Disconnect Plaid at your bank
The fastest way to block Plaid is to revoke its permission directly through your bank's website or app. Log into your bank account, find the section for connected apps or third-party access (often called "Connected Services," "Authorized Apps," or "Linked Accounts"), locate Plaid in the list, and select disconnect or remove. This cuts off Plaid's access immediately, even if you still have the app that uses Plaid installed on your phone.
The exact steps vary by bank. Chase calls this "Connected Apps" under settings. Bank of America uses "Trusted Devices & Apps." Wells Fargo lists it under "Third-Party Access." If you cannot find the section, call your bank's customer service line and ask them to walk you through disconnecting third-party apps—they handle this request regularly.
Disconnecting at your bank does not delete your account with the app that uses Plaid (like a budgeting app or investment platform). It only stops that app from reading your bank data going forward. You can still use the app if it offers other features, but it will not sync your transactions.
Revoke Plaid access through your app settings
Some apps let you disconnect Plaid from within the app itself. Open the app that connected to your bank through Plaid, go to settings or account preferences, and look for an option like "Disconnect Bank," "Unlink Account," or "Remove Bank Connection." Tapping this will usually ask Plaid to stop accessing your bank.
This method is less reliable than disconnecting at your bank, because the app may not fully revoke the permission—it may only tell Plaid to stop syncing. To be certain Plaid cannot access your account anymore, disconnect at your bank as well. Doing both ensures no gap remains.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting Plaid at your bank (in the connected apps or third-party access section) stops it from reading your account immediately and is the most reliable method.
- Each bank names this section differently—Chase calls it "Connected Apps," Bank of America calls it "Trusted Devices & Apps"—so call your bank if you cannot locate it.
- Removing Plaid from an app's settings may not fully revoke access, so disconnect at your bank as well to be certain.
- Disconnecting Plaid does not delete your account with the app itself, only its ability to see your bank transactions.
- If you reconnect the same app to your bank later, you will need to authorize Plaid again through the app.
What happens after you disconnect Plaid
Once you disconnect, Plaid stops receiving new transaction data from your bank. Any transactions already synced to the app will remain visible in that app's history, but the app will not update with new purchases or deposits. If the app relies on real-time data (like a budgeting tool that tracks spending as it happens), it will stop working for that purpose.
You will not see any notification from Plaid itself—the disconnection happens silently. Your bank may send you a confirmation email saying a third-party app's access has been removed. If you do not receive one within a day, log back into your bank and confirm the app is no longer listed under connected services.
Reconnecting later if you change your mind
If you disconnect Plaid and later want to use the same app again, you will need to reconnect. Open the app, select "Link Bank" or "Connect Account," and go through Plaid's login process again. You will enter your bank credentials (or use your bank's login page directly, depending on the bank), and Plaid will ask for permission to access your account. You can then choose to grant or deny that permission.
Reconnecting does not restore old synced data—the app will only see transactions from the moment you reconnect forward. If you need historical data, check whether the app stores it or allows you to export it before you disconnect.
If Plaid still shows access after you disconnect
In rare cases, an app may attempt to reconnect Plaid without your knowledge, or a disconnect may not process fully. If you see Plaid listed in your bank's connected apps section weeks after you disconnected, log into your bank again and remove it a second time. Then contact your bank's customer service to report the issue—they can investigate whether the app is attempting unauthorized reconnection.
You can also change your bank password, which will force Plaid to ask for permission again the next time an app tries to use it. This is a nuclear option and will disconnect all third-party apps at once, but it guarantees a clean break if you are concerned about persistent access.
Checking which apps currently have Plaid access
Review your connected apps periodically to catch apps you no longer use. Log into your bank, navigate to the third-party access section, and look for any apps you do not recognize or no longer need. Common apps that use Plaid include budgeting tools (Mint, YNAB, Personal Capital), investment platforms (Robinhood, Wealthfront), and bill-pay services. If you see an app listed that you uninstalled months ago, disconnect it—it may still have permission to read your account.
Some banks show the date each app last accessed your account. If an app has not synced in months, you likely forgot about it and can safely remove it. This reduces the number of companies with access to your banking data and lowers the risk if one of those companies experiences a data breach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Plaid only reads your bank account data—it does not report to credit bureaus or affect your credit in any way. Disconnecting it has no impact on your credit score or credit history.
Can I block Plaid without disconnecting the app?
Not completely. If the app uses Plaid to connect to your bank, you cannot block Plaid without either disconnecting the app or revoking Plaid's access at your bank. You can change your bank password to force a reconnection, which temporarily blocks Plaid until the app logs in again.
Does Plaid keep my data after I disconnect?
Plaid's data retention policy depends on the app using it and Plaid's own practices. Once you disconnect, Plaid should stop collecting new data, but data already collected may be retained. Review the app's privacy policy and Plaid's privacy policy for details on how long they store information after disconnection.
What if my bank does not have a connected apps section?
Smaller banks and credit unions may not have a visible third-party access section online. Call your bank directly and ask them to disconnect Plaid or any third-party app access. They can do this manually on your account, and you can request written confirmation.
Can I block Plaid on just one device?
No. Plaid access is tied to your bank account, not to a specific device. Disconnecting it at your bank removes access from all devices and apps at once. If you want to keep using an app on one device but not another, you would need to disconnect and reconnect Plaid each time, which is impractical.