Do you want to gain better control over your finances by having a consolidated view of all your accounts? Are you looking to seamlessly transfer funds between your Truist account and another bank? If so, linking and verifying an external account with Truist Bank is a fantastic step! While it might seem like a technical task, Truist has streamlined the process to be quite user-friendly.
This lengthy guide will walk you through every single step you need to take to successfully verify your external account on Truist Bank, ensuring a smooth and secure experience.
Understanding Why You Need to Verify Your External Account
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's quickly touch on why this verification process is so important. Truist, like all reputable financial institutions, takes security very seriously. When you link an external account, they need to confirm that you are indeed the owner of that account. This prevents unauthorized access to your funds and protects you from potential fraud.
The most common method Truist uses for verification involves micro-deposits, which are small, random amounts of money deposited into your external account. By asking you to confirm these exact amounts, Truist verifies your ownership.
Let's get started!
Step 1: Accessing Your Truist Online Banking or Mobile App
The very first step is to get yourself logged in! Are you a fan of managing your finances on the go with your smartphone, or do you prefer the larger screen and keyboard of your computer? Truist offers robust online banking and a convenient mobile app, so choose whichever method suits you best for this process.
Sub-heading: Via Truist Online Banking (Desktop)
- Open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.).
- Navigate to the official Truist Bank website. You can typically find it by searching "Truist Bank" on Google or by directly typing
www.truist.com - Look for the "Sign In" or "Log In" button, usually located prominently in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
- Enter your User ID and Password for your Truist online banking account.
- Click "Sign In." If prompted, complete any multi-factor authentication steps (e.g., entering a one-time passcode sent to your phone or email).
Sub-heading: Via the Truist Mobile App
- Open the Truist Mobile App on your smartphone or tablet. If you haven't downloaded it yet, search for "Truist Mobile Banking" in your device's app store (App Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android) and install it.
- Enter your User ID and Password.
- Tap "Sign In." Again, be prepared to complete any multi-factor authentication as requested.
Step 2: Navigating to the External Account Management Section
Once you're successfully logged in, you'll need to find the area where you can add and manage external accounts. The exact wording might vary slightly, but the general path remains consistent.
Sub-heading: For Online Banking
- From the main menu or dashboard, look for a section related to "Transfers & Payments" or simply "Transfers."
- Within the Transfers section, you should see an option like "Manage External Accounts" or "Add External Account." Click on this.
Sub-heading: For the Mobile App
- On the mobile app, you'll likely find a menu icon (often three horizontal lines, sometimes called a "hamburger menu") or a "Transfers & Pay" option at the bottom or top of the screen. Tap on it.
- Look for and select "Manage external accounts" or "Add non-Truist account." Some users have reported finding this under a "More" option within a specific account's details, so if you don't see it immediately under "Transfers," check there!
Step 3: Initiating the Addition of a New External Account
You're now at the point of telling Truist about your other bank account.
- You should see a button or link that says something like "Add New Account," "Add Non-Truist Account," or similar. Click/tap on it.
- Truist will present you with a form where you'll need to input the details of your external account.
Sub-heading: Information You'll Need Ready
Have the following information for your external account readily available:
- Account Type: Is it a checking account or a savings account?
- Routing Number: This is a nine-digit number that identifies your bank. You can usually find it on your checks, on your bank's website, or within your external bank's online banking portal.
- Account Number: This is your specific account number at the external bank.
- Account Nickname (Optional): You might have the option to give your external account a nickname (e.g., "My Savings at ABC Bank") to easily identify it later.
- Carefully enter all the required information. Double-check for accuracy! A single wrong digit can delay the verification process.
- Once you've entered the details, click "Continue" or "Next."
Step 4: Choosing Your Verification Method (Micro-Deposits)
Truist primarily uses two methods for verifying external accounts: instant verification (by signing into your external bank directly) or micro-deposits. While instant verification is faster if available and you're comfortable with it, the micro-deposit method is the most common and robust option for verification. We'll focus on micro-deposits for this guide.
- On the review page, you will be prompted to verify your external account. Look for an option that mentions "micro-deposits" or "trial deposits" if instant verification is also offered.
- If given the choice, select the "Micro-Deposit Verification" or similar option.
- Truist will then inform you that they will send two small, random deposits (usually less than $1.00 each) to your external account. They will also typically deposit a corresponding small debit (withdrawal) to balance these out, though you might not always see the debit as clearly as the credits.
- Important Note: Make sure the name on your external account exactly matches the name on your Truist account to avoid issues during verification.
