Can't link Bank of America Account

[Alyssa73]

I have used PayPal for quite some times now and over the years have had different credit/debit cards linked as well as bank accounts. I currently have my Bank of America debit card linked to my account but, PayPal says that I need to link my bank account directly with the routing number to be able to use my PayPal debit card for transactions when I have no funds in my PayPal account. My reason for wanting to do this is because my paypal debit card earns 1% cash back on purchases where as my Bank of America card does not. Anyways..today I went to input my Bank of America checking account routing number and account number. I double and triple checked these numbers, verifying that they were correct and yet each time I try to link the account I get a response from PayPal saying "instrument fails risk check. Need to go through authentication." What does this mean? I already have this account linked to PayPal through my debit card so why would I not be able to link with my routing number? Any suggestions will help. I don't know it makes a difference or not but I have been trying to do this through the PayPal app on my iphone.

[jegar17]

I am encountering the same issue with my Aspiration account.  Same error message.  I also have my debit card for this account added to my cards in Paypal.  I too am trying via an iphone.  Not trying to hijack your thread but i felt it was important to note the same issue with a different bank.  Let's hope someone knows a fix..

[DPCreations]

Your phone doesn't meet the security requements.  Try from your secure computer.

[jegar17]

You rock! I just did it and was coming back here to share that exact information.  thank you so much

[DPCreations]

Thanks for the confirmation.

[juantovarius]

I have this same problem, I'm trying to link to an Ally Bank checking account. I have tried both from my phone and from my secure computer, and neither one is working.

The error I get on the phone is 'instrument fails risk check'.

The error I get on the computer is that it says it needs to verify by sending a text message, which completes successfully, but then the page just redirects to the same screen saying that it needs to verify the computer.

[Whac-A-Mole]

Ally Bank?

Paypal hates Ally Bank.

[JaiPhoenyx]

Wow. Real helpful....... Not

[JScurlock]

@juantovarius - Not sure if you are still having this issue (came across this forum post while researching similar problem.) For me, I was getting the error mentioned of "Instrument faild risk check" on my Galaxy S7, and on my Computer and iPad was getting the "Verification needed" where I got a text message, entered the code, and then it just redirected me to the same submit Verification screen.

I was able to complete the process by:

Doing the "Validation text message" process.

After it redirects me back to that same screen, simply click on the PayPal logo to return to "Home".

I then clicked the "Add bank Account" and re-entered the information, and this time it worked with the 2-3 day pending verification.

[juantovarius]

Thanks, @JScurlock! Those steps worked for me.