Table of Contents
Microdeposits are small amounts of money, usually less than $1, temporarily added to your account. They are generally used to confirm that a bank account is valid and able to accept funds. Another reason a microdeposit might be used is as a security feature when you’re linking your bank account to another bank account or to a third-party service, such as a budgeting app.
You’re typically asked to verify the amount of a microdeposit to prove that you’re the account holder. This can help reduce the risk of fraudulent activity on a bank account. Learn more about microdeposits and how they can impact your banking activity.
Key Points
• Microdeposits are small, temporary deposits, usually under $1, that are used to verify bank account ownership.
• Microdeposits can help verify whether the person trying to link to or otherwise access a bank account is the legal owner of that account.
• To verify ownership of an account, users must report the exact amounts of (typically) two small deposits received during account linking.
• Verifying accounts through microdeposits can help reduce the risk of someone trying to fraudulently access account funds. Unexpected microdeposits can, however, indicate a scam.
• Microdeposits are usually temporary and withdrawn by the issuing bank within a few days.
Defining a Microdeposit
Microdeposits are a type of deposit or funds added to your bank account, but they’re very small amounts. Here are more details about how they work.
Small Temporary Deposits
The term microdeposit describes one or more small transfers of funds, each typically less than $1. They are usually sent by one bank to another bank when an account holder tries to link two bank accounts for transferring money between them or perhaps for overdraft protection, for example. They may also be sent when you’re validating that you want your bank account linked to a particular service.
These deposits are usually temporary — you aren’t actually being paid for anything. After the microdeposits are sent, the account holder typically verifies their amounts, and the funds are usually withdrawn by the issuing bank within a few days.
Purpose and Use Cases
One of the biggest reasons banks use microdeposits is to verify that a particular person is the owner of a specific bank account. Microdeposit verification is often used when someone tries to link a bank account to a type of account at a different bank. Using microdeposits allows the bank to authenticate that the person requesting the linkage is the actual owner of the account. This helps reduce fraud and ensure the safety and security of accounts.
Recommended: Savings Account Calculator
Increase your savings
with a limited-time APY boost.*
How Microdeposits Work
The way microdeposits work is typically straightforward. If you enter your bank’s routing and account number to link your account to another bank or a third-party service, you may receive microdeposits. Generally, two microdeposits are sent, each for an amount under $1.
Once you receive the microdeposits in the bank account that you’re trying to link, you go back to the other website and verify the microdeposits by typing in their amount. Shortly after the microdeposits are sent (generally within a couple of days), the bank will withdraw the money that was deposited. This ensures that there’s no net change in your account’s value after the microdeposit process is complete.
Why Microdeposits Are Used
One of the primary reasons that banks use microdeposits is to prevent bank account fraud. These deposits help verify that you’re the legal owner of a bank account that you are trying to link to or otherwise use. Without this step, it might be possible for an unauthorized person to link your account to another account and then withdraw money from your account or commit other fraudulent activity.
Identifying and Confirming Microdeposits
A crucial step to the microdeposit process is identifying and confirming the microdeposits. It generally takes a few days for the microdeposits to show up in your account. Once you see them, you can return to the app or bank account where you initiated the linking process. By entering the amount of the microdeposits, you can usually complete the microdeposit confirmation process.
One thing to watch out for is microdeposits that you didn’t expect to receive. If you see microdeposits in your account when you have not tried to link it to another account, contact your bank’s customer service or fraud department. You may have been targeted by a fraud or phishing attack, meaning that someone may be attempting unauthorized access to your account.
Recommended: How to Transfer Money From One Bank to Another
Potential Drawbacks and Limitations
While they are quite common, there are a few potential drawbacks and limitations to the microdeposit process.
Delayed Transactions and Clearance Times
It typically takes one to three days for the microdeposits to arrive and be verified. This means that linking your bank account to another account or service is unlikely to happen instantaneously.
Account Restrictions and Holds
If you see microdeposits hit your account and you haven’t tried to link your account to any other bank or third-party app, you’ll want to contact your bank’s fraud or customer service department right away. This is because it may mean that someone else has tried to link your bank account to another account or service. This is one of the common bank scams, and your account may need to have some restrictions put in place.
Confusion and Misunderstandings
Seeing microdeposits in your checking account may cause confusion, even if they are part of a process you initiated. You might well see one of these little deposits and spend time asking yourself who would be sending you 17 cents or whatever the amount is. Understanding what microdeposits are and perhaps noting in your calendar when they’re likely to hit can help clear up any confusion or misunderstandings.
Recommended: 10 Personal Finance Basics
Scams Using Microdeposits
If you see microdeposits in your account when you have not tried to link your account, you may be the victim of a mobile deposit scam or other type of fraud. Here’s how these typically work:
• Scammers may try to link your account to another account, generating microdeposits in your account.
• They then try to get you to authenticate the deposits via a verification message.
• If you do confirm the amounts (thinking the request is legitimate), they may be able to link your account to one they control, with the goal of withdrawing money from your account.
If you ever see microdeposits in your account that you didn’t initiate, follow these steps:
• Do not verify the microdeposit.
• Do not click on any links or downloads connected with the microdeposit and verification request.
• Contact your bank’s security or fraud department immediately.
• You might also let the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov know of this scam so they can take appropriate steps.
Protecting yourself from this kind of scam is important as fraud rises, with 3 million Americans enduring some form of fraud in 2025, according to the FTC.
Recommended: How to Write a Check
The Takeaway
Microdeposits (sometimes referred to as micro deposits or micro-deposits) are small deposits to your account, generally used to verify that your account is valid and that you’re the owner. Microdeposits are often two small, temporary deposits (usually under $1) that, when confirmed, allow two accounts or your account and a service to be linked. Though microdeposit verification is usually a security measure, unexpected microdeposits can be a sign of a scam in progress, so be wary.
If you’re looking for a banking partner that makes accessing and growing your money easy, see what SoFi offers.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Are microdeposits refunded or removed from the account?
Yes, microdeposits are generally refunded from your account, usually a few days after they are deposited, with one withdrawal transaction. One example might be if you receive two microdeposits, one for $0.11 and the other for $0.34. In this case, the withdrawal would be for $0.45, meaning that the microdeposit process has no lasting effect on your overall balance.
Do microdeposits affect my available balance or account status?
Microdeposits don’t have an impact on your available balance because of how small they are. You’ll see a very small increase in your available balance due to the microdeposits, but that will go away after a few days. That’s because the bank that put the microdeposits into your account will withdraw that money after a few days, leaving your account balance as before.
What if I can’t locate or identify the microdeposit amounts?
If you can’t locate or identify the microdeposit amounts, it may mean that there was a problem with the linking process. It’s possible that you made a typo or other error when inputting your routing and account numbers. Keep in mind that it can also take a couple days for these microdeposits to show up in your account, so if it’s been a few days, you might try to restart the linking process or contact your bank or the third-party service’s customer service department.
Photo credit: iStock/SrdjanPav
SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2026 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.
Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.
Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.
See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. We do not charge any account, service, or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge transaction fees for outgoing wire transfers, Instant Transfers, and global remittance transfers. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/. ^Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
*Awards or rankings from Forbes are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.
1SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SOBNK-Q226-079