Disconnect a bank account in three steps
To remove a bank account from QuickBooks Online, go to the Gear icon in the top left, select Bank Feeds, find the account you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the connection between that bank account and your QuickBooks file is severed — the account itself stays open at your bank, but QuickBooks stops pulling transactions from it.
The process takes less than a minute. You do not need to contact your bank or QuickBooks support. The account data already in your QuickBooks file stays there; you are only stopping the automatic feed of new transactions.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a bank account from QuickBooks Online does not close the account at your bank or delete any historical transaction data in QuickBooks.
- The trash icon appears next to each connected bank account under Gear > Bank Feeds, and clicking it is the only step required to disconnect.
- If you reconnect the same account later, QuickBooks will resume pulling new transactions from the date you reconnected, not from where you left off.
- Removing an account does not affect reconciliation records or reports that already include that account's data.
What happens to your data when you remove an account
All transactions QuickBooks has already imported stay in your file. Your bank reconciliation history remains intact. Reports that include that account will still show the data from before you disconnected it. You are only stopping the flow of new transactions — nothing that has already landed in QuickBooks disappears.
If you remove an account by mistake, you can reconnect it immediately by going back to Bank Feeds and adding it again. QuickBooks will pick up new transactions from the moment you reconnect forward. It will not re-import transactions from the gap while the account was disconnected, so if you need those, you may have to manually enter them or contact your accountant.
When you might need to remove an account
You may remove an account because you closed it at the bank, switched to a different bank, or no longer want QuickBooks to track it. You might also disconnect an account temporarily if you are troubleshooting a connection problem or if the feed is pulling duplicate transactions.
If the account is causing errors or pulling the wrong transactions, removing and reconnecting it often fixes the problem. When you reconnect, QuickBooks re-authenticates with your bank and usually clears up sync issues. This is different from deleting the account from your chart of accounts — that is a separate step in QuickBooks that you would do if you want to remove the account entirely from your records.
Removing an account versus deleting it from your chart of accounts
Disconnecting a bank account from Bank Feeds and deleting it from your chart of accounts are two different actions. Removing it from Bank Feeds stops the automatic transaction import but leaves the account in your chart of accounts with all its history. Deleting it from your chart of accounts removes it from your financial records entirely.
Most of the time, you only need to disconnect from Bank Feeds. Delete from your chart of accounts only if you want to remove the account from your financial statements and reports. If you delete an account that still has a balance, QuickBooks will warn you and may prevent the deletion until you move the balance to another account.
Troubleshooting if the remove option does not appear
If you do not see a trash icon next to your bank account in Bank Feeds, the account may already be disconnected, or you may not have permission to remove it. Check whether another user with admin access set up the connection — in some cases, only that user can remove it.
If you have admin access and still do not see the trash icon, try logging out and back in, or use a different browser. If the problem persists, the account may be locked due to a sync error or a security hold from your bank. In that case, contact QuickBooks support with the name of the account and the error message you see, if any.
Reconnecting the same account later
If you remove an account and then want to reconnect it, go back to Bank Feeds and add it again using the same login credentials. QuickBooks will recognize it as the same account and resume pulling transactions from the date you reconnect forward. You will not see transactions from the period when it was disconnected unless you manually enter them.
If you are reconnecting because of a sync problem, QuickBooks may ask you to re-authenticate with your bank. This is normal and usually takes a few minutes. Once authenticated, new transactions should start appearing within 24 hours, depending on your bank's processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a bank account from QuickBooks close the account at my bank?
No. Removing the account from QuickBooks only stops the automatic transaction feed. Your bank account remains open and active. You can still use the account normally at your bank.
Will I lose transaction history if I remove a bank account?
No. All transactions QuickBooks has already imported stay in your file. Removing the account only stops new transactions from being pulled in. Your reconciliation records and reports are not affected.
What if I remove an account by mistake?
You can reconnect it immediately by going to Bank Feeds and adding it again. QuickBooks will resume pulling transactions from the date you reconnect. Transactions from the gap while it was disconnected will not be re-imported automatically.
Can I remove a bank account if another user set it up?
Usually yes, if you have admin access to QuickBooks. If you do not see the trash icon, you may not have the right permissions. Ask the user who set it up, or contact QuickBooks support to confirm your access level.
Is removing a bank account the same as deleting it from my chart of accounts?
No. Removing from Bank Feeds stops the transaction feed but keeps the account in your records. Deleting from your chart of accounts removes it entirely from your financial statements. You usually only need to disconnect from Bank Feeds.