The fastest way to remove Plaid

You can disconnect Plaid in two places: through the app or website where you connected it, or directly through your bank. The app route is usually faster. Log into whatever service you linked Plaid to (your budgeting app, investment platform, or loan service), find the settings or connected accounts section, and look for an option to disconnect or remove Plaid. Click it, and Plaid loses access to your bank login and account information.

If you cannot find the disconnect option in the app, or if you want to make sure Plaid is fully removed, you can also revoke access directly through your bank's website or mobile app. Most banks have a section called "Connected Apps," "Third-Party Access," "Authorized Apps," or "App Permissions" in their security settings. Find Plaid in that list and select remove or revoke.

Disconnecting Plaid does not affect your bank account itself — your money stays where it is, and your account keeps working normally. The app or service that was using Plaid to read your account information will no longer be able to see your transactions or balances.

Key Takeaways

  • You can remove Plaid through the app where you connected it, usually in settings or connected accounts, or directly through your bank's security settings.
  • Disconnecting Plaid does not close your bank account or affect your money — it only stops that app from seeing your account information.
  • If you disconnect through the app but want to be thorough, also check your bank's connected apps section to revoke Plaid access there.
  • After you disconnect, the app that was using Plaid will no longer update with your latest transactions or balances.

Removing Plaid through the app or service

The easiest place to disconnect is usually the app or website where you first connected Plaid. Open the app or log into the website, then look for a settings menu — this is often a gear icon, your profile name, or a hamburger menu in the corner.

Once you are in settings, search for words like "Connected Accounts," "Linked Banks," "Bank Connections," "Integrations," or "Security." You should see Plaid or the name of your bank listed there. Next to it, you will find a button or link that says "Disconnect," "Remove," "Unlink," or "Revoke Access." Click that button, and the connection is broken.

Some apps ask you to confirm the disconnection or warn you that you will no longer see updated account information. That is normal. Once you confirm, Plaid no longer has permission to access your bank account through that app.

Removing Plaid directly through your bank

If you want to make sure Plaid is fully removed, or if you cannot find the disconnect option in the app, you can revoke access through your bank's own security settings. Log into your bank's website or open the mobile app and look for a settings or security section.

Different banks use different names for this feature. Chase calls it "Connected Apps," Bank of America calls it "Third-Party Access," Wells Fargo calls it "App Permissions," and other banks may use "Authorized Apps" or "Linked Applications." Once you find the right section, scroll through the list of connected apps until you see Plaid.

Select Plaid and choose the option to remove, revoke, or disconnect. Your bank will confirm the action, and Plaid will no longer be able to access your account information through that bank.

What happens after you disconnect Plaid

Once Plaid is removed, the app or service that was using it will stop receiving updates about your account. If you were using Plaid to sync transactions into a budgeting app, those updates will stop. If you were using it to verify your income for a loan, you will need to find another way to prove your income if you explore again.

Your bank account itself is not affected. Your money is still there, your account is still active, and you can still use your debit card, write checks, or transfer money normally. Disconnecting Plaid only stops one app from reading your account information — it does not close anything or change your banking relationship.

If you later want to reconnect Plaid to a different app, or reconnect it to the same app, you can do that at any time by going through the connection process again. You will need to enter your bank login credentials again, just as you did the first time.

Removing Plaid from multiple apps

If you connected Plaid to more than one app — for example, a budgeting app and a loan service — you will need to disconnect it from each one separately. Removing Plaid from one app does not remove it from the others.

The fastest way to handle this is to go through your bank's connected apps section first. When you revoke Plaid access there, it removes Plaid's permission across all the apps that were using it. However, the individual apps may still show Plaid as connected in their settings until you refresh them or log out and back in.

To be thorough, disconnect Plaid from each app individually as well. This ensures that the apps know the connection is gone and will not try to use Plaid the next time you log in.

If you cannot find the disconnect option

Some older apps or less common services may not have an obvious way to disconnect Plaid. If you have looked through the settings and cannot find it, try searching the app's help section or FAQ for "disconnect," "unlink," or "remove bank." Many apps have a help article that walks you through the process.

If the app does not offer a way to disconnect, you can still revoke Plaid's access through your bank. Go to your bank's connected apps section and remove Plaid from there. This stops Plaid from accessing your account, even if the app still shows it as connected.

If you are still stuck, contact the app's customer support and ask them how to disconnect Plaid. They can either walk you through the steps or remove the connection on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disconnecting Plaid affect my credit score?

No. Disconnecting Plaid does not affect your credit score. Plaid itself does not report to credit bureaus — it only reads your account information. Removing it changes nothing about your credit history or how lenders see you.

Do I need to change my bank password after disconnecting Plaid?

You do not have to, but some people do it for extra security. Plaid stores your login credentials encrypted, and disconnecting it revokes the permission Plaid had to use them. Changing your password is optional and depends on how comfortable you feel.

What if I disconnect Plaid but the app still shows my account balance?

The app may be showing cached or old information that it stored before you disconnected. The balance will not update anymore. If you want the app to stop showing your account information entirely, you may need to delete the account from the app separately, which is different from disconnecting Plaid.

Can I reconnect Plaid to the same app later?

Yes. You can reconnect Plaid at any time by going back into the app's settings and choosing to link a bank account again. You will enter your bank login credentials again, and Plaid will ask your bank for permission to access your account.

Does Plaid stay connected if I change my bank password?

Usually not. When you change your bank password, Plaid's stored credentials become outdated. The next time the app tries to use Plaid to access your account, it will fail, and you will be asked to reconnect and enter your new password.