Guys, guys, guys.
The solution is simple, though I found out by chance.
I used to have an account in an internet bank, just for an automatic deposit to go into that, and then transfer it to my regular bank account. I had used that account with paypal. I usually paid for everything with my debit card from my regular account, which I had not given to paypal. Then one day, I forgot to change the payment source to credit card for 2 payments, and paypal send them to my bank, which did not have enough to cover, and they were presented 3 TIMES before they went to my credit card, costing me $180 in overdraft fees. I contacted my bank, and worked out a deal with them to the tune of **bleep** you guys, I am closing my account. (They agreed to waive the fees and consider the account to have a zero balance which meant I lost the $39 that were there at the time of the **bleep**up, so the acount still exists, but is inactive.)
So I went to paypal to remove the account, since it was closed, and was warned that I would lose my verified status. So I did not remove the account. Therefore I remained verified, but if Paypal ever wants to steal my money (I doubt it, but some of you are worried about that), they will not be able to. I still have my debit card on file and use that for payments, same as before. I am verified, and Paypal is covered because they have my card info as well as the original verification proccess from my acount. (In 5 years since I verified my account, there have been no Paypal transactions or inquiries into it by paypal other than this **bleep**up, so if I had closed it, they would have no way of knowing, besides which, I had a credit card on file I had cancelled for over 2 years before Paypal asked me to renew it since the expiration date was nearing, so once you verify and put an account or card on file, it stays there till you tell them otherwise or it expires in case of credit cards).
So my solution to you, based on my experience: Open a new account in a bank of your choice. Some banks give you no-fee checking if you have other relationships with them, like a loan or mortgage. Use that to verify, the keep it empty or near so. If you still worry, just close the account after a while. (I cannot be 100% sure that that will work, but I had a closed account on file, as a second accound, for a couple of years that nobody bothered with), Paypal is happy because they verified your identity, and you are happy because they have no access to your main bank account. Everybody is happy, case closed.
