Add an External Bank Account Manually

Before you start

Most banks connect instantly through Plaid, Truss's secure account-linking partner — you log in with your online banking credentials and the account is verified immediately. Manual connection is the fallback path: use it when your bank isn't in the Plaid list, or when you'd rather not log in through Plaid at all.

The tradeoff is time — manual verification uses a small deposit that can take one to a few business days to appear, so plan ahead if you need the account linked for a specific payment.

Start linking a new account

1. Go to Settings → External accounts.
2. Click + Bank account in the top-right corner.

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Note: The account and routing numbers Truss displays for an already-linked bank may not match the numbers printed on your checks. Some banks share tokenized numbers with Truss through Plaid to keep your real details private — transfers still reach the correct account either way.

Choose manual connection

Clicking + Bank account opens Plaid. By default Plaid will ask for a phone number and then walk you through selecting your institution from a list of logos.

1. On the first screen, enter your phone number or select Continue without phone number to skip it.
2. On the institution list, scroll down — Connect manually sits below the bank logos, underneath options like Betterment and Wealthfront.
3. Select Connect manually to skip logging in through Plaid and enter your account details yourself instead.

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Enter your routing number

After choosing Connect manually, Plaid asks for your bank's routing number.

1. Type in your 9-digit routing number and select Continue.
2. If you don't know it offhand, use the Find your routing number link below the button.
3. You'll then be prompted for your account number to finish setting up the connection.

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Confirm the micro-deposit code

Once your routing and account numbers are submitted, Truss sends a small deposit — usually a few cents — to the account you're linking. This is how Truss confirms you actually have access to that account.

1. Check the account for a deposit with a description like "#XXX APP NAME ACCTVERIFY", typically for around $0.01.
2. The 3-letter code is the text right after the # symbol in that transaction description.
3. Return to Plaid, enter the 3-letter code, and select Continue to finish verifying the account.

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Heads up: The verification deposit isn't always instant — it can take a day or more to post, depending on your bank. The account stays unlinked (and won't be usable for transfers) until the code is confirmed, so don't count on a manually connected account for same-day transfers.

Troubleshooting

• Don't see the deposit yet? Give it a day or two — check back in your bank's recent transactions rather than pending or scheduled activity.
• Entered the wrong code? You can typically retry; if Plaid locks you out after repeated attempts, close the flow and start over from + Bank account.
• Deposit never arrives? Double check the routing and account numbers you entered are correct for that specific account, then contact support if the issue continues.