You can use your PayPal account to send and receive money from your bank account or other PayPal account, or pay for online transactions directly. When you first create a PayPal account, you will need to choose an option between a bank account, debit card, or debit card as the source of funds. Even if you don't use a credit card as an initial source of funds, you can always link the card to your PayPal account at a later time. To link a card, log in to your PayPal account, visit the “Wallet” section, select “Link Card”, and enter the card information. The same process applies to the PayPal mobile app.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the PayPal Mobile App
Step 1. Download and open the “PayPal” app
Look for the PayPal app (free) in the App Store or Google Play Store. Touch the “Install” button to download and install the app.
Make sure you don't download an app called “PayPal Here”. The application is a separate application for sellers who want to accept payments through the PayPal service
Step 2. Touch the settings menu icon (gear)
This menu displays various account settings.
Step 3. Select “Banks and Cards”
This button is at the top of the menu and will take you to a menu showing your payment methods.
Step 4. Add a new card
Tap the “+” icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Select “Debit or credit card” from the pop-up menu
You will be taken to the “Link a card” form after that.
Step 6. Enter the credit card information
Add the credit card number, expiration date, and 3-digit security code (CSC).
You can enter the information manually or use your phone's camera to take a photo of the card
Step 7. Touch the camera icon next to the credit card number field to take a photo of the card
The phone's camera will be opened (with permission) so you can take a photo of the card, instead of manually entering the card information.
Step 8. Align the squares on the screen with the cards
Once appropriate, PayPal will take a photo of the card. Press “Done” to continue.
- You don't have to touch the screen again to take a photo. The app will automatically take a photo of the card once the frame or square is aligned with the card's shape.
- The camera will only scan credit card numbers. The expiration date and security code still need to be typed in manually after you select “Done”.
Step 9. Specify a billing address
Select an address from a list of existing addresses, or enter a new address manually.
If you already have a billing address, but want to add a new one, select an existing one and touch the “+” button to add a new billing address
Step 10. Select “Link Card” after all the right information is entered
PayPal takes a few moments to verify card information. After that, the card will be displayed on the “Banks and Cards” menu.
Step 11. Review the card information
If you want to edit or delete a card, go to the “Banks and Cards” menu, select a card from the list, and tap the pencil icon to edit it or the trash icon to delete it.
You can save multiple cards to your account. When making a payment with PayPal, you can choose one of several payment methods already stored in your account
Method 2 of 2: Via PayPal Website
Step 1. Sign in to your PayPal account
Type the email address and password for the account into the fields provided and click “Log in”.
If you don't have an account yet, visit the PayPal main page. Click the " Sign Up " button, then enter the email address and password for the new account. You will receive a confirmation email in a few minutes. Click "Activate My Account" in the confirmation email to complete the PayPal account creation. After that, you will be logged into your account automatically
Step 2. Press the “Wallet” button on the top menu bar
You will be redirected to a page containing all payment methods.
Step 3. Click “Link Card”
This button is below the “Credit and debit cards” section. You will be directed to a form to enter card information.
Step 4. Enter the card information
Select “Credit” from the card type and enter the card number, expiration date (in month/year format), and CSC (3 digit number displayed on the back of the card). If it's not already saved to your account, you'll also need to enter the card's billing address.
- PayPal will automatically fill in this field if you have saved address information on your account.
- You can enter a new billing address on this page by selecting an existing address and clicking “Add a new billing address” from the drop-down menu.
Step 5. Once all the information is added, press “Save”
Wait for PayPal to confirm the card information. This process can take up to 30 seconds. Once confirmed, the card will be displayed on the “Wallet” page and ready to be used in transactions. Only the last four digits and the expiration date are displayed on the page.
Step 6. Review the cards displayed on the “Wallet” page
After linking a credit card to your PayPal account, you can edit or remove a card link by selecting the card in question and clicking the " Edit " or " Remove " button.
