Disconnect Your Bank from Plaid in Three Steps
To unlink your bank account from Plaid, you go through the app or website where you connected it in the first place—not through Plaid itself. Plaid is the middleman that lets apps like budgeting tools, investment platforms, and payment services read your bank data. When you want to cut that connection, you revoke permission at the source: the app you originally linked to, or your bank's own settings.
The exact steps depend on which app you used Plaid to connect with. Some apps have a dedicated "disconnect" button in settings. Others require you to revoke access through your bank's website or mobile app. This guide covers both routes so you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Most apps that use Plaid have a disconnect or unlink button in their account settings or connected accounts section.
- If you cannot find the button in the app, you can revoke Plaid's access directly through your bank's website or mobile app under connected apps or third-party access.
- Unlinking through the app is faster, but revoking access at your bank ensures the connection is fully severed even if the app's button fails.
- After you unlink, the app will no longer see your bank transactions, balances, or account details, though your account with that app itself remains active.
Unlink Through the App You Connected With
Start by opening the app where you originally linked your bank account—this might be a budgeting app like Mint or YNAB, an investment platform like Robinhood, a payment service, or a loan application tool. Look for a settings menu, usually found in your profile or account section.
Once in settings, search for "connected accounts," "linked accounts," "bank connections," or "financial institutions." The exact wording varies by app. Tap or click on your bank's name when you find it, and you should see an option to disconnect, unlink, or remove access. Confirm the action when prompted. The app will no longer be able to see your bank data after this step.
If you cannot locate this option in the app, check the app's help or support section—many apps publish screenshots showing exactly where the disconnect button lives. Some apps hide it under "privacy" or "data permissions" instead of the more obvious account settings.
Revoke Access Directly Through Your Bank
If the app's disconnect button does not work, or if you want to be certain the connection is fully removed, you can revoke Plaid's access from your bank's side. Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for a section called "connected apps," "third-party access," "app permissions," or "authorized applications."
Find Plaid or the name of the app you were using (sometimes both appear) and select the option to revoke, disconnect, or remove access. Your bank will confirm the action. This method works even if the original app is no longer available or if you cannot find the disconnect button within it.
Different banks organize this differently. Chase calls it "Connected Services," Bank of America uses "Third-Party Access," and Wells Fargo lists it under "App Permissions." If you cannot find it, call your bank's customer service line or search your bank's help center for "revoke third-party access" or "disconnect Plaid."
What Happens After You Unlink
Once you unlink, the app loses the ability to see your bank balance, transaction history, and account details in real time. If the app was using that data to categorize spending, calculate net worth, or verify income, those features will stop working. Your account with the app itself remains active—you just cannot connect it to your bank anymore.
If you want to reconnect the same bank to the same app later, you will go through the linking process again from the start. The old connection does not remain dormant; it is fully severed. Some apps may ask you to re-enter your bank login or go through Plaid's authentication flow again.
Why Plaid Asks for Permission Every Time
Plaid does not store your bank login or password. Instead, when you link through Plaid, you are granting permission to that specific app to access your bank data through Plaid's secure connection. Your bank sees the request and either approves or denies it based on your choice.
This is why unlinking through the app usually works—you are telling that app to stop asking your bank for permission. Revoking access at your bank does the same thing from the other direction: you are telling your bank to stop granting permission to that app, even if the app still has Plaid installed.
Troubleshooting: The Unlink Button Is Missing or Not Working
Some apps do not make the disconnect button obvious. If you have looked in settings and cannot find it, try these steps: search the app's help center or FAQ for "unlink," "disconnect," or "remove bank." Many apps publish guides with screenshots. You can also contact the app's support team directly and ask them where the button is located—they can often point you to the exact menu path.
If the button exists but does not work, or if you get an error message, revoke access through your bank instead. This bypasses the app entirely and ensures Plaid loses permission to access your account. You can then delete the app if you no longer use it, or leave it installed without a bank connection.
In rare cases, an app may have shut down or been removed from your device but still has access to your bank through an old Plaid connection. Revoking access at your bank's third-party access page will catch these orphaned connections and remove them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will unlinking delete my account with the app?
No. Unlinking your bank only removes the app's ability to see your bank data. Your account with that app, your settings, and any data you entered manually will remain. If you want to delete your account entirely, you usually need to do that separately through the app's account deletion or close account option.
Can I unlink from Plaid's website directly?
No. Plaid does not have a dashboard where you manage your connections. You must unlink through the app you connected with, or through your bank's third-party access settings. Plaid is the technology in the middle, not the place where permissions are stored.
What if I unlink but the app still shows my bank data?
This usually means the app is showing cached or stored data from before you unlinked, not live data from your bank. The data will not update, and it should disappear after a few days or when you refresh the app. If it persists, clear the app's cache or reinstall it. If you are concerned, revoke access through your bank to ensure the connection is fully severed.
Do I need to unlink before deleting an app?
It is not required, but it is a good idea. Deleting the app does not automatically revoke Plaid's access to your bank. If you want to be thorough, unlink first or revoke access at your bank, then delete the app. This ensures no orphaned connections remain.
How do I know if Plaid still has access after I unlink?
Check your bank's third-party access page. If the app or Plaid no longer appears there, access has been revoked. If it still shows up, the unlink did not work and you should revoke it manually through your bank. Some banks also send a notification when third-party access is removed, so check your email.