Disconnect Plaid in three steps from your bank's website
The fastest way to cut off Plaid's access to your bank account is to revoke it directly through your bank's settings, not through the app that connected it. Log into your bank's website or mobile app, find the section for connected apps or third-party access (often called "Connected Services," "App Permissions," or "Authorized Apps"), locate Plaid in the list, and select remove or disconnect. The bank then immediately stops Plaid from reading your account data.
This method works because Plaid itself does not hold your login credentials — your bank does. When you first connected Plaid through an app like Venmo, Stripe, or a budgeting tool, you gave permission to your bank to let Plaid see your transactions. Revoking that permission at the source is more reliable than asking the third-party app to do it, because the bank controls the actual access.
The exact name and location of this setting varies by bank. Chase calls it "Connected Apps," Bank of America uses "Trusted Devices & Apps," Wells Fargo labels it "Third Party Access," and smaller banks may bury it under "Security" or "Privacy Settings." If you cannot find it, call your bank's customer service line — they can walk you through it or revoke access on your behalf in under five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnect Plaid by logging into your bank's website, finding the third-party app permissions section, and removing Plaid from the list — this stops access immediately.
- Each bank names and places this setting differently, so search your bank's help site for "connected apps," "third-party access," or "app permissions" if you cannot locate it.
- Disconnecting through your bank is more reliable than asking the app that connected Plaid to do it, because your bank controls the actual permission.
- If you disconnect Plaid but still use the app that needed it, that app will stop working until you reconnect or use a different login method.
Why disconnecting through your bank works better than through the app
When you remove Plaid from an app like Venmo or a budgeting tool, you are asking that app to tell Plaid to stop. But your bank is the one who actually granted permission in the first place. If the app fails to communicate the disconnection, or if Plaid's servers do not process it, your bank may still allow Plaid to read your account.
Disconnecting directly through your bank's settings removes the permission at the source. Your bank immediately stops honoring any requests from Plaid, regardless of what the third-party app thinks is happening. This is the same reason security experts recommend revoking app access through your Google or Apple account settings rather than uninstalling the app — the account holder (in this case, your bank) has the final say.
That said, you should also remove Plaid from the app itself if you no longer use that app. This prevents the app from trying to reconnect Plaid later or storing your old connection details. But for actual security, the bank-side disconnection is what matters.
How to find the third-party access section at major banks
| Bank | Section Name | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | Connected Apps | Settings > Security > Connected Apps |
| Bank of America | Trusted Devices & Apps | Settings > Security > Trusted Devices & Apps |
| Wells Fargo | Third Party Access | Settings > Security > Third Party Access |
| Citibank | Connected Apps | Settings > Security & Alerts > Connected Apps |
| US Bank | Third Party Access | Settings > Security > Third Party Access |
| Smaller or regional banks | Varies | Search your bank's help site for "connected apps" or call customer service |
If your bank is not listed, start by logging into your online banking portal and looking for a Settings or Security menu. Search within that section for keywords like "connected," "third party," "apps," "permissions," or "integrations." Most banks group this setting with other security controls.
If you still cannot find it after five minutes of searching, contact your bank's customer service. Have your account number ready and tell them you want to revoke access for Plaid. They will either walk you through the steps or do it directly for you.
What happens to apps after you disconnect Plaid
Once you disconnect Plaid from your bank, any app that relied on Plaid to read your account will stop working. Venmo will no longer be able to pull your bank balance. A budgeting app will stop syncing your transactions. A bill-pay service will lose access to your account details.
The app itself does not disappear, but its core function — reading your bank data — stops. You will usually see an error message the next time the app tries to sync, telling you to reconnect or re-authenticate. Some apps offer alternative login methods, like entering your bank username and password directly (though this is less secure than Plaid). Others require you to reconnect through Plaid if you want to use them again.
If you plan to keep using the app, you have two choices: reconnect Plaid through the app, or check whether the app offers another way to link your bank account. Some apps let you manually enter transactions or connect through your bank's own API instead of Plaid.
Reconnecting Plaid if you change your mind
If you disconnect Plaid and later decide you need it again, the process is the same as the first time. Open the app that needs bank access, select "Connect Bank" or "Link Account," and follow the prompts to log into your bank. You will be asked to authorize Plaid again, and once you do, the app will resume syncing your data.
Your bank will show Plaid as a newly connected app, even if you had connected it before. There is no penalty for disconnecting and reconnecting — banks do not limit how many times you can do this. The only inconvenience is the time it takes to re-authorize.
What to do if you cannot find Plaid in your bank's app list
If you disconnect Plaid but it does not appear in your bank's third-party access list, it may have already been removed, or your bank may not display it prominently. Some banks only show active connections, while others show historical ones too.
To confirm Plaid is truly disconnected, try opening an app that uses Plaid and attempt to sync your account. If you get an error saying the connection is no longer valid, Plaid has been successfully removed. If the app syncs normally, Plaid is still connected and you may need to search your bank's settings more carefully or contact customer service.
Another possibility is that the app you used to connect Plaid is no longer installed or active. If you deleted Venmo or a budgeting app months ago, Plaid may still have permission at your bank even though you are not using it anymore. In this case, finding and removing it through your bank's settings is especially important for security.
Security reasons to disconnect Plaid
Plaid is a legitimate company used by thousands of apps, but like any third-party service, it represents an extra layer of access to your financial data. If you no longer use an app that requires Plaid, disconnecting removes an unnecessary permission. If you are concerned about data sharing, disconnecting Plaid reduces the number of companies that can see your transaction history.
Plaid has had security incidents in the past, though none resulted in widespread account breaches. Still, the principle of least privilege applies: only grant access to companies and services you actively use. If a budgeting app sits unused on your phone, there is no reason Plaid should still be reading your account.
Disconnecting Plaid does not delete any data Plaid has already collected — that is a separate request you would need to make directly to Plaid through their privacy portal. But it does prevent any new data from being collected going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Plaid only reads your bank account and transaction history — 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 disconnect Plaid from one app but keep it connected to another?
No. Plaid is connected at the bank level, not the app level. When you disconnect Plaid from your bank, it stops working for all apps that use it. If you want to keep using one app but not another, you will need to reconnect Plaid after disconnecting, then remove access from the specific app's settings instead.
What if my bank does not show Plaid in the connected apps list?
Some banks do not display third-party connections prominently, or they may have already removed inactive connections automatically. Try opening an app that uses Plaid and attempt to sync — if you get an error, the connection is already gone. If it syncs normally, contact your bank's customer service and ask them to manually revoke Plaid access.
Does disconnecting Plaid delete my transaction history in the apps that use it?
Disconnecting Plaid stops new transactions from syncing, but it does not erase data the app already downloaded. Your budgeting app or Venmo will still show your past transactions — they just will not update with new ones until you reconnect Plaid or use another method to link your account.
How long does it take for Plaid to stop accessing my account after I disconnect?
Disconnection is immediate. Your bank stops honoