You can remove a bank account from PayPal in your account settings, but the process depends on whether the account is linked for sending money, receiving deposits, or both
To delete a bank account on PayPal, log in to your account, go to Wallet, select Banks and Cards, find the account you want to remove, and click the trash icon or Remove button next to it. The account disappears from your wallet when ready, but PayPal may keep a record of it for dispute resolution and tax purposes. You cannot remove a bank account if PayPal is currently processing a transfer to or from it — you have to wait for that transaction to complete first.
The steps are the same whether you linked the account for direct deposit (receiving money) or for sending transfers. PayPal does not charge a fee to remove an account, and removing it does not affect your PayPal balance or any transactions already completed.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Wallet, then Banks and Cards, to see all linked bank accounts and remove the one you want.
- You cannot remove an account while PayPal is actively sending or receiving money from it — wait for the transfer to finish first.
- Removing a bank account does not delete your PayPal account or affect money already in your PayPal balance.
- PayPal keeps records of removed accounts for tax reporting and dispute resolution, even though you no longer see them in your wallet.
Step-by-step removal from the PayPal website
Open PayPal in a web browser and sign in with your email and password. Click your name or profile icon in the top right corner, then select Account Settings from the dropdown menu.
In Account Settings, click Wallet on the left side. You will see a section labeled Banks and Cards with a list of every bank account and credit or debit card you have linked. Find the bank account you want to remove — PayPal shows the last four digits and the bank name so you can identify it.
Click the trash icon or the three dots next to the account, then select Remove or Delete. PayPal will ask you to confirm. Click Remove again, and the account is gone from your wallet. The whole process takes less than a minute.
Removing a bank account on the PayPal mobile app
Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap Wallet, then Banks and Cards. Swipe left on the account you want to remove, or tap and hold it until a menu appears.
Select Remove or Delete, then confirm. On some versions of the app, you may see a trash icon appear when you swipe. The account is removed when ready, just as it is on the website.
Why PayPal might not let you remove an account right now
If the Remove button is greyed out or missing, PayPal is likely processing a transfer involving that account. This can happen if you recently sent money to the account, set up a direct deposit to it, or initiated a withdrawal. You have to wait for the transaction to settle — usually one to three business days — before you can remove it.
In rare cases, PayPal may temporarily lock an account from removal if there is an open dispute, a pending refund, or a security review. If you see a message saying you cannot remove the account, contact PayPal Support through the app or website to find out why. They can tell you whether it is a processing delay or something else.
What happens to money in your PayPal balance when you remove a bank account
Removing a bank account does not touch the money sitting in your PayPal balance. If you have $50 in your PayPal wallet and you remove the bank account you normally transfer to, that $50 stays in PayPal. You can still use it to send money to other PayPal users, make purchases at stores that accept PayPal, or link a different bank account later and transfer the money out.
The account removal only stops PayPal from being able to send money to that specific bank account or receive deposits from it. It does not close your PayPal account or affect any other linked payment methods.
Removing a bank account that is set up for direct deposit
If the bank account you are removing is set up to receive direct deposits — for example, from your employer or a government agency — you need to update your direct deposit information with the source before you remove it from PayPal. If you remove the account without updating your direct deposit settings elsewhere, future deposits will fail and may bounce back to the sender.
Contact your employer's payroll department or the agency sending the deposit and give them your new bank account number. Once they have confirmed the change, you can safely remove the old account from PayPal.
What PayPal keeps after you delete the account
Even though the account disappears from your Wallet, PayPal retains information about it for tax reporting, dispute resolution, and fraud prevention. If you ever need to prove you owned that account or dispute a transaction that involved it, PayPal can retrieve the record. You will not see it in your account settings anymore, but it exists in PayPal's system.
This is why you can sometimes re-link the same bank account to PayPal later — PayPal recognizes it because the record is still there. The removal is really a disconnection, not a permanent erasure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a bank account if I have a pending transfer to it?
No. You have to wait for the transfer to complete — usually one to three business days. Once PayPal finishes sending or receiving money, the account will be removable again. If a transfer is stuck or delayed, contact PayPal Support to see if they can clear it so you can remove the account.
Will removing a bank account close my PayPal account?
No. Removing a bank account only disconnects that one payment method. Your PayPal account stays open, your balance remains, and any other linked cards or accounts are unaffected. You can continue using PayPal with other payment methods.
What if I remove a bank account by mistake?
You can link the same bank account again by going to Wallet, clicking Add Bank Account, and entering the routing and account numbers. PayPal will verify it the same way it did the first time, which usually takes one to two business days. Your old transaction history with that account is not affected.
Do I need to tell my bank that I am removing the account from PayPal?
No. Removing the account from PayPal only stops PayPal from accessing it. Your bank account itself is not changed. You do not need to contact your bank or take any action there.
Can I remove a bank account if there is a dispute or chargeback?
Probably not while the dispute is active. PayPal locks accounts involved in disputes to preserve evidence. Once the dispute is resolved, you can remove it. If you need to remove it urgently, contact PayPal Support to explain your situation.