The fastest way to unlink Plaid
You unlink Plaid in two places: inside the app or website that uses Plaid to connect to your bank, and inside your bank's own settings. Most people only do the first step and think they're done — but Plaid keeps access until you revoke it at the bank level too. The order matters: disconnect from the app first, then from your bank.
Plaid itself doesn't hold your bank login or account access. It's a middleman that passes your connection between your bank and whatever app you're using — a budgeting app, a lending platform, a payroll service. When you unlink, you're breaking that bridge in both directions.
Key Takeaways
- Unlinking Plaid requires two separate steps: removing it from the third-party app and revoking its access at your bank.
- The app or website you connected through (Venmo, Mint, a loan service) has a settings menu where you can disconnect your bank account.
- Your bank's online portal or mobile app has a "Connected Apps" or "Third-Party Access" section where you revoke Plaid's permission to see your account.
- After you unlink, Plaid stops receiving new transaction data, but your bank may keep a record of the connection for your own reference.
Disconnecting from the app or service that uses Plaid
Start with the app or website where you originally connected your bank account. This is the service you were trying to use — Venmo, a budgeting app, a loan marketplace, a payroll platform. Look for a settings or account menu, usually in the top right or bottom left of the screen.
Inside settings, find a section called "Connected Accounts," "Linked Banks," "Bank Connections," or "Payment Methods." The exact name varies by service. Tap or click on your bank account, and you'll see an option to disconnect, remove, or unlink. Confirm the action. The app will stop pulling data from your bank when ready, but Plaid's permission at your bank level is still active.
If you can't find the settings menu, search the app's help center for "unlink bank" or "disconnect account." Most services have a support article that walks you through their specific layout. Some apps bury this in account security settings rather than in a general settings menu.
Revoking Plaid's access at your bank
Now log into your bank's website or mobile app directly. Look for a menu labeled "Settings," "Security," "Connected Apps," "Third-Party Access," or "Authorized Apps." Banks organize this differently — Chase calls it "Connected Services," while Bank of America uses "Third-Party Access," and Wells Fargo uses "Authorized Connections."
Find Plaid in the list and select it. You'll see an option to revoke access, disconnect, or remove authorization. Confirm. Your bank will when ready stop allowing Plaid to retrieve your account information. This is the step that actually stops Plaid from seeing your transactions going forward.
If you don't see Plaid listed, your bank may not display third-party connections in the main settings area. Try searching your bank's help site for "third-party access" or "connected apps." Some banks require you to contact customer service to revoke access, though this is becoming less common.
What happens to your data after you unlink
Once you revoke Plaid's access at your bank, Plaid stops receiving new transaction data. The app or service you were using will no longer see your account balance or transaction history. Any data Plaid already collected before you unlinked remains on Plaid's servers unless you request deletion, but it's no longer being updated.
Your bank keeps a record that Plaid was connected, usually visible in your third-party access log. This is for your own security — you can see what apps have accessed your account and when. The record itself doesn't give Plaid any ongoing access; it's just a log entry.
If you can't find the unlink option
Some apps hide the disconnect option or make it difficult to find. If you've looked through settings and can't locate it, try searching within the app for "unlink," "disconnect," or "remove bank." Many apps have a search function in settings.
If the app itself doesn't have an obvious way to disconnect, go straight to your bank and revoke Plaid's access there. Your bank's revocation will break the connection regardless of what the app allows. The app may show an error the next time it tries to pull data, but the connection is severed at the source.
For apps that are no longer active or that you've deleted, you still need to revoke Plaid at your bank. Log into your bank, find the third-party access section, and remove Plaid even if you can't access the original app anymore.
Checking that Plaid is actually disconnected
After you've unlinked from both the app and your bank, verify the disconnection worked. Log back into the app or service and try to view your account balance or transactions. It should show an error or a prompt to reconnect. If it still displays your data, the unlink didn't take effect — wait a few minutes and refresh, as changes sometimes take time to sync.
Then log into your bank and check the third-party access section again. Plaid should no longer appear in the list of connected apps. If it's still there, try revoking access again, or contact your bank's customer service to confirm the revocation went through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to unlink Plaid from my bank if I already removed it from the app?
Yes. Removing it from the app only stops that specific service from using Plaid. Plaid's permission to access your bank account remains active until you revoke it at the bank level. You need both steps to fully disconnect.
Will unlinking Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Unlinking Plaid has no impact on your credit. Credit bureaus don't track third-party app connections. If you were using Plaid through a lending or credit-monitoring service, disconnecting the app won't change any credit reports or scores.
Can I unlink Plaid if I've already deleted the app?
Yes. Go directly to your bank's website or app, find the third-party access section, and revoke Plaid's permission there. You don't need the original app to disconnect at the bank level.
How long does it take for Plaid to stop accessing my account after I unlink?
Plaid stops receiving new data when ready after you revoke access at your bank. The app or service you were using may take a few minutes to reflect the disconnection, but the bank-level revocation is when ready.
What if my bank doesn't have a third-party access section?
Contact your bank's customer service and ask them how to revoke third-party app access. They can do it for you or direct you to the correct menu. Smaller banks sometimes don't display this option in their online portal but can still revoke access on request.