Verify a PayPal Account
Having a verified PayPal account means that you have provided PayPal additional information to prove your identify. This gives potential customers more confidence in your legitimacy, and qualifies you to be covered under PayPal's Seller Protection. Verifying your account also removes account limits and enables you to transfer money between your PayPal account and your other linked bank accounts. Although PayPal asks you to complete your profile by adding both a bank account and a credit/debit card, you can verify your account with only a bank account.
Steps
- Log into your PayPal account. In order to verify your PayPal account in the US, you will need to enter a valid bank account. You do not need to enter a credit/debit card, even though your PayPal says your profile is incomplete without one.
- Attempting to link a bank account from the PayPal mobile app will link you to the PayPal website.
- The only way to verify without a bank account is to apply for the PayPal Extras Mastercard.
- Click the Wallet menu option. This can be found at the top of your Account page.
- Click the "Link a bank" button. Select your bank from the list or choose "I have a different bank" if your institution isn't listed.
- Enter your online banking information. If you chose from one of the preset options, you will be able to enter your online banking username and password to instantly link your account. If you have this option, this is all you have to do to verify your account. If you are prompted to enter your account and routing numbers, read on.
- Enter your banking account and routing information. if your bank doesn't have an instant-link option available, you can link your accounts manually by entering your account information:
- Select the account type. You can choose to link your Checking or Savings account.
- Enter in the routing number and account number. Look at your check and find the routing number and the account number. The routing number is printed on the bottom-left side of the front of the check. The account number is printed to the right of the routing number, after the symbols. Make sure to include every digit, including any leading zeros. There may be a four-digit check number between the routing number and the account number.
- Click the "Agree and link" button when you are finished.
- PayPal no longer accepts bank accounts from online banks such as NetSpend or eTrade, so you will need to provide a bank account from an actual, physical bank.
- Wait for the confirmation deposits to appear in your account. When you enter in your banking information, PayPal will make two small deposits into your account. These deposits will add up to less than $1 USD. It may take up to three business days for the deposits to show up in your account.
- Make note of the value of each deposit, and then enter them into the verification form. If you had closed the PayPal site, you can enter the amounts by logging in and clicking the "Link a bank" button again.
- Answer the confirmation call. After you have entered in the amounts that were deposited, PayPal will call the phone number you provided when you created your account. You will be asked a few questions to verify your identity and location. After the call is complete, your account will be verified.
Tips
- Your PayPal account will remain verified for as long as your linked account is open. If you close the linked account or don't keep the account information current, you will lose your verified status and will need to verify your account again using current information.
- If your PayPal account is not verified, you are not protected under the PayPal Seller Protection. This means if a customer does a credit card charge back after paying you and the case is decided in the buyer's favor, you will be out the money. When this happens to verified accounts it is covered under the Seller's Protection. PayPal reimburses the seller for the funds lost to the credit card charge back as long as he conducted the transaction in compliance with PayPal terms.
Warnings
- Do not use fake bank information to verify your PayPal account, as this is fraud and could lead to prosecution.
- Unverified PayPal accounts have a send limit of 2,000 USD. Once this limit is reached you will be required to verify your account if you wish to make further transactions.
