You can remove a bank account from PayPal in your account settings, and it takes about two minutes
Go to your PayPal account, select Wallet from the menu, then find the bank account you want to remove and click the three dots next to it. Choose Remove, confirm the action, and it is gone. PayPal will stop pulling money from that account when ready, though any transfer already in progress will still complete.
You do not need a reason to remove an account, and there is no waiting period. If you are removing it because you closed the bank account itself, do this before the bank closes it — PayPal may try to pull money from a closed account and trigger overdraft fees on your end. If you are removing it because you want to use a different account instead, you can add the new one right after.
Key Takeaways
- Open PayPal, go to Wallet, find the bank account, click the three dots, and select Remove to delete it from your account.
- Any transfer already sent will still go through even after you remove the account, so check your pending transfers first.
- Removing a bank account does not affect your PayPal balance or any money already in your PayPal wallet.
- If you removed the account by mistake, you can add it back when ready by entering the routing and account numbers again.
Step-by-step removal on desktop and mobile
On desktop: Log into PayPal.com, click Wallet in the top menu, scroll to the bank account section, and look for the account you want to remove. Click the three dots (or gear icon) next to it, select Remove, and confirm when PayPal asks you to verify the action. The account disappears from your list when ready.
On mobile: Open the PayPal app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, select Wallet, find your bank account, tap the three dots next to it, and choose Remove. Confirm the removal and you are done. The steps are the same whether you use iPhone or Android.
If you cannot find the three-dot menu, try swiping left on the account name — some older versions of the app use a swipe gesture instead. If that does not work, update your PayPal app to the latest version and try again.
What happens to pending transfers when you remove an account
If you have already sent money to that bank account but it has not arrived yet, the transfer will still go through. PayPal does not cancel transfers just because you removed the account from your wallet. The money will land in the bank account on the original timeline — usually one to three business days depending on your bank.
Before you remove an account, check your Activity or Transaction History to see if any transfers are in progress. If you see a pending transfer and you want to stop it, you may be able to cancel it before it leaves PayPal — but once it has been sent, removal will not stop it. If you removed the account and a transfer is still pending, contact PayPal support and they can tell you whether the transfer can still be cancelled.
Removing an account because the bank closed it
If your bank account is being closed, remove it from PayPal before the closure date. Once a bank account closes, PayPal may still try to pull money from it if you have set up automatic transfers or bill payments. When a transfer hits a closed account, your bank usually charges an overdraft or returned-item fee, even though the money never actually left PayPal.
Add your new bank account to PayPal at the same time you remove the old one. You will need your new routing number and account number, which you can find on a blank check, your bank's website, or by calling the bank directly. PayPal will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under a dollar each) and asking you to confirm the amounts — this takes one to two business days.
Removing an account you no longer use
You can remove a bank account even if you have not used it in months. PayPal keeps inactive accounts linked to your profile, so if you want to clean up your wallet, removing old accounts is safe and does not affect anything else in your account.
Your PayPal balance stays the same when you remove a bank account. Money in your PayPal wallet is separate from the bank accounts you have linked — removing the account just means PayPal can no longer pull money from that bank or send money to it. If you have a balance in PayPal and want to move it to a different bank account, add the new account first, then transfer the balance to it, then remove the old account.
If you removed an account by mistake
You can add the same bank account back to PayPal when ready. Go to Wallet, click Link a bank account, enter your routing number and account number, and PayPal will recognize it as an account you have used before. You will not have to wait for verification again — it will be active right away.
If you add it back and PayPal asks you to verify it with the two small deposits, that means the account was removed long enough ago that PayPal cleared it from its system. This is rare and usually only happens if you removed the account more than a few months ago. The verification will take one to two business days.
Why PayPal might not let you remove an account
PayPal occasionally prevents you from removing a bank account if there is an active dispute, a pending refund, or a balance owed on your account. If you see an error message when you try to remove the account, check your Resolution Center to see if there is an open case. If there is, you will need to resolve it before you can remove the account.
If you have a negative balance (money you owe PayPal), you cannot remove the account until the balance is paid. PayPal may also hold the account if it is flagged for unusual activity. Contact PayPal support through the app or website if you cannot remove the account and do not see a reason why — they can tell you what is blocking it and how to fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a bank account close my PayPal account?
No. Removing a bank account only disconnects that one bank from your PayPal wallet. Your PayPal account stays open, and any money in your PayPal balance remains there. You can still send and receive money through PayPal, and you can add a different bank account whenever you want.
Can I remove a bank account if I have money pending?
Yes, you can remove the account, but any transfer already sent to it will still complete. Check your transaction history first to see if there are any pending transfers. If there are, they will arrive on the original timeline even after you remove the account.
What if I remove an account and then want to use it again?
Add it back by going to Wallet and selecting Link a bank account. Enter your routing and account numbers, and if you removed it recently, PayPal will recognize it and set up it when ready without needing verification again.
Will removing a bank account affect my credit score?
No. Removing a bank account from PayPal is not reported to credit bureaus and has no effect on your credit. It is just disconnecting a payment method from your digital wallet.
Can I remove a bank account if PayPal owes me money?
Yes. If you have a balance in your PayPal account, you can remove a bank account without touching that balance. The money stays in PayPal until you transfer it to a different bank account or use it to send money to someone else.