Unlinking Plaid takes two steps: revoke access in your bank's settings, then disconnect the app that uses Plaid
Plaid is a middleman service — it sits between your bank and apps like Venmo, Robinhood, or budgeting software. When you unlink, you are cutting off Plaid's permission to see your account and move money. Most people need to do this in two places: your bank's own app or website (where you revoke Plaid's access token), and inside the third-party app itself (where you disconnect the linked account). Doing only one leaves a partial connection that can cause login errors or failed transactions.
The exact steps depend on your bank. Some banks show Plaid as a connected app you can remove directly. Others require you to revoke access through Plaid's own website. The third-party app — the one you actually use — almost always has a disconnect or unlink button in its account settings.
Key Takeaways
- Revoking Plaid access in your bank's app or website is the first step, and the method varies by bank.
- You must also disconnect the account inside the third-party app (Venmo, Robinhood, budgeting app, etc.) or the connection may remain partially active.
- If your bank does not show Plaid as a connected app, you can revoke access through Plaid's own website using your bank login.
- After unlinking, test a login to the third-party app to confirm the connection is fully severed.
Revoking Plaid access through your bank
Start in your bank's mobile app or website. Look for a section called "Connected Apps," "Third-Party Access," "App Permissions," or "Security Settings." The exact name varies — Chase calls it "Connected Services," while Bank of America uses "Third-Party Access." If you cannot find it, search the settings menu for "Plaid" or "connected apps."
When you find the section, you should see Plaid listed along with any other apps you have authorized. Tap or click on Plaid, then select "Revoke," "Remove," "Disconnect," or "Deny Access" — the button label differs by bank. Confirm the action when prompted. Your bank will immediately stop letting Plaid read your account data or initiate transfers.
If your bank does not display Plaid as a connected app in its settings, go to Plaid's own website at plaid.com/logout or plaid.com/disconnect. Log in with your bank credentials, then select the option to revoke or disconnect. This tells Plaid to delete the access token your bank issued, which has the same effect as revoking it through your bank's interface.
Disconnecting the account in the third-party app
Open the app that you linked to Plaid — Venmo, Robinhood, a budgeting app, or whatever service prompted you to connect your bank. Go to the account settings or profile section, usually found by tapping a menu icon or your name in the top corner.
Look for a subsection labeled "Linked Accounts," "Connected Banks," "Payment Methods," or "Bank Connections." You should see your bank listed. Tap on it, then select "Unlink," "Disconnect," "Remove," or "Delete." Some apps ask you to confirm; others remove it immediately. After you confirm, the app can no longer access your bank account through Plaid.
Do not skip this step. Even after you revoke Plaid's access at your bank, the third-party app may still have a record of the connection and could attempt to re-authenticate or show an error when you try to use it. Disconnecting inside the app clears that record on the app's side.
What happens after you unlink
Once both steps are complete, Plaid has no access to your account and the third-party app cannot pull your bank data or initiate transfers. If you used the app to send money, check balances, or verify your identity, those features will stop working until you link a different payment method.
Some apps let you re-link manually by entering your account and routing numbers instead of using Plaid. Others require you to use Plaid again. Check the app's payment or account settings to see what alternatives are available.
If you unlinked because of a security concern — a lost phone, a compromised password, or suspicious activity — change your bank password after unlinking. This ensures that even if someone obtained your Plaid access token, they cannot use it to access your account.
Troubleshooting: The app still shows an error after unlinking
If the third-party app continues to show an error or says your account is disconnected even after you unlinked, the app may have cached the old connection. Try logging out of the app completely, then closing it and reopening it. Log back in and check whether the error persists.
If the error remains, uninstall the app, restart your phone, and reinstall it. This clears the app's stored data and forces it to refresh its connection status. After reinstalling, log in and verify that the linked account is gone from your payment or account settings.
If you still see the linked account listed in the app after reinstalling, contact the app's support team. They may need to manually remove the connection from their end, especially if there was a failed transaction or a bug that prevented the app from recognizing the unlink command.
Banks that display Plaid differently
A few large banks organize their connected apps in non-obvious places. Chase users should look under "Security & Preferences" then "Connected Services." Bank of America users go to "Settings," then "Third-Party Access." Wells Fargo places it under "Security," then "Authorized Apps." Smaller banks and credit unions may not display connected apps at all, in which case Plaid's own website is your only option.
If you cannot find the connected apps section after searching, call your bank's customer service line. Tell them you want to revoke access for Plaid or a specific third-party app. They can walk you through the steps or do it for you over the phone. This is especially useful if you have forgotten which app you linked or if you are concerned about unauthorized connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to unlink from both places, or just one?
You should unlink from both your bank and the third-party app. Unlinking only at your bank stops Plaid from accessing your account, but the app may still show the connection as active and cause errors. Unlinking only in the app does not revoke Plaid's permission at your bank, so the connection remains live.
What if I unlinked but the app is asking me to re-authenticate?
The app may have a cached version of your connection. Log out completely, close the app, and reopen it. If the prompt persists, uninstall and reinstall the app. If it still appears after reinstalling, contact the app's support team — they may need to clear the connection from their database.
Will unlinking Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Plaid only reads your account data; it does not report to credit bureaus or affect your credit. Unlinking has no impact on your credit score or credit history.
Can I unlink Plaid if I have a pending transfer?
If a transfer is already in progress, unlink after it completes. Revoking Plaid access mid-transfer could cause the transaction to fail. Wait for the transfer to show as complete in your bank account, then unlink.
What if my bank does not show Plaid in its connected apps list?
Go to plaid.com/logout or plaid.com/disconnect, log in with your bank credentials, and revoke access from there. This tells Plaid to delete the token your bank issued, which stops all third-party apps from using it to access your account.