Funding your CEX.IO account with USD via ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfer is the most cost-effective way to get money into your account for trading.
💡 What is an ACH Transfer?
An ACH transfer is a highly secure, electronic method for moving money between U.S. bank accounts. It is the network used for common transactions, such as direct deposit, paychecks, and automatic bill payments.
Cost-Effective: ACH deposits are cheaper.
Immediate Trading: Funds are available for trading instantly, while the transfer clears in the background.
🛑 Mandatory Pre-Conditions for ACH Funding
To use the ACH transfer method for deposits on CEX.IO, your account must meet the following general requirements:
Verified Account: Your CEX.IO account must be verified to at least the Identity level (some higher limits require Address verification).
Name Match (Strict KYC): The name on the bank account you are funding from must exactly match the name on your CEX.IO account (to comply with AML/KYC rules).
US Account: You must be a resident of a supported U.S. jurisdiction, and your bank must be a U.S.-based bank.
Step 1: Connecting Your Bank Account (via Plaid)
To use ACH, you must first securely link your U.S. bank account. We use Plaid - a leading, industry-standard service - to facilitate this connection without ever storing your credentials.
Navigate to “Add funds” on the platform.
Select USD as the currency.
Choose “Bank account (ACH)” from the payment methods and click “Connect.”
Authorize bank account linking by clicking “Connect bank account with Plaid”.
The Plaid screen will launch. Click “Continue” and follow the prompts:
Select your bank from the list.
Log in using your standard online banking username and password.
Continue the process until the account is connected. Once the process is complete, you will see the success message.
Step 2: Making Your ACH Deposit
After successfully linking your account, you are ready to make a deposit.
On the “Add funds” screen, ensure your newly linked bank account is selected as the payment method.
Enter the desired amount (you can start as low as $20).
Click the “Add USD” button.
Step 3: Confirming Your Transaction
Once you review your order, you will see a Transaction Confirmation screen detailing your deposit and fund availability.
Dual-Layer Security Authorization
After you click confirm, a secure Plaid Authorization window will appear. This is a vital security step that provides an extra layer of protection for your bank account. By re-verifying the transaction, we ensure that every transfer is fully authorized by you, protecting your account from unauthorized activity and ensuring the highest level of payment security for both parties.
Fund Availability & Settlement
Instant Trading: Your balance will update immediately after authorization, allowing you to buy and trade crypto right away.
Withdrawal Timeline: While you can trade instantly, bank processing requires time to finalize the transfer. Consequently, withdrawals of this deposit (or any crypto purchased with it) will be restricted for 7 business days until the funds have fully cleared.
Failed Payments & Returns
In the rare event that an ACH payment fails (e.g., due to insufficient funds in your bank account), the deposit will be marked as Unsettled. In this case, you will receive an immediate notification with instructions on how to settle the balance manually to keep your account in good standing.
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