account settings.
For recurring payments, the best approach is to mark the payee as trusted after the first payment (as described above), which usually stops the emails for all future payments to that same account. If redirect emails keep coming every month even after you've marked the payee as trusted, log back into your notification settings and look for an option specific to recurring or automatic payments. Some banks let you disable redirect emails for recurring payees separately from one-time payments.
When your bank doesn't let you turn them off
A small number of banks do not offer a way to disable payment redirect emails, especially for payments to accounts outside their system. If you've checked your notification settings and marked the payee as trusted but emails keep coming, your bank may have a policy that requires them for security reasons.
In this case, you have two options. First, contact your bank's customer service and ask if there's a setting you missed, or if they can manually disable the emails for you. Second, set up a filter or rule in your email client (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) to automatically sort these emails into a folder so they don't clutter your inbox. This doesn't stop the emails, but it keeps them out of your way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to ignore payment redirect emails?
If you recognize the payee and authorized the payment, yes — you can safely ignore them. But if you don't recognize the payee or didn't set up the payment, do not ignore it. Contact your bank when ready using the number on your card, not any number in the email.
Why does my bank send redirect emails for payments to my own account?
Some banks treat transfers between your own accounts as new payees the first time you set them up, triggering a redirect email as a security check. Once you've verified the transfer, mark that account as trusted and the emails should stop.
Can I unsubscribe from payment redirect emails like I do with marketing emails?
Payment redirect emails are not marketing — they're security notifications from your bank. You won't find an unsubscribe link. Instead, turn them off through your account settings or contact customer service to ask them to disable them for you.
What if I turn off redirect emails and then forget where I'm sending a payment?
Your bank keeps a record of all your payees in your online banking account. You can always look them up there before making a payment. Turning off the emails doesn't erase the payee information — it just stops the notification.