I created a bank account in QBO, now i want to connect it to the actual bank account to get real-time data, but when i try to connect it, it creates a new bank account

I'll make sure you're able to connect your Financial Institution in QuickBooks, @jordan-kiipo-com.

If you already added a bank account to your chart of accounts but didn’t connect it to QuickBooks, here’s how to get them connected:

1. Select Accounting and click Chart of Accounts.
2. Find the account you want to connect to.
3. In the Action column, select the View register ▼ drop-down list, then choose Connect bank.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your bank to QuickBooks.

Once your account is connected, QuickBooks will automatically download transactions so you don't have to enter them manually. All you need to do is to approve the way they’re categorized.

For more details, check out this article: How to Review Downloaded Bank and Credit Card Transactions.

That's all there is to it. Let me know if you have any issues during this process.  Take care and have a great day ahead!