PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Money & financial emergencies

What to do if…
you notice unexplained small deposits in your bank account

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Call your bank or credit union using a trusted number and say you see unauthorized micro-deposits that may be trying to verify or link your account. Ask the fraud or ACH team to protect the account, review any related electronic-transfer activity, block or restrict unauthorized debits where available, and tell you whether a new account number is needed.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t send money back to anyone who contacts you about the deposits.
  • Don’t share the deposit amounts with anyone except your bank or credit union.
  • Don’t click links or call numbers from texts, emails, or messages that claim to explain the deposits.
  • Don’t assume it is harmless because each deposit is under $1; micro-deposits can be used for account verification before later activity.
  • Don’t wait for a withdrawal before contacting your bank.

What to do now

  1. Write down the details. Record each deposit amount, date, time, and description. Look for wording such as “ACCTVERIFY,” a company name you do not recognize, or matching small debits.
  2. Check the same account for related activity. Look for offsetting debits, new external transfer links, new scheduled payments, new transfer recipients, or payment-app connections you did not set up.
  3. Call your bank or credit union through a trusted route. Use the number on your card, your statement, or the official app or website. Ask for the fraud team or ACH and electronic-transfers team.
  4. Use clear wording. Say: “I have unauthorized micro-deposits in my account. I am concerned someone is trying to verify or link my account. Please protect the account and check for unauthorized ACH or electronic-transfer activity.”
  5. Ask what controls can be applied today. Depending on the institution and account type, ask about blocking or restricting new ACH debits, ACH originators, external transfers, new linked accounts, and new transfer recipients.
  6. Ask whether the account number should be changed. If the bank thinks your routing and account number may be exposed, ask whether they recommend opening a replacement account and moving legitimate payments safely.
  7. Secure your online access. Change your online banking password, turn on multi-factor authentication, remove unknown devices or sessions, and change your email password if it may share credentials or may have been phished.
  8. Add identity-theft protection if the issue may go beyond this bank account. If you see unknown accounts, inquiries, mail, texts, or payment-app activity, place a credit freeze or fraud alert and check your credit reports through the official free-credit-report site.
  9. Create a record if identity theft or an unauthorized transfer is possible. Use IdentityTheft.gov for an official recovery record. If your bank or credit union does not address an unauthorized-transfer problem, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

What can wait

  • You do not need to identify who initiated the deposits today.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to permanently change banks.
  • You do not need to buy paid identity-monitoring before you have contacted the bank and secured access.
  • You do not need to reply to any company name shown in the transaction description.

Important reassurance

Noticing micro-deposits early gives you a chance to stop later activity. A fast call to the bank, a check for linked accounts or debits, and a quick access lockdown are practical first steps.

Scope note

These are first steps only. If the bank confirms unauthorized electronic transfers, account compromise, or identity theft, later decisions may need help from the bank, a consumer-protection agency, or another qualified specialist.

Important note

This guide is general information for immediate harm prevention, not legal, financial, security, or professional advice. Bank procedures vary by institution and account type. For consumer accounts, ask your bank or credit union about Regulation E error-resolution if an unauthorized electronic fund transfer appears, because reporting time limits can matter.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us