Reference

What Is a Bank Verification Letter?

A bank verification letter is an official document from a bank confirming that an account exists, who owns it, and that it is in good standing. Here’s exactly what makes one valid, a sample you can model yours on, and answers to the questions underwriters hear most.

Overview

What is a Bank Verification Letter?

A Bank Verification Letter (BVL) — also called a bank confirmation letter, bank letter, or account verification letter — is an official document from a financial institution that confirms key information about a customer’s account. It’s typically used to verify banking details for funding, merchant services, loans, leasing, or business compliance purposes.

Bank letters are commonly required for:
  • Merchant account onboarding
  • ACH or credit card payment processing setup
  • Loan or credit applications
  • Commercial lease agreements
  • Government or licensing compliance checks
  • Third-party vendor funding (e.g., Merchant Cash Advance)

Requirements

What makes a Bank Verification Letter valid?

For a bank letter to be considered valid, it must meet all of the following criteria:

✓
Issued on Bank Letterhead
The letter must be printed on the official letterhead of the financial institution, including the bank’s logo, name, and branch address.

✓
Signed and Dated by a Bank Representative
Manually or digitally signed by an authorized bank employee, with the representative’s name, title, and contact information included.

✓
Recent Issuance (Within 30–90 Days)
Most institutions require the letter to be dated within the past 30–90 days to ensure accuracy.

✓
Includes Required Account Information
Must verify: account holder’s legal name or business name, full account number, account type (checking, savings, business), confirmation the account is open and in good standing, routing number, and account opening date.

✓
No Handwritten or Altered Information
Typed and unaltered documentation is critical. Handwritten information, edits, or corrections can result in the letter being rejected.

Watch out for

Common mistakes that invalidate a bank letter

  • Missing or outdated signatures
  • No bank letterhead or logo
  • Generic printouts from online banking portals
  • Failure to include all required account information
  • Handwritten notes or redacted account names

Example

Sample bank verification letter

Here’s an example of what valid language looks like in a bank verification letter. You can share this with your bank as a model — most branches will produce a letter in this format on request:

[Bank Letterhead]

[Date]

To Whom It May Concern:

“This letter serves to confirm that [Your Business Name] maintains an active business checking account [account number] with [Bank Name], routing number [routing number]. The account was opened on [Date] and is currently in good standing.”

Signed,
Jane Smith
Senior Banker, ABC Bank
jane.smith@abcbank.com | (555) 555-1234

Common questions

Bank verification letter FAQ

How do I get a bank verification letter?
Contact your bank branch, relationship manager, or business banking support line and request one. Most banks issue a bank verification letter same-day for free, either in-branch or as a signed PDF. Some banks let you request one through secure messaging in online banking.

How long is a bank verification letter valid?
Most requesting parties — including underwriters and payment processors — require the letter to be dated within the last 30 to 90 days. If your letter is older, request a fresh one before submitting.

Is a bank statement the same as a bank verification letter?
No. A bank statement shows transaction activity for a period; a bank verification letter is a signed attestation from the bank that the account exists, who owns it, and that it is in good standing. Many underwriting processes require both.

Can I use a voided check instead of a bank verification letter?
Sometimes. A voided check confirms the account and routing numbers but not account standing or ownership. For higher-risk underwriting — such as high-risk ACH processing or MCA funding — a signed bank letter is usually required in addition to or instead of a voided check.

Final thoughts

A valid bank verification letter is more than just a formality — it’s a crucial piece of documentation for risk management and trust-building in the financial ecosystem. Always double-check that your letter includes the required elements before submission to avoid delays or rejections.

If you’re unsure whether your letter meets the standards, ask the requesting party for a sample template or checklist to follow. Applying for ACH processing? A current bank letter is one of the documents GoACH requests during high-risk ACH underwriting, alongside a compliant ACH authorization form.

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