How to Verify a Bank Account Manually in Patriot Software
Background: Why Patriot Needs to Verify Your Bank Account
If you are a Full-Service Payroll customer, you will need to verify your bank account information in order for Patriot Software to debit your bank account for taxes. In most cases, Patriot’s instant bank account verification will get you set up. However, some banks and credit unions are not included in the list of financial institutions that can be instantly verified. In this case, you will need to manually enter your bank account information.
Enter a New Bank Account
Important! You will need a business or commercial bank account to use direct deposit.
- In the startup wizard, on the “Instant Account Verification” page, if you cannot find your bank or are having issues with your login credentials:
Exit out of the bank search box and return to the Instant Account Verification page. - Click “manually enter your bank information.”
- Enter your 9-digit bank ABA Routing Number, Account Number, and Account Type (checking or savings) and click Continue. Your account status is now “pending verification.”
- If you have a debit block on your account, please be sure to whitelist Patriot’s ACH ID.
Verify the Business Bank Account
You will use the same bank account for both direct deposit and tax payments. If you choose to manually verify your bank account by having Patriot deposit and withdraw a small amount of pennies, you will need to enter the penny amount to verify your bank account and upload documents. (Follow the steps below.)
1. Upload Documents
- Upload Bank Statement: You will need to upload a copy of your commercial/business bank account statement. You may not use a personal bank account for direct deposit.
If you do not have a bank statement showing that the bank account is a commercial bank account, you can submit a letter from your bank. The letter should be on bank letterhead and contain the following:
- Bank name
- Company name/owner’s name
- Account type and account number
- Date
- Name and phone number of banker signing the letter
Occasionally you will need to upload a proof of Federal EIN: If our team is not finding your information or finding conflicting information using our third-party identification tools, you may be asked to upload documentation confirming your 9-digit business federal employee identification number.
2. Validating Your Bank Account
After you enter your banking info, Patriot must verify that your bank account is valid and belongs to you. Here is how to verify a bank account manually:
- We will electronically deposit and withdraw a small amount to and from this account within three banking days (usually the next banking day, as long as you entered your account info before 8 p.m. Eastern Time). You will receive an email when the deposit/withdrawal has been made.
- Confirm the amount deposited and withdrawn by calling your bank or logging into your online bank account activity statement. The activity will appear in your bank statement as “Patriot Software.” If you see no activity in your bank account after three banking days, you can cancel the pending verification on the Bank Account Info page and re-enter your bank account info to start a new verification.
- When you know the dollar amount, log into Patriot Software and enter the deposit/withdrawal amount in the field provided. For amounts under one dollar, enter a zero before the cents. For example, if the amount is $0.53, enter 0.53. Once you enter the correct amount and all other required information, you will be free and clear to run payrolls.
- If you enter the wrong amount, Patriot gives you two more chances to enter the correct one. If after three tries you have not entered the correct amount, please re-enter your bank account to start a new verification.
- If over 60 days have passed and you have not verified your account, you will need to re-enter your bank account info and begin the process again.
To change your bank account later, you will follow the same steps. See How Do I Update My Bank Account?
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