External Transfers and Plaid

Managing External Accounts

An External Account transfer is a transfer of funds between an account YOU own with us and an account YOU own at another bank or credit union. Before you can transfer funds, you must link the external account in Digital Banking. 

External accounts must meet the following criteria:

  • The account must be YOUR checking or savings account held at a bank or credit union located in the United States.
  • Linking a prepaid reloaded card is prohibited.
  • Business accounts can only be linked using Micro Deposit verification.
  • Instant verification via Plaid is restricted to users 18+.

Add an External Account Instantly using Plaid

If available, you can link your account instantly through our Plaid integration.

  1. Log into Digital Banking via GCB Mobile App or gulfbank.com.
  2. Select Transfer Funds ➡ Manage External Accounts ➡ Link via Instant Verification.
  3. View Plaid’s Privacy Policy ➡ Select Continue.
  4. View Plaid’s Terms ➡ Enter your phone number ➡ Select Continue.
  5. Enter Code received from 75243 to verify your phone number.
  6. Linking Institution:
    1. If the Financial Institution you are linking is not displayed select + Add new account ➡ Select or Search for your Institution ➡ Select Continue to login ➡ Enter your credentials ➡ Select method to receive security code ➡ Enter Code ➡ Select the account or accounts to link ➡ Click Continue. 
    2. OR If you are a Plaid customer and your Financial Institution is displayed ➡ Select Confirm ➡ Select Continue to login ➡ Enter your credentials ➡ Select method to receive security code ➡ Enter Code ➡ Select the account or accounts to link ➡ Click Continue. 
  7. You will then be prompted to enter a Secure Access Code (SAC) to verify your identity with Gulf Coast Bank & Trust.
  8. After the verification is complete, your external account will be available from Funds Transfer service.

In addition to our GCB External Transfer service, our relationship with Plaid now allows our GCB Digital Banking Retail and Business customers to use Plaid as an authentication method to link your GCB accounts to payment services that participate in Plaid without providing your GCB routing and account number. 

NOTE: Plaid is used for authentication to link your account at another institution using your Digital/Online Banking credentials from that institution, payments will continue to process via ACH for GCB External Transfers. When linking your GCB accounts to another institution or payment service, you will use your GCB Digital Banking credentials for authentication. Payments to the linked institution or service will process using whatever method that institution or service uses to process payments. 

Please refer to GCB Electronic Fund Transfer Disclosure and Digital Banking Retail Services Agreement or Digital Business Services Agreement for additional information.
 

Add an External Account Manually with Micro-Deposits

If you are unable to verify your account using Plaid or your bank doesn't appear in Plaid Instant Verification system, you can still add your account securely with Micro-Deposit add and verify process. 
 

  1. Log into Digital Banking via GCB Mobile App or gulfbank.com.
  2. Select Transfer Funds ➡ Manage External Accounts ➡ Link via Micro Deposits.
  3. Enter the account number, routing number, and account type of the external bank account you are linking. Note: If you’re linking a money market account, make sure to confirm with your other bank whether it’s considered a checking or savings account. Choosing the wrong account type in this step may delay the setup process.
  4. Two test deposits with an offsetting debit will be sent to your external account to confirm the information within 2-3 business days.

Verify the external account Manually with Micro-Deposits

  1. After 2-3 business days, check the activity of the external account you linked for two small deposits from Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. They may appear in your statement as Gulf Coast Bank & Trust or have a more general description. Take note of the amounts.
  2. Log into GCB Mobile App or gulfbank.com.
  3. Select Transfer Funds ➡ Manage External Accounts.
  4. Select Verify on the account that needs to be verified under the Manage External Account(s) section. 
  5. Enter the two micro-deposit amounts that you received in your external account. Enter the amounts as they appear after the decimal point (Example: $0.XX should be entered as XX) ➡ Select Submit. 
  6. You will then be prompted to enter a Secure Access Code (SAC) to verify your identity with Gulf Coast Bank & Trust.
  7. After the verification is complete, your external account will be available from Funds Transfer service.

NOTE: Fund Transfers will be processed via ACH. 
 

Editing/Removing an Account

Select Edit to create or modify a nickname for the account.
Select Remove to Remove the account from the Funds Transfer service.
 

For information regarding your HELOC or PLOC, click here. 

Please refer to GCB Electronic Fund Transfer Disclosure and Digital Banking Retail Services Agreement or Digital Business Services Agreement for additional information.