Linked Checking Accounts

What is a linked account?

When you open your account online, you make an electronic deposit from your existing checking account. This initial deposit will create an electronic link between your ING DIRECT account(s) and your checking account, which we call your 'linked' account. This electronic link allows you to easily transfer money between your ING DIRECT account(s) and your linked checking account.

View a short interactive demo on how to confirm linked accounts.

At ING DIRECT, our transactions are made using the Automated Clearing House (ACH), the same system used for direct deposits. To transfer money to and from your ING DIRECT account(s), you simply go online or call to initiate the transaction. Generally transactions take 2 bank business days to be completed.

View a brief demo to learn more about how these transfers work.

How many links may I have?

You can have up to 3 linked personal checking accounts, including the checking account you used to open your ING DIRECT account.

How do I add a link?

Keep in mind, you cannot add a link online for 30 days if:

• You're a new ING DIRECT Customer.
• You recently changed your personal information, like your email addresses or phone number.  For your security, we need time to verify the change.   

Otherwise, follow the steps below to add a link online or through the mail.

To add a link online:

1. Sign in to ingdirect.com with your Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and select the 'My Links' icon.
2. Click on 'Add Link', enter your new external account link information, and answer a few security questions.
3. We will ask you to confirm ownership of your checking account by verifying 2 small amounts (you may see one or two small deposits – each less than $1.00) that we will deposit into your external checking account.
4. Review the activity on your external checking account to determine the small amount(s) 2-4 bank business days after adding the link.
5. Once you have the amount(s), sign in to ingdirect.com with your Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and click on the ‘My Links’ icon. Select ‘Unconfirmed’ and enter the amount(s).

To add a link by mail:

1. Send us a personal check payable to yourself that is pre-printed with your name and address, made out for a deposit amount of at least $1.00 from the new external account link. The name pre-printed on the check must exactly match the name on your ING DIRECT account.
2. Write your Customer Number and the word "Link" on the memo line of the check and make sure you sign it (but do NOT endorse the check).
3. Keep in mind that the account you would like to link must be a personal checking account, not a brokerage or money market account. Voided or "starter" checks (checks without your personal information printed in the upper left corner) or checks with the words "payable through" cannot be used.
4. Mail your personal check to add a link to:  

   	ING DIRECT P.O. Box 60 St. Cloud, MN 56302-0060

Please Note: For your protection, if you add a link via mail, we place a temporary restriction on transfers to your new linked account for 5 bank business days from the date that it is received. This is a security measure to protect your money.

How do I delete a link?

If you only have one link on file, you’ll need to add another before you can delete the link you want. We want to make sure you have a way to access your money.

To delete a link:

1. Sign in to ingdirect.com with your Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN
2. Click on the 'My Links' icon
3. Click the delete button next to the link

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you only have one link on file, you must first establish another one before you can remove your existing link. This is the only way you will be able to transfer money to and from your ING DIRECT Account.

How do I change my external linked checking account?

If you only have one link on file, you’ll need to first add a new link and confirm it before you can delete the old one.

If you already have more than one link on file, just delete the link you no longer want and add the new external checking account. Remember, you must always have at least one valid external linked checking account on file.

Find out how to add a link.

How do I verify my link if I opened my account online?

To confirm ownership of your linked checking account:

1. You must verify 2 small amounts (you may see one or two small deposits – each less than $1.00) that we will deposit in your checking account.
2. Review the activity on your external checking account to determine the small amount(s) 2-4 bank business days after adding the link.
3. Once you have the amount(s), sign in to ingdirect.com with your Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and click on the ‘My Links’ icon. Select ‘Unconfirmed’ and enter the 2 small amount(s).

Your link must be confirmed in order to transfer money from your ING DIRECT account. If this is a joint account and you indicate that both you and the joint account holder own the linked account, you must both sign in to ingdirect.com with your individual Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and complete the steps above.

Please Note: Your initial deposit into your ING DIRECT account is withdrawn from your linked checking account following the submission of your application. This will occur prior to receiving the two small deposits.

View a short interactive demo on how to confirm linked accounts.

How long does it take to transfer money between my ING DIRECT account and my linked checking account?

Electronic transfers between ING DIRECT and other banks are FREE and generally take 2 bank business days. Add an extra day for Federal holidays.

Like most banks, when we electronically transfer money with another bank, the money goes through a secure network called the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.

We pull our transfer requests together each day and send them off to the ACH. That system then pulls together all the daily files they receive from thousands of banks and routes the transfer to the appropriate receiving bank account and then the transfer occurs.

View a brief demo to learn more about how these transfers work.

If I opened a joint account is there anything different I need to do to verify my linked account?

If you opened a joint account online, both you and your joint holder will have to verify your linked account if you indicated that you both own the linked account. We’ll send 2 small deposits to your jointly owned external checking account.

To verify your link, you and the joint account holder must both sign in to ingdirect.com with your individual Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and complete the steps above. You must both do this in order to withdraw money from your ING DIRECT account.

If my checking account bank was recently bought by another bank do I need to update my link information?

In most cases, if you simply initiate a transfer, your bank will notify us of the change. Once we receive that information, we’ll update the bank name, account and/or bank routing numbers of your linked account on our side. This usually occurs within about a week of the transfer.

What do I do if I don't have any open accounts and my external link is no longer valid?

If you no longer have an open account and a valid linked external checking account on file, please add a link by mailing a voided check to:

ING DIRECT
P.O. Box 60
St. Cloud, MN 56302-0060

Once the new link has been added, you’ll need to confirm ownership of the linked checking account by following these instructions:

1. You must verify 2 small amounts (you may see one or two small deposits – each less than $1.00) that we will deposit in your checking account
2. Review the activity on your external checking account to determine the small amount(s) 2-4 bank business days after adding the link.
3. Once you have the amount(s), sign in to ingdirect.com with your Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and click on the ‘My Links’ icon. Select ‘Unconfirmed’ and enter the 2 small amount(s)

Your link must be confirmed in order to transfer money from your ING DIRECT account. If this is a joint account and you indicate that both you and the joint account holder own the linked account, you must both sign in to ingdirect.com with your individual Customer Number or Saver ID and PIN and complete the steps above.