Switch FAQs

The BB&T Online Switch Kit is a tool that makes it easy to switch your accounts from any U.S. financial institution to BB&T. Our Switch Kit creates the forms you need to close your old bank account, transfer your Automatic or Direct Deposits, and transfer your Automatic Payments over to BB&T. All you have to do is enter some basic account information, and the Online Switch Kit will do the rest generating customized forms for you to print, sign and mail.

No. The BB&T Switch Kit is free.

Yes. Your Switch Kit creates PDF forms. You will need Adobe Reader or any other applications that you can view PDF files in. You can download Adobe Reader at adobe.com/reader for free.

To save a copy of your customized switch forms to your computer, click Save a Copy. From the Save a Copy dialog box, click to select a location on your computer where you want to save the file. Click Save.

Yes. A BB&T checking, savings, or money market account is required to use the Switch Kit. If you don't already have a BB&T account, you can open an account online quickly and easily.

• Your BB&T account information
• Current Direct Deposits information
• Current automatic payments information
• Your former account information (account number, routing transit number)

Once you create your personalized Switch Kit, you can save the file to your computer and print out your forms.

Once your customized forms are printed, just sign and mail them to the appropriate contacts. Remember to follow form instructions and attach a voided check if needed

No. The personal and confidential information you enter into the Switch Kit to create your forms will not be saved by BB&T. You can save the forms on your computer.

Yes. To close more than one account: The Switch Kit can generate only one customized authorization to close your account form. If you need to close more than one account the easiest way is to leave the former account fields blank when completing the switch kit. Once you print your switch kit, you can make copies of this form and complete them manually.

All you have to do is enter some basic account information and the Switch Kit will generate customized forms for you to print, sign and mail to each depositor with whom you have arranged for direct deposit. If you need to switch more than one direct deposit simply click the link to add another direct deposit authorization form to your kit.

Sign the form and mail to your employer or the appropriate company.

Remember, it usually takes at least 30 days to establish a Direct Deposit with an employer or an Automatic Deposit from a depositor. There are several ways you can check to see when the direct deposit is established:

• Log on to BB&T OnLine^® and view your transaction history. If you are not using BB&T OnLine banking you can sign up in minutes.
• Check your BB&T account statement to see if your transactions have been switched.
• Contact your employer or the company to confirm that your paycheck, dividend check or other income source has been set up for automatic payment.

Direct Deposit is a free service that automatically deposits your paycheck, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income benefits, or any periodic income directly into your BB&T checking, savings, or money market account.

You can receive many types of payments by Direct Deposit to your BB&T checking, savings, or money market account, including your paycheck, government payments like Social Security benefits, pension payments, investment dividends and others. If you're currently receiving these payments by Direct Deposit into your former account, use the Switch Kit to switch them to your BB&T account.

Social Security Administration and federal government deposits cannot be switched to your BB&T account by sending a form created by this Switch Kit. Instructions for switching these direct deposits are provided on your Switch Kit Checklist.

If you want to switch a direct deposit for Social Security, SSI or other federal government payments to your BB&T account, visit godirect.gov and select "How do I change my direct deposit?" for complete instructions.

Yes, you can receive an unlimited number of direct deposits to your BB&T account. Contact your employer and other companies or agencies that you receive periodic income from to see if they offer Direct Deposit as a payment option.

Including a voided check from your BB&T checking or money market account or a deposit slip from your BB&T savings account can help the company or agency verify your BB&T account number and routing number. To void a check, write "VOID" across the front of the check

After you submit your direct deposit form to your employer or other company who sends payments to you, verify when you should begin receiving the direct deposit to your BB&T account. You should allow several pay periods or cycles (30-60 days) for the switch to be made.

You should contact the company or agency sending the Direct Deposit if it has not been switched to your BB&T account within three pay periods.

Most companies, agencies and employers will accept the personalized forms created by the Switch Kit to change your direct deposit. However, some companies will require that you use their form. In some cases, you may need to process your request using another system, such as your employer's payroll system.

If you have a company who initiates automatic payment withdrawals/direct debits from your former account:

You can change your automatic payments to companies for loans, utilities, and other bills from your former account to your BB&T account.

If you have a payee who initiates automatic payment withdrawals/direct debits from your former account (ex: utilities, telephone, etc.) all you have to do is enter some basic account information and the Switch Kit will generate customized forms for you to print, sign and mail for each company with whom you have arranged for automatic payments. If you need to switch more than one automatic payment simply click the link to add another automatic payment authorization form to your kit.

Sign the Automatic Payments form, attach a voided check or deposit slip and send to the appropriate company. To add another contact,

Remember, it can take several billing cycles (30-60 days) to establish an automatic payment. Make sure to continue making your payments while your requests to change the account for automatic payments are processed.

You can authorize specific companies or agencies—cell phone providers, utilities, homeowners associations and others to automatically deduct your payments from your BB&T account using Automatic Payments. Automatic Payments are also known as ACH debits.

There are several ways you can check to see when automatic payments have been switched to your BB&T account:

• Log on to BB&T OnLine and view your transaction history. If you are not using BB&T OnLine banking you can sign up in minutes.
• Check your BB&T account statement to see if your transactions have been switched.

Contact the company to confirm that your bill has been set up for automatic payment.

Make sure you have set up your BB&T OnLine banking account.

1. Log on to BB&T OnLine
2. Open a new browser window and log on to your former online banking account.
3. With both browser windows side-by-side, add your Payees and scheduled payments from your former bank's online bill payment service into your BB&T account. You can schedule payments with BB&T up to one-year in advance.

Note: Please cancel any scheduled payment from your former Financial Institution that they are switching to BB&T to avoid making duplicate payments to the same payee.

Once you receive and activate your new BB&T Check Card, you can change your payments such as cell phone bills, insurance payments and others from your old financial institution check card to your new BB&T Check Card. You can review a list of companies  who accept Visa^® Check Cards to change your payment information online. If you are looking for a company that is not included on this list, visit the company's Web site or contact the company by telephone or mail to find out how to update your payment information

These numbers are located on the bottom of every check. Use the images in the Switch Kit to help you locate the numbers on your check

You should only close your former account after you have switched your Direct Deposits, Automatic Payments, and any other recurring bill payment or Check Card/Credit Card payments to your BB&T account. Allow sufficient time for any remaining items to clear—usually about ten business days. Then you can use the Switch Kit to create a personalized form to close your former account.

If you have not received confirmation of closing your account within three weeks, or if you do not receive a check for the remaining account balance, contact your former financial institution.

BB&T does not store the information you enter into the Switch Kit and only uses the information to create your personalized Switch Kit. Because we do not save your information, it is important to save your Switch Kit to your computer for future reference.

For questions about using the BB&T Switch Kit, please contact 800-BANK-BBT
(800-226-5228), Option 4