Relative asking for my bank account number . . .

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badatmath

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Says he would like to direct transfer holiday gift. I said "nope, keep it". (I have zero concerns about the money being somehow stolen if he had this information and there is hardly any money in this particular account anyway. I just don't think it is any of his business).

But it got me wondering how other people do this? Surely you do not know your MIL, your kids, your BFF's account numbers even if you might give them gifts? Cash might be impractical if you do not see them in person as sending it via mail is unreliable.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Luvtoride said:
Most people use PayPal, Venmo or Zelle to transfer money to friends and family (and even businesses). Just need your email address or you platform user name. No bank account information is disclosed.
We pay our car service driver, cleaning lady and others this way.
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This.
 
I transfer funds to my daughter and payments to my yard guy using Zelle. Simple, all they need to do is sign up with their bank and have your phone number (or email) to make the transfer. You have to have the Zelle capability with your bank and have their phone number (or email), I believe.

There are several services like this.
 
We use Zelle all the time to send and receive money account to account from friends and family. You don’t need anybody’s account info. And pretty much every bank includes it with your account.
 
I do not know any person's bank account number, except for our own.

My DD's family had their mail come to our house while they were on their 7 month RV trip. I opened their mail and put it in the Raven and they were able to see it. They have since bought a home in TX and get their own mail.

We give our kids and their spouse's and our grandkids cash and send checks to the ones in TX. We have not had any problems with the mail.
 
It does not appear this CU allows any P2P apps like Zelle and he would not be able to master it anyway as email is a struggle. I might call them and ask when they open just out of curiosity.

No checks have ever been written out of this account. It literally just sits there. It isn't an account I use.
 
I get the concern. I feel the same way. However, when I look back to the paper-days, when I wrote a check, the recipient got my bank routing number and my account number. Does your bank have a Zelle option? I send granddaughter money via Zelle offered by my bank app and just used her e-mail. It ends up in her bank account. I don't know her bank or account numbers. 1st try was a learning experience but once I got past that, it is easy to send. It is even easier to receive money. It just shows up in her bank account. I do think to receive, you may have to give Zelle your info. Perhaps they have it already if your bank already uses Zelle. Not sure on that part.
 
I went to a wedding recently and instead of giving a check (with my account number) I gave a gift card instead. Don't want my account floating around just in case. Better safe than sorry.
 
badatmath said:
It does not appear this CU allows any P2P apps like Zelle and he would not be able to master it anyway as email is a struggle.
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If he can master entering your account number and setting up a transfer, surely he can manage Zelle which is way easier.

Is that your only bank account?
 
disneysteve said:
If he can master entering your account number and setting up a transfer, surely he can manage Zelle which is way easier.

Is that your only bank account?
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He can't master that. He would drive to the bank and ask the nice employee to do it.

No, I have 3 - 2 CU and 1 bank.
 
badatmath said:
He can't master that. He would drive to the bank and ask the nice employee to do it.

No, I have 3 banks.
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Do either of the others offer Zelle? Use one of those. He can go to the bank and ask the nice employee to help him with that.
 
I get rent paid by zelle. Tenant doesn't know where I bank or the bank account number, not do I know her info

I was using Zelle to send the kids monthly housing money (they are in college)... But since they gave me permission I can transfer directly to their accounts at Schwab. Zelle's limit was an issue if I didn't time things correctly.
 
We’re able to transfer money into our kids checking accounts. I also manage a Roth for one of them. Like others have said, account numbers are on checks, so no big deal.
 
OP - You haven't talked to the person ?
Frankly sounds like a scam to me as there is zero reason to know your bank account number:

They can write a check - only need your name and address.
They can have bank issue a counter check (not certified) and relative can mail it to you.

Relative can a p2p transfer (If you mentioned what CU they use folks could tell you the actual one to use) and they still only need your name and email or phone number, no bank account needed.

I write checks and don't know folks bank accounts.
I pay a person with Zelle and only know name and phone number.
I use P2P bank transfer and again only know name and email of person.
 
badatmath said:
Says he would like to direct transfer holiday gift. I said "nope, keep it". (I have zero concerns about the money being somehow stolen if he had this information and there is hardly any money in this particular account anyway. I just don't think it is any of his business).

But it got me wondering how other people do this? Surely you do not know your MIL, your kids, your BFF's account numbers even if you might give them gifts? Cash might be impractical if you do not see them in person as sending it via mail is unreliable.
Click to expand...
We write checks for gifts but there is always Zelle to transfer $.
 
We use the same CU as our kids and the CU webpage/app has built-in capability to transfer to our kids or them to us.
We use it all the time.
 
Sunset said:
OP - You haven't talked to the person ?
Frankly sounds like a scam to me as there is zero reason to know your bank account number:
Click to expand...
This was my concern also. My first thought being it was an imposter. Being curious (nosy) why would someone even think to ask for such info. Could be an innocent request from someone that is being used by a scammer. Also if the person is so naive technically why would I trust them to protect sensitive info?
 
I hadn't considered he might have fallen for some scam or be subject to one in the future but definitely not out of the question that it could happen in the future.

I laughed when I saw the upper limits of Zelle as no one has ever given me 2K in my entire life. Except my former employer in the form of a paycheck.

Anyway I just said no thanks hopefully he will just drop the subject. I don't see any reason for someone I'm not close with to send anything anyway.

I just found it somewhat unsettling to be asked though I can't precisely say why.
 
It is indeed an odd request, but as others have pointed out, your bank's routing number and your account number are there for the taking on every check that you write. Has this person givin you gifts in the past?

If I was going to gift money to relatives and I didn't want to write a bunch of checks I could order checks with them as payee mailed to their home address from my bank's bill pay app rather than ask for their banking information... much less intrusive to ask for your address than your banking information.
 
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