How long does it take to add an external bank? Not link an account, but add the bank to be able to link accounts.

Welcome to Community, @travisstrunk50.

Adding a bank account to QuickBooks Online (QBO) without linking it is a quick process. You can create the account directly in your Chart of Account (COA).

Here's how:

1. Go to the Gear icon and select Chart of accounts.
2. Click New (or New account).
   
3. Enter a clear Account name (e.g., "Business Checking - Not Linked").
4. Select an Account type, and then choose the Detail type from the dropdowns.
   Find out more about account and detail types.
5. If this account is a subaccount, check Make this a subaccount, then choose the Parent account it should be under.
   Find out more about parent accounts and subaccounts.
6. If you choose a Bank, Asset, Credit card, Liabilities, or Equity account, enter Opening Balance, and fill out the starting date in the As of field.
7. (Optional) Add a Description to add extra information about this account.
8. Click Save.
   

For a more detailed, step-by-step guide on the different fields you can use when setting up any account, you can review this article: Add an Account to your Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks Online.

To enhance your experience with QuickBooks, our QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted team is available to offer guidance on best practices for managing recurring transactions.

If you have further questions or concerns about online banking in QuickBooks Online, feel free to share them below. We're here to help.