Top up—add money to your bank account quickly and easily
Bank balance getting low? Then it’s time for a top up! A top up simply means adding money to your account so you have enough balance to cover any upcoming payments. This guide will show you how to top up your account, and how N26 makes topping up a breeze.

What’s a top up?
When you make a top up, you’re depositing money into your bank account. You can also top up a prepaid card that isn’t connected to your bank account. In either case, you’re adding money to increase your existing balance. Top up in person, online, through an app—there are plenty of options to choose from. Read on to learn more.Ways to top up an account
Topping up in person is usually as easy as going to a physical branch, an ATM, or a participating retail store and handing over the amount of cash you want to deposit. Digital top up methods include- mobile transfers,
- direct deposits,
- external bank transfers, and
- top up via debit and credit cards.
Top up processing times
It might take some time before your top up shows up in your account, depending on your top up method. Some might appear instantly in your account, while others might take up to 5 days. With N26, all top ups are either instant or take up to 2 days at most.Top up safely with secure transfers
All N26 accounts have a three-tier security system for your protection. Every time you need to top up, you’ll log in with a password, fingerprint, or face recognition. You must confirm each top up with your 4-digit PIN, and then you’ll receive a real-time push notification to verify your order is correct. Plus, all transactions you make with your N26 debit Mastercard are protected with 3D Secure technology. Read more on N26 security and 3D Secure measures here for even more peace of mind.- Be over the age of 18
- Live in an eligible country
- Have your own smartphone
- Not yet have an online account with N26
- Have a valid ID
A top up means adding funds to an account from another source. This can mean depositing cash at a local bank branch or transferring funds electronically.
Customers must generally top up their account balance to ensure they have sufficient funds to cover upcoming transactions.
There are plenty of ways to top up your account. The simplest method is to transfer funds via your debit or credit card, using the associated card details. Other ways to top up include making cash or check deposits in a physical branch, external bank transfers, or through digital wallet technology like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
There are usually limits to the amount you can top up on an account, and you will need to check the terms and conditions from the bank and card issuer. With N26, debit and credit top ups are allowed up to €450 per calendar month, whereas incoming SEPA transfers are possible up to €100,000.
Funds can vary in length of time to receipt, due to the different options available to add money. Whilst some methods will appear straightaway into the account, others could take up to 5 business days to show in the account. All top up methods with N26 are either instant or are processed in 2 business days.
Top up or prepaid cards are fixed payment systems that allow the cardholder to transfer a certain amount of money to a prepaid debit card. Once the top up is complete, the owner can use the card in much the same way you would use a debit card, such as for making online purchases or shopping in stores.
If your top up card or prepaid card issuer is licensed and covered by insurance, the balance added to the card should be protected if the issuer goes into administration or insolvency. If they are not insured, the money left on the card could be lost without any compensation.
You must meet the following requirements to open an N26 Standard free bank account: