Sorry, the problem was never solved (I spoke too soon).
After calling several times and adding the bank account over and over, the CSR finally added it successfully while I was on the phone. Then I made a transfer from that new account to my PayPal balance and it seemed to go through - that is, it said the transfer was successful, even though it just started the process that takes several days.
Then, a few days later, I get an email saying the transfer didn't go through and they removed the linked account from my PayPal profile. So I'm back to square one as of today. Also, the PayPal error messages are very misleading because they'll claim something like transfer was unsuccessful because the account was closed (not true). The message will state you should call your bank. I did several times and the bank tells me that PayPal never made any attempts to connect.
This problem is on PayPal's side. And while I can't believe they don't want you to transfer money TO your balance, that's how it's working out.
In all fairness, I just changed my phone number, added 2FA, delinked an old bank account while trying to add this new one and haven't transferred any money into my balance in a year and a half - that looks suspicious. I was told that changing everything at once looks like someone took over my account. So I understand the need to keep having the CSRs help add the account over and over until their security becomes less sensitive, but I am trying to transfer money INTO my account, not out.
I did get one personal checking account linked a few weeks ago, so I'm just going to settle for that.