Step 5: Waiting for the Micro-Deposits to Appear
This is the waiting game! The micro-deposits don't appear instantly.
- Timeline: You can generally expect these small deposits to appear in your external bank account within 1 to 2 business days. Weekends and holidays can extend this timeframe.
- What to do: During this period, you don't need to do anything within your Truist account. Keep an eye on your external bank account.
Sub-heading: How to Check for Micro-Deposits
Once the expected timeframe has passed:
- Log in to your external bank account (the one you're trying to link to Truist) using that bank's online banking portal or mobile app.
- Navigate to your transaction history for the account you linked.
- Look for two small credit amounts from "Truist" or "BB&T" (due to the merger, some systems might still show the old name) or a similar description. These amounts will be unique and typically in cents, like "$0.12" and "$0.37."
- Write down these exact amounts! Accuracy is crucial here.
Step 6: Verifying the Micro-Deposits on Truist
Once you have those two small deposit amounts, it's time to go back to Truist and confirm them.
- Log back into your Truist online banking or mobile app (following the steps in Step 1).
- Navigate back to the "Manage External Accounts" section (as described in Step 2).
- You should now see the external account you added, likely with a status indicating that it's pending verification or needs attention.
- There should be an option to "Verify Account" or "Enter Micro-Deposits." Click/tap on this.
- A prompt will appear, asking you to enter the two small deposit amounts you received.
- Enter the amounts exactly as they appeared in your external account. Order may not matter, but typically you'll enter them into two separate fields.
- Click "Submit" or "Confirm."
Step 7: Confirmation and Ready for Use!
If you've entered the correct amounts, Truist will confirm the successful verification of your external account!
- You'll likely receive an on-screen confirmation message.
- The status of your external account in the "Manage External Accounts" section should change to "Verified" or "Active."
- You might also receive an email notification from Truist confirming the successful link.
Congratulations! Your external account is now verified and ready to use for transfers between your Truist account and your linked external account. You can now initiate transfers, pay bills, or manage your finances with greater ease.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions related to verifying external accounts on Truist Bank, along with their quick answers:
How to check if my external account is already linked to Truist?
You can check by logging into Truist online banking or the mobile app, navigating to "Transfers & Payments," and then selecting "Manage External Accounts." Your linked accounts will be listed there.
How to find my external account's routing and account number?
You can usually find these numbers on a physical check (routing number is typically the first nine digits at the bottom, account number is next), within your external bank's online banking or mobile app, or by contacting your external bank directly.
How long does it take for micro-deposits to appear in my external account?
Micro-deposits typically appear within 1 to 2 business days. Weekends and holidays can extend this timeframe.
How to verify my external account if I didn't receive the micro-deposits?
First, double-check your external account's transaction history for at least 2-3 business days. If they still haven't appeared, ensure you entered the correct routing and account numbers when linking. You may need to delete the external account from Truist and try adding it again, or contact Truist customer service for assistance.
How to proceed if I entered the wrong micro-deposit amounts?
If you enter incorrect amounts, Truist usually provides a limited number of attempts. If you exhaust these, the verification will fail. You'll likely need to delete the external account from Truist and re-add it to restart the micro-deposit verification process, or contact Truist customer service.
How to link a business account as an external account?
Generally, for personal Truist accounts, you can only link personal external checking, savings, or money market accounts in your name. If you have a Truist business account, the process may be similar, but it's best to confirm with Truist's business banking support.
How to delete a linked external account from Truist?
Log into Truist online banking or the mobile app, go to "Manage External Accounts," and you should see an option (often an ellipsis "..." or gear icon) next to the account you wish to delete. Select "Delete Account" and confirm.
How to make a transfer to my newly verified external account?
Once verified, go to the "Transfers & Payments" section in Truist online banking or the mobile app. Select "Transfer Money," choose your Truist account as the "From" account and your newly linked external account as the "To" account, enter the amount, and confirm the transfer.
How to troubleshoot if I'm having issues linking my external account?
First, double-check all entered information (routing and account numbers). Ensure the name on the external account matches your Truist account. Clear your browser's cache/cookies or try a different browser/device. If issues persist, contact Truist customer service directly at 844-4TRUIST (844-487-8478), as they can provide specific guidance and assistance.
How to verify an external account using instant verification (if available)?
If Truist offers instant verification, you would typically select that option during the linking process. You would then be prompted to log in directly to your external bank's online banking portal through a secure pop-up. Once you successfully log in, Truist verifies your account instantly without micro-deposits.
