It's a fantastic idea to link your Truist accounts! Doing so can streamline your financial management, offer enhanced features, and often lead to greater convenience. Whether you're looking to easily transfer funds, manage overdraft protection, or simply have a consolidated view of your finances, linking your accounts is a smart move.
So, are you ready to take control of your Truist banking experience and make it work even harder for you? Let's dive into the step-by-step process!
How to Link Truist Accounts: A Comprehensive Guide
Linking your Truist accounts is generally a straightforward process, primarily done through their online banking platform or mobile app. The specific steps might vary slightly depending on the type of accounts you're linking and the purpose, but the core process remains similar.
Step 1: Access Your Truist Digital Banking Platform
The very first thing you need to do is log in to your Truist online banking account or open the Truist mobile app.
- If you haven't enrolled in online banking yet: You'll need to do this first. Visit the Truist website (truist.com) and look for the "Enroll Now" or "Sign Up" option, usually near the login section. Follow the prompts to create your user ID and password. This is a crucial preliminary step for any digital account management.
- If you already have a Truist account but haven't used digital banking: Download the Truist Mobile App from your app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) or navigate to truist.com on your computer. Use your existing Truist account information to enroll or log in.
Once you're successfully logged in, you'll be on your main account dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to Transfers & Payments
Truist's online and mobile banking platforms are designed for ease of use. To link accounts and manage transfers, you'll typically find a section dedicated to "Transfers & Payments" or something similar.
- On the Truist Website (Online Banking): Look for a menu option or tab labeled "Transfer & Pay" or "Transfers." This is usually a prominent feature on the main navigation bar or within a "Accounts" section.
- On the Truist Mobile App: The mobile app often has a similar navigation, usually with an icon that represents transfers or a "Move Money" type of button. Tap on this to proceed.
Step 3: Choose Your Linking Option
Within the "Transfers & Payments" section, you'll likely find several options. The key here is to differentiate between internal transfers (between your own Truist accounts) and external transfers (linking accounts from other financial institutions).
Sub-heading 3.1: Linking Your Own Truist Accounts (Internal Transfers)
If you have multiple Truist checking, savings, or even investment accounts and want to make it easier to move money between them, this is the option for you.
- Select "Transfer money & pay Truist accounts" or a similar option. This is specifically for transfers within your Truist ecosystem.
- Choose "Make a transfer": This tab usually displays by default.
- Select "From" and "To" accounts: You'll see dropdown menus or lists of your available Truist accounts. Carefully select the account you want to transfer money from and the account you want to transfer it to.
- Enter the amount: Input the amount of money you wish to transfer.
- Choose transfer frequency: Decide if this is a one-time transfer or a recurring transfer. If recurring, you'll set the start date and frequency (e.g., weekly, monthly).
- Add an optional memo: This can be helpful for tracking purposes.
- Review and confirm: Before finalizing, always review all the transfer details to ensure accuracy. If everything looks correct, confirm the transfer. The funds should move between your Truist accounts almost instantly.
Sub-heading 3.2: Linking External Accounts (Non-Truist Accounts)
This is incredibly useful if you want to pull money from or push money to accounts you hold at other banks or credit unions.
- Select "Transfer & Pay" from the main menu.
- Look for "Manage external accounts" or "Link external accounts" within this section. It might be a separate tab or a distinct button.
- Choose "Add non-Truist account": This will initiate the process of connecting a new external account.
- Provide account details: You will typically need to enter the following information for your external account:
- Account type (Checking, Savings)
- Routing number of the external bank
- Account number of the external account
- Verify your external account: Truist employs security measures to ensure you are the owner of the external account. This often involves one of two methods:
- Instant Verification (Recommended): You may be prompted to securely log in to your external bank's online banking portal directly through Truist's platform. This uses a secure third-party service (like Plaid) to verify the account instantly. This is often the fastest and most convenient method.
- Micro-Deposit Verification: If instant verification isn't available or preferred, Truist will send two small deposits (usually a few cents) to your external account within 1-3 business days. Once these deposits appear in your external account, you'll need to return to the Truist platform and verify the exact amounts to confirm the link.
- Confirm account addition: Once verified, your external account will appear in your list of linked accounts. You can now use it for transfers.
Step 4: Setting Up Overdraft Protection (Optional, but Highly Recommended)
Linking accounts isn't just about moving money; it's also about financial security. Truist offers overdraft protection by allowing you to link a savings account to your checking account. If your checking account balance falls short, funds will automatically transfer from your linked savings account to cover transactions, potentially avoiding overdraft fees.
- Go to your "Accounts" section in online banking or the mobile app.
- Select the checking account you want to link for overdraft protection.
- Look for "Account Details," "Settings," or "Overdraft Protection Options." The exact wording may vary.
- Choose to link an account for overdraft protection. You'll likely see a list of your eligible Truist savings accounts.
- Select the Truist savings account you wish to use for overdraft protection.
- Confirm the linkage.
