The fastest way to disconnect Plaid
You can block Plaid in two places: directly through your bank, or through the app or website that uses Plaid to connect to your account. The bank method is more permanent and takes a few minutes. The app method works when ready but only stops that one connection.
Start with your bank's website or app. Log in, find the section for connected apps or third-party access (often under Settings or Security), look for Plaid or the specific app you want to disconnect, and revoke its permission. Your bank's name for this varies — it might say "Connected Apps," "Authorized Third Parties," "App Permissions," or "Linked Accounts." If you cannot find it, call your bank's customer service line and ask them to disconnect Plaid for you. They can do it in one call.
If you want to stop just one app from using Plaid, you can also disconnect it directly through that app's settings. Log into the app, find Account Settings or Connected Accounts, and look for a button to disconnect or unlink your bank. This stops that app from reaching your bank but does not prevent Plaid itself from being used by other apps you may have connected.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting through your bank stops all apps from using Plaid to access that account, while disconnecting through an app stops only that one connection.
- Your bank's website or app has a section for managing third-party access, usually under Settings or Security, where you can revoke Plaid's permission.
- If you cannot find the third-party access section, call your bank directly and ask them to disconnect Plaid — they can do it when ready over the phone.
- Disconnecting Plaid does not close your bank account or affect your banking services; it only stops external apps from connecting to your account.
Why you might want to block Plaid
Plaid is a service that acts as a bridge between your bank and apps you use — budgeting apps, investment platforms, loan services, and payment apps all use Plaid to read your account information and sometimes move money. You may want to disconnect it if you no longer use the app, if you are concerned about data sharing, or if you want to reduce the number of services with access to your bank login information.
Blocking Plaid does not affect your ability to use your bank's own app or website. It only stops third-party apps from connecting through Plaid. If you stop using a budgeting app or a loan service, disconnecting Plaid for that service is a straightforward way to cut off its access.
How to find the third-party access section at your bank
The location and name of this section differ by bank. Chase calls it "Connected Apps." Bank of America calls it "Authorized Third Parties." Wells Fargo calls it "Third-Party Access." Some smaller banks or credit unions may not have a dedicated section and instead handle it through customer service.
Start by logging into your bank's website or mobile app and looking in Settings, Security, Privacy, or Account Management. If you see a section for "Apps," "Permissions," "Connected Services," or "Authorized Access," that is likely where you will find Plaid. If you still cannot locate it after checking these areas, your bank's customer service team can walk you through it or disconnect Plaid directly for you.
Some banks also let you set up alerts when a new app connects to your account, which can help you catch connections you did not authorize. This setting is often in the same area as third-party access management.
What happens after you disconnect Plaid
Once you revoke Plaid's access at your bank, the app or service that was using Plaid will no longer be able to see your account balance, transaction history, or move money from your account. The app itself may still exist on your phone or computer, but it will be disconnected from your bank.
If you want to reconnect that app to your bank later, you will need to go through the linking process again. Most apps will prompt you to reconnect the next time you open them and notice the connection is broken. You can also manually reconnect by going back into the app's settings and choosing to link your bank account again.
Disconnecting Plaid does not delete any data the app already collected while it was connected. If you want to remove your information from an app entirely, you may need to delete your account with that service separately.
Blocking Plaid without disconnecting individual apps
If you want to stop Plaid from working across all your apps at once, the most thorough approach is to change your bank password. When you change your password, all apps connected through Plaid will lose access because their stored login credentials no longer work. They will ask you to reconnect the next time you open them, and you can choose not to.
This method is more disruptive than selectively disconnecting apps, so use it only if you want a clean break from all third-party connections at once. It also means you will need to manually reconnect any apps you actually want to keep using.
Another option is to contact your bank and ask them to restrict third-party access entirely. Not all banks offer this, but some allow you to set a blanket restriction on any app trying to connect through Plaid or similar services. Ask your bank's customer service whether this option is available.
If you cannot find Plaid in your bank's system
Some banks do not show Plaid by name in their third-party access section. Instead, they may list it under the name of the app you connected — for example, "Mint" or "Credit Karma" rather than "Plaid." Look for the name of the specific app you want to disconnect, and revoking that app's access will also disconnect Plaid.
If you still cannot find it, call your bank's customer service number (on the back of your card or on their website) and tell them you want to disconnect Plaid or revoke access for a specific app. Have the name of the app ready. Customer service can locate it in their system and disconnect it for you, usually in under five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Disconnecting Plaid does not change your credit history, payment history, or credit accounts. It only stops an app from viewing your bank account information. Your credit score is based on your credit report, which is separate from your bank account.
Can I block Plaid from one bank but keep it on another?
Yes. You manage third-party access separately at each bank. Disconnecting Plaid at one bank does not affect your other banks. If you have accounts at multiple banks and want to disconnect Plaid from all of them, you will need to go through the process at each bank separately.
What if an app says it needs Plaid to work?
Some apps require Plaid to connect to your bank. If you disconnect Plaid, that app will no longer be able to access your account information. You can still use the app for other features, but bank-connected features will not work. If you want to use those features again, you will need to reconnect Plaid.
Does disconnecting Plaid stop the app from charging my account?
Disconnecting Plaid stops the app from reading your account, but it does not automatically cancel any subscriptions or recurring charges. If the app has permission to charge you, you may need to cancel your subscription separately within the app or contact the app's customer service to stop charges.
Is Plaid safe to use?
Plaid is a widely used service, but like any app with access to your bank account, it carries some risk. You control whether to connect it. If you are uncomfortable with any app having access to your bank information, disconnecting it is a reasonable choice. Your bank account remains find either way.