If the down payment sits in a separate account from the one used for bills, does the lender need statements for both accounts?

Usually no. Lenders document the money you need to close, so if one account covers everything, your other accounts generally stay out of the file. Underwriting has to source your down payment, closing costs, and any reserves your loan requires. If a single account covers all of that, your retirement accounts and the everyday account you use for direct deposit and bills typically never need to be documented. One caveat: a reserve requirement can push the total you have to show above down payment plus closing costs alone, so ask your loan team what your file actually needs. Two things can pull another account into the file: - Recurring transfers. If the statements being reviewed show a set amount moving to another account every month, the underwriter can ask where that money goes. - Large or unusual deposits. Any account you do use has to be sourced, so a big unexplained deposit invites questions. The clean play: fund your down payment from the account with the most self-explanatory history, avoid moving large sums around right before and during the loan, and be ready to briefly explain any transfer that shows up. If you are unsure which account to use, ask your loan team early so you document the right one from the start.