# Linking a bank account

## Why you need a linked bank account

A linked bank account connects your Fynbos account to your personal bank, enabling you to move money in and out of Fynbos.

- **Withdrawals**: Transfer money from Fynbos to your bank account
- **Debit orders**: Set up automatic monthly contributions from your bank
- **Security**: Ensures money is only sent to accounts you own

You must link at least one bank account to withdraw money from Fynbos. For debit orders, the bank account must also support debits.

## Supported banks

Fynbos supports all major South African banks, including:

- Absa Bank
- Capitec Bank
- Discovery Bank
- First National Bank (FNB)
- Investec Bank
- Nedbank
- Standard Bank
- TymeBank

The full list of supported banks is available when you add a new bank account.

## Adding a bank account

To link a new bank account to your Fynbos profile:

1. Navigate to *Settings* from the bottom menu
2. Tap **Bank accounts**
3. Tap **Add bank account**
4. Select your bank from the dropdown list
5. Choose your account type (Current, Savings, or Transmission)
6. Enter your account number
7. Tap **Continue**

Your bank account details are now submitted for verification.

## How verification works

When you add a bank account, Fynbos automatically verifies your details against the South African banking system. This process checks:

- **Account exists**: The account number is valid and the account is open
- **Identity match**: The account is registered to your ID number
- **Account capabilities**: Whether the account supports debits and/or credits

Verification usually completes instantly. If there's a delay, your account will show as "Pending" and you'll receive a notification once verification is complete.

**What this means for you**:

- Most accounts verify within seconds
- You'll be notified via WhatsApp or email when verification completes
- You can continue using Fynbos while verification is pending

## Bank account statuses

Your linked bank accounts can have different statuses depending on verification results:

| Status | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Verified** | Account is confirmed and ready to use | No action needed |
| **Pending** | Verification is in progress | Wait for notification (usually same day) |
| **Rejected** | Verification failed | Check your details or contact support |
| **Documents required** | Additional verification needed | Contact support for next steps |

You can view the status of all your linked accounts in *Settings* > *Bank accounts*.

## Account features

Once verified, your bank account may show feature badges indicating what it can be used for:

- **Debit order**: This account can be used to set up automatic monthly contributions
- **Withdraw**: This account can receive withdrawals from Fynbos

Some bank accounts may not support both features. For example, certain business accounts may not accept incoming payments, so they won't show the "Withdraw" badge.

> **Important**: If your bank account shows only "Debit order" but not "Withdraw", you won't be able to withdraw to that account. You'll need to link a different account that accepts credits.

## Why verification might fail

Bank account verification can fail for several reasons:

**Account doesn't exist or is closed** The account number you entered may be incorrect, or the account may have been closed. Double-check your account number and try again.

**ID number mismatch** The bank account must be registered to the same ID number you used for your Fynbos identity verification. Joint accounts or accounts in another person's name cannot be linked.

**Temporary service issues** Occasionally, verification services may be temporarily unavailable. If this happens, your account is created as "Pending" and verification will retry automatically. You'll be notified once complete.

If your verification fails, you'll receive a notification explaining the issue. You can try adding the account again with corrected details, or contact support for help.

## Managing your bank accounts

### Viewing your accounts

To see all your linked bank accounts:

1. Go to *Settings*
2. Tap **Bank accounts**

Each account shows the bank name, masked account number (last 4 digits), account type, and verification status.

### Adding multiple accounts

You can link multiple bank accounts to your Fynbos profile. This is useful if you want to:

- Use different accounts for debit orders and withdrawals
- Have a backup account for withdrawals
- Switch banks without interrupting your access to funds

### Removing a bank account

Bank accounts with an active debit order cannot be removed. To remove a bank account:

1. Cancel any active debit orders linked to that account
2. Go to *Settings* > *Bank accounts*
3. Select the account you want to remove
4. Tap **Remove**

> **Note**: Removing a bank account doesn't affect your Fynbos balance or investments. You'll simply need another verified account to make future withdrawals.