To become Verified, a PayPal member in the United States must provide PayPal with proof that he or she has opened an account at a bank or other financial institution.

Because these institutions are required by law to screen account holders, PayPal's verification process increases security when you pay parties you do not know.

Please note that PayPal's verification system does not constitute an endorsement of a member, nor a guarantee of a member's business practices. You should always consider other indicators when evaluating members, including length of PayPal membership and reputation scores (on eBay or other auction sites, if applicable).