Opening a PayPal Account Successfully

As the CEO of BK Data Analytics in Kenya, I understand the struggles many people go through receiving payments from the clients abroad, especially those using PayPal. I struggled with it for quite some time but eventually cracked the nut. I share my insights on successfully opening personal PayPal Accounts, such that you will not have it suspended or permanently limited once your hard earned dollar starts streaming in.

First, make sure you are using the secure link https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/wallet. You should have your details in order, and the name used for sign up must tally with that in your registration document, which can be your National Identity Card (ID), Travel Passport, or your Driver’s License.

After signing up and verifying your identity, link the newly created account to your bank account, which also bears the same name. If you are in Kenya, you can open either a KSH or USD (dollar account), have a card, and use it to link to your PayPal account. This is where it gets tricky, as many people ignore this step. Equity Bank has a very good working relationship with PayPal, and using its account is a wise move.

Here is the link for Equity Bank Kenya: https://equitygroupholdings.com/ke/.

Please check the bank that works well with PayPal if you are outside Kenya.

Ensure you have at least $2.0 in your bank account before linking it, as PayPal performs a mock transaction in the verification process. The money gets returned within two weeks.

One important thing to note: open your PayPal account and link with a bank account way before you would use it. This avoids your account from being flagged. New accounts, with or without verifications, tend to be flagged by the algorithm on suspicion of fraud. Thus, preparing it early enough is also wisdom in practice.

Many people who have their PayPal accounts limited always ignore this critical step. They open their accounts today, have money sent in, and withdraw it almost immediately, even without linking it with a proper bank account. This is a huge red flag to PayPal’s fraud detection models that work in the background. Take note of that and you will be on the safer side.

Next, let’s talk about opening a Payoneer account successfully.

Key Words: PayPal | International Money Transfer | Remote Work | Bank Account | USD

By:

Boniface Mibei |

Boniface@bkdataanalytics.com