It is secure and simple to link a bank account on Mainvest. There are 3 options for linking an account, and all three can be found at mainvest.com/dashboard/bank-accounts. You should see your existing payment method here. First, choose "Add a Payment Method"
Then, you can proceed with one of three options to link your bank account.
Linking via Plaid
Plaid is the industry leader in bank linkage, trusted by Venmo, Acorns, and Chime. To link via Plaid, all you have to is follow the on-screen prompts to log into your account through online banking. From there, choose your checking account and you'll be all set to invest.
Linking via voided check
If Plaid doesn't have a connection with your bank, you can upload a picture of a voided check to proceed with investing. Ensure that the routing and account number are clear, that the name on the check matches the name on your account, and that it's a photo or scan of a physical check.
Linking via account and routing number
If neither of the above options work for your bank, you can enter your account and routing number where prompted. From there, we will send 2 small deposits of just a few cents to your bank account within 1-3 business days. Once you have those deposits, head back to mainvest.com/dashboard/bank-accounts to enter them in. This will verify your account and you'll be able to start investing.
Security on Mainvest
Mainvest takes privacy extremely seriously. We use 256-bit AES encryption to store any information on our website. This is the same security standard that is used by US Banks and the military. Sensitive information is only used for identity verification purposes required by the Bank Secrecy Act. We also use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for security by making an encrypted link between a users' browser and our associated servers. Plaid, the partner we use to connect to bank accounts, is trusted by Venmo, Coinbase, and SoFi, and is the industry leader in bank linkage. Furthermore, our third party financial technology partner has done a cyber code security audit of Mainvest. As we are a regulated entity, FINRA does periodic reviews of our security practices, which includes getting approval to operate an online funding portal in the first place.