You can disconnect your bank account from PayPal in minutes through your account settings, and PayPal will stop pulling money from that account when ready.
The process is straightforward: log into PayPal, go to your Wallet or Bank and Cards section, find the bank account you want to remove, and delete it. PayPal does not charge a fee to disconnect. Once you remove it, any pending transfers will still go through, but PayPal cannot initiate new withdrawals or payments from that account.
The reason you might disconnect is practical: you closed the bank account, switched banks, want to use a different account for PayPal, or straightforward want to reduce the number of places your banking information is stored. Whatever the reason, the steps are the same and take less than five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Log into PayPal on a computer or phone, navigate to Wallet or Bank and Cards, and select the account you want to remove.
- Click the delete or remove option next to the bank account — PayPal will ask you to confirm, and the disconnection is when ready.
- Pending transfers to that account will still complete, but no new transactions can be initiated once you delete it.
- If you have automatic transfers set up from that account, you will need to cancel or redirect them before removing the account.
- You can reconnect the same bank account later if you change your mind, but you will need to verify it again.
Step-by-step: Removing a bank account on desktop
Open PayPal in a web browser and sign in with your email and password. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings, then select Wallet from the left menu. You will see a list of all payment methods linked to your account — bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards all appear here.
Find the bank account you want to disconnect and click on it to open the details. A menu will appear with options including Edit and Remove (or Delete, depending on your PayPal version). Click Remove or Delete. PayPal will ask you to confirm that you want to remove this account — click Yes or Confirm. The account is now disconnected and will no longer appear in your Wallet.
Step-by-step: Removing a bank account on mobile
Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap Settings, then Wallet. Scroll down to find the bank account you want to remove and tap it to open the account details. Tap the three dots or menu icon next to the account name, then select Remove or Delete from the options that appear.
Confirm that you want to remove the account when PayPal asks. The account will be deleted when ready, and you will return to your Wallet screen. The bank account no longer has any connection to PayPal.
What happens to pending transfers and automatic payments
If you have a transfer in progress to the bank account you are removing, that transfer will still complete. PayPal processes transfers in batches, usually overnight, so if your transfer is already queued, removing the account will not stop it. Check your pending transfers before you disconnect to see if anything is still in motion.
If you have set up automatic transfers — for example, a weekly sweep of your PayPal balance to your bank account — you must cancel that transfer schedule before removing the account. Go to Settings, then Transfers, and look for any recurring transfers linked to the account you are about to remove. Cancel them first, then disconnect the account. If you remove the account while an automatic transfer is scheduled, PayPal will cancel the transfer automatically, but it is cleaner to do it yourself.
Reconnecting the same bank account later
If you disconnect a bank account and later decide you want to use it again with PayPal, you can add it back. Go to Wallet, click Add Bank Account, and enter the routing number and account number again. PayPal will verify the account the same way it did the first time — usually by depositing two small amounts (under $1 each) into the account within one to two business days, then asking you to confirm those amounts.
The verification process takes a few days, so plan ahead if you need to use that account soon. You cannot withdraw money to a bank account until PayPal has confirmed it, so do not remove an account you plan to use when ready.
If you cannot find the remove option
Older PayPal accounts or accounts with certain restrictions may not show a Remove button next to the bank account. If you see only an Edit option, click Edit and look for a Delete or Remove link at the bottom of the page. Some accounts require you to contact PayPal directly to remove a bank account, particularly if the account is flagged for security review or if there are unresolved disputes.
If you still cannot remove the account after checking Edit, call PayPal's customer service at the number on the back of your PayPal debit card or on your account statement. Have your account email and the last four digits of the bank account ready. PayPal can remove it for you in a few minutes.
Why you might want to keep a bank account connected
Disconnecting a bank account is permanent until you reconnect it, so think through whether you actually need to remove it. If you are straightforward switching to a different bank account for transfers, you can add the new account without removing the old one — PayPal lets you keep multiple bank accounts linked. This is useful if you have accounts at different banks or if you want to keep a backup account on file.
The only reasons to actually remove an account are if you closed the bank account, if you no longer trust that institution with your PayPal information, or if you are selling your PayPal account to someone else (in which case you should remove all payment methods). Otherwise, leaving old accounts connected does not cost anything and does not create a security risk as long as your PayPal password is strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will PayPal charge me a fee to disconnect my bank account?
No. Disconnecting a bank account from PayPal is free. PayPal does not charge fees for adding or removing payment methods.
Can I remove a bank account if I have a pending transfer to it?
You can remove the account, but the pending transfer will still go through. PayPal processes transfers in batches, so if your transfer is already queued, removing the account will not stop it. Check your pending transfers first to see the status.
How long does it take to disconnect a bank account?
The disconnection is when ready. Once you click Confirm or Delete, the account is removed from your PayPal Wallet when ready and PayPal cannot initiate new transactions to it.
What if I want to use the same bank account with PayPal again later?
You can add it back by going to Wallet and clicking Add Bank Account. You will need to verify it again, which takes one to two business days. You cannot withdraw money to an unverified account, so plan ahead if you need it soon.
Can I remove a bank account if PayPal is investigating my account?
If your account is under review or restricted, PayPal may not allow you to remove payment methods. Contact PayPal customer service to ask whether you can disconnect the account, or wait until the review is complete.