There are three ways you can link an external bank account to Switch:
- Automatically connect your external account through the Switch Mobile App using Plaid
- Manually link your bank to Switch from the Switch Mobile App with microdeposits, using your external bank's account and routing numbers
- Manually link Switch to your bank from your bank's website with microdeposits, using your Switch account and routing numbers
Option #1: Automatically connect your external account through the Switch Mobile App using Plaid
Plaid is a company that securely transfers sensitive financial information between your banks and other financial service providers such as credit card companies, Venmo, etc. Plaid uses safe and secure technology to allow you to link accounts by logging into your bank through Plaid's platform, which keeps your login information encrypted and private. Switch never sees or has access to this information. Plaid's network includes over 4,500+ banks, credit unions and financial service companies, so your external banks are likely already in their network. To automatically connect your external account, follow these steps:
- Open your Switch Mobile App and go to the Profile Screen
. - Select Linked Accounts and then tap Link Another Bank Account. This will pull up the Plaid screen.
- Click Continue and search for your bank in the search bar or select your bank from the list shown.
- Once you locate your bank, click on it and Plaid will bring up a login screen. Follow the instructions on the screen to login to your other bank account.
- Plaid will then prompt you to verify your identity using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Continue to follow the prompts on the screen.
- Once you have entered your security code, select which accounts from your external bank you would like to link to Switch. Press Continue. If it is successful, you will be shown a confirmation on the next screen. Press Continue to return to your Linked Accounts screen in the Switch Mobile App. If there is an error or Plaid is unable to connect your accounts, you can link your accounts using Option 2 below. If you're having trouble connecting your accounts with Plaid, please see our Plaid FAQ.
Option #2: Manually link your bank to Switch from the Switch Mobile App with microdeposits, using your external bank's account and routing numbers
If linking your external bank through Plaid didn't work, if you couldn't find your bank on Plaid's list, if your external bank is not yet in Plaid's network, or you just want a more reliable connection, you can link your external bank to Switch from the Switch Mobile App using your external bank's account and routing numbers. You'll want your other bank account's routing and account numbers handy before starting this step.
- Open your Switch Mobile App and go to the Profile Screen .
- Select Linked Accounts and then tap Link Another Bank Account. This will pull up the Plaid screen.
- Click Continue and search for your bank in the search bar.
- If no results for your bank are found, or if you simply type "help" in the search bar, you can then click on Link with account numbers.
- Click Continue and follow the prompts to enter your account information. Once you've entered your account information, you'll come to a screen explaining the microdeposits and withdrawals. Click Authorize, follow the reCAPTCHA instructions, and then click Verify.
- Plaid will instruct you to return to Switch in one business day. Select Continue to return to your Linked Accounts screen in the Switch Mobile App.
- Wait at least one business day and then return to your Switch Mobile App to verify your microdeposits and finish linking your external account. Your microdeposits will be deposited into and withdrawn from your external bank account. Login to that account, look for two deposits under $1, and write down the amounts.
- Return to your Switch Mobile App, go to your Profile Screen, and select Linked Bank Accounts. Click Verify in the box for the account you're adding. Enter the amounts of your first and second microdeposits and click Continue. If the linking was successful, you will see a confirmation message. Click Continue to return to your Linked Accounts screen.
Option #3: Manually link Switch to your bank from your other bank's website with microdeposits, using your Switch account and routing numbers
You can also link your Switch Account to one of your external banks by following the instructions on that bank's website for adding an external account. This will be a very similar process to Option #2, except you'll enter your Switch account and routing numbers into your bank's website. Your microdeposits will be deposited into and withdrawn from your Switch Vault.
- To find your Switch account number and routing number, simply open your Switch Mobile App and go to the Profile Screen . Your account number and the routing number are at the bottom of this page.
- To find your microdeposits, go to your Activity Screen
. Look for two deposits under $1 and write down the amounts. Then go back to your other bank's website and follow the instructions for verifying your microdeposits.
Some people may want to complete both Option #2 and Option #3, so that Switch will show up as an external account in their other bank's website and so that their other bank will show up as a Linked Account in their Switch Mobile App. Unfortunately linking external accounts is a one-way process, so simply completing Option #2 will not cause Switch to show up as an external account in your other bank's app or website.
If you still have questions about linking external accounts to Switch, please contact Customer Support.