It's important to note that while this helps prevent overdraft fees, it's still drawing from your own funds, so manage your balances carefully!
Step 5: Managing Linked Accounts
Once your accounts are linked, you'll find options to manage them within the "Transfer & Pay" or "Accounts" sections.
- View Linked Accounts: You can always see a list of all your internally linked Truist accounts and any external accounts you've added.
- Edit or Delete Linked Accounts: If you need to update information for an external account or no longer wish for an account to be linked, you'll find options to edit or delete the linkage. Be cautious when deleting, especially if it's set up for recurring transfers or overdraft protection.
Benefits of Linking Your Truist Accounts
Linking your Truist accounts provides a multitude of advantages that can significantly enhance your banking experience:
- Simplified Money Management: Easily move funds between your checking, savings, and even investment accounts with just a few clicks. No more manual transfers or waiting for checks to clear.
- Overdraft Protection: Link a savings account to your checking account to automatically cover transactions if your checking balance is low, potentially saving you from costly overdraft fees.
- Consolidated View: Get a holistic view of all your Truist accounts in one place, making budgeting and financial planning much easier.
- Faster Transfers: Internal transfers between your Truist accounts are often instantaneous, allowing you to access your funds without delay.
- External Account Integration: Link accounts from other financial institutions to pull or push funds, giving you a central hub for all your banking needs.
- Enhanced Security: By managing your transfers within the secure Truist platform, you minimize the risks associated with external transfer methods.
- Qualifying for Benefits: Some Truist accounts, like Truist One Checking, offer escalating benefits (like waived fees or loyalty bonuses) based on your combined monthly average balance across all eligible Truist accounts. Linking them ensures these balances are aggregated for maximum benefit.
Troubleshooting Common Linking Issues
While the process is generally smooth, you might encounter a few hiccups. Here's how to address them:
- Incorrect Credentials for External Accounts: Double-check the username and password for your external bank's online banking. Even a tiny typo can prevent successful linking.
- Micro-Deposits Not Appearing: Allow 1-3 business days for micro-deposits to show up. If they don't after that time, verify the account and routing numbers you entered.
- Security Challenges/One-Time Passcodes: Truist often uses one-time passcodes (OTP) sent to your registered phone or email for security verification. Ensure your contact information is up-to-date with Truist. If you don't receive an OTP, check your spam folder or try requesting it again.
- System Glitches: Occasionally, there might be temporary system issues. If you're experiencing persistent problems, try again after some time or on a different device.
- Account Eligibility: Not all account types are always eligible for all linking features. If you're having trouble, verify the specific account terms or contact Truist support.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to transfer money between my Truist checking and savings accounts?
You can easily transfer money between your Truist checking and savings accounts by logging into online banking or the mobile app, navigating to the "Transfer & Pay" section, and selecting your "From" and "To" Truist accounts.
How to link a non-Truist bank account for transfers?
To link a non-Truist bank account, go to the "Transfer & Pay" section, select "Manage external accounts," and choose to "Add non-Truist account." You'll need the external account's routing and account numbers, and you'll typically verify ownership via instant login or micro-deposits.
How to set up overdraft protection with my Truist accounts?
You can set up overdraft protection by linking a Truist savings account to your Truist checking account. In online banking, go to your checking account details and look for options related to "Overdraft Protection" to link an eligible savings account.
How to view all my linked Truist accounts in one place?
Once logged into Truist online banking or the mobile app, your main dashboard or "Accounts" section should display all your primary Truist accounts. Any linked external accounts for transfers will typically be visible within the "Transfer & Pay" or "Manage External Accounts" sections.
How to edit or delete a linked external account on Truist?
In the "Transfer & Pay" section, go to "Manage external accounts." You should see an option, usually an ellipsis (...) or a "Settings" icon next to each linked external account, allowing you to edit or delete it.
How to find my Truist account and routing numbers?
Your Truist routing number is the nine-digit number on the bottom left of your checks. Your account number follows it. You can also find both by logging into your online banking or mobile app, selecting the specific account, and looking for "View account details."
How to get help if I'm having trouble linking my Truist accounts?
If you encounter issues, first ensure your internet connection is stable and try again. If problems persist, contact Truist customer service at 844-4TRUIST (844-487-8478) for assistance.
How to verify an external account using micro-deposits?
After initiating the linking process for an external account and selecting micro-deposit verification, Truist will send two small deposits to that account. Once they appear (typically 1-3 business days), return to Truist's platform and enter the exact amounts of these two deposits to complete the verification.
How to set up recurring transfers between my Truist accounts?
When making a transfer between your Truist accounts in the "Transfer & Pay" section, select the "Recurring" option instead of "One-time." You will then be prompted to set the frequency and start date for the repeated transfers.
How to qualify for Truist One Checking benefits by linking accounts?
Truist One Checking benefits are often tied to your combined monthly average balance across all eligible Truist checking, savings, and investment accounts. By having all your Truist accounts linked and accessible, their balances contribute to reaching higher benefit levels, which can include waived fees or loyalty bonuses.
