How To Get Paid on YouTube - From AdSense to your Bank Account

Richard Bennett

May 28, 2025• Proven solutions

YouTube is more than a video sharing social network; here's how to get paid on YouTube. Having an active YouTube channel with decent monthly views can earn you income through advertising. If your channel is set up properly, Google can place ads over your YouTube videos and you can earn money based on how many people see or click on (depends on the ad) those ads while watching your videos.

1. The Requirements for YouTube Monetization
2. How to Enable Monetization for Your YouTube Channel
3. Linking Your Bank Account to Your AdSense Account
4. Receiving Payments
5. Supercharge Your Content Creation with Filmora’s AI Idea to Video

Many vloggers receive direct bank deposits of their ad-based revenues every month. In this article, we'll show you how to monetize your YouTube Channel and how to receive payments to your bank account.

Part 1: The Requirements for YouTube Monetization

Meeting the minimum requirement for YouTube monetization is probably the hardest part of this whole process. About a month ago, you had to have 10,000 lifetime views on your YouTube channel to qualify for monetization. However, earlier this year, Google changed their eligibility requirements and made them even tougher.

As of February 20, 2018, YouTube channels need to have accumulated 4000 hours of ‘watch time' over the past 12 months and no less than 1000 subscribers to qualify for monetization. If you do not meet these requirements you cannot join the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your YouTube channel.

So, the first step to successful monetization on YouTube is to actually grow your channel. You need to create videos that will attract viewers and engage your audience. You also need to get people to subscribe because this is really what will grow your YouTube channel over time.

Part 2: How To Enable Monetization for Your YouTube Channel

Here's the step-by-step process for monetizing your YouTube Channel, for those who are qualified.

1. Log in to your YouTube account.

2. Find your account icon in the top right corner. Click it to find the ‘Creator Studio' button.

3. Click the ‘Creator Studio' button.

4. Click the ‘Channel' option in the left side menu.

5. You'll see a drop-down menu under ‘Channel'. Click on ‘Status and Features'. This is actually the first option on the menu. It should open by default once you click the ‘Channel' button.

6. Look through the ‘Status and Features' page and click the ‘Enable' button beside monetization.

7. Clicking the ‘Enable' button should lead you to another page where the guidelines for monetization are explained. Take the time to read through the guidelines and understand the dos and don'ts of YouTube monetization.

8. Once you've looked through the guidelines, click the ‘Enable my account' button to proceed. This will lead you to a page where you'll be prompted to join the YouTube Partner Program.

9. Read through the YouTube Partner Program terms, check the appropriate boxes, and click the ‘accept' button.

10. You'll be prompted to link an AdSense account.

11. Connect an existing AdSense account if you have one or create a new one.

12. Once you're done linking an AdSense account, you'll be redirected to YouTube. There, select the type of ads you want to run under ‘Monetization Preferences'.

13. Click the submit button and wait to find out if your account is approved for monetization.

According to YouTube, it can take up to a week for a decision to be reached on your application.

YouTube will not review your monetization application until you've met their eligibility criteria. Even then, your application may be declined if your videos do not follow the community guidelines (i.e. channels which simply repost content from other channels will not be monetized).

Not all videos can be monetized. While there are legal ways to create videos consisting of imagery and footage belonging to others, be aware that such videos are not always eligible for monetization. YouTube will only monetize videos that you own. So, posting videos which do not belong to you or which include copyrighted content can cause your monetization application to be declined.

Part 3: Linking Your Bank Account To Your AdSense Account

AdSense offers a variety of payment options including mailed checks and Western Union transfers. However, these options may not be available to you depending on where you're based. AdSense does make payments through electronic wire transfer (EFT – Electronic funds transfer) to virtually every country in the world, and this is the preferred payment option for most people.

To have your earnings deposited directly into your account through EFT, you'll need to link your bank account to your AdSense account.

Here's a step-by-step guide for linking your bank account to your AdSense account.

1. Log in to AdSense via: www.google.com/adsense/start 

2. Click the ‘Settings' button in the left panel menu

3. Under ‘Settings', click ‘Payments'.

4. On the ‘Payments' page, click ‘Manage payment options'.

5. Click ‘Add payment method'.

6. Next, you'll be prompted to add your bank account details. In general, you will be asked to provide the following:
   1. Name on the account / account holder's name
   2. Bank account number
   3. Bank name
   4. Bank SWIFT code
   5. Depending on where you are based, additional information may be required.

7. Ensure that the name on your AdSense account matches the name on the bank account you provide. To edit your AdSense name, click the ‘Manage settings' button also on the Payments page.

Part 4: Receiving Payments

To get paid by AdSense, you need to reach the $100 threshold. You may wish to set a higher threshold but as a rule, earnings below the $100 will not be processed for payment (you will still receive the money, it will just keep adding up until it gets to $100 and then you'll be paid).

Also, bear in mind that AdSense follows a monthly payment cycle. This means that a month's earnings (assuming they meet the threshold requirement) will be paid next month. Usually, direct deposit payments will be processed between the 21^st and 26^th of every month. That said, it can take up to 10 days for electronic wire payments to be received.

In addition to reaching the payment threshold, be sure that you have no payment hold on your AdSense account. A payment hold can cause your earnings to be withheld even if it has reached the payment threshold.

To avoid a payment hold, be sure to provide the necessary tax information, verify your identity and your address, make sure the bank account linked to your AdSense is verified, and make sure you have not violated any of YouTube's guidelines and community rules.

Supercharge Your Content Creation with Filmora’s AI Idea to Video

If you’re a YouTuber looking to speed up content production or struggling to turn ideas into full videos, Filmora’s new AI Idea to Video can be a game-changer.

This feature helps you transform text prompts or simple video ideas into fully structured videos, including:

• AI-generated storyboards: Paste a few keywords or a short idea, and Filmora will generate a full script with editable scenes and visuals.
• AI voiceover & lip sync: Add professional-sounding voiceovers with accurate lip movement—great for faceless channels or animated explainers.
• Custom video aesthetics: Choose from styles like realistic, anime, cyberpunk, or Disney-like to match your brand tone.
• Full production control: Set aspect ratios, video length, captions, and more—all powered by smart AI.
• Original visual generation: Unlike most tools that rely on stock footage, Filmora can create unique visuals directly from your script.

So whether you're making tutorials, commentary videos, niche explainers, or storytelling content, AI Idea to Video helps you go from idea to YouTube-ready content faster—giving you more time to focus on growth, engagement, and AdSense revenue.

Conclusion

Depending on your vlogging skills and content niche, reaching YouTube's monetization requirements can take time. Even after enabling AdSense, consistently getting enough views to reach the payout threshold is a challenge many new creators face.

But don’t let that discourage you. The key to earning income on YouTube lies in sticking with your channel and continuously improving the quality of your content. Viewers are drawn to originality, clarity, and storytelling—and that’s exactly where the right tools can give you a head start.

If you’re struggling to turn your ideas into polished videos, try Filmora’s new AI Idea to Video feature. Whether you're building explainer videos, vlogs, or creative stories, this tool lets you go from idea → script → publish-ready video in minutes—so you can focus more on growing your channel and less on struggling with editing.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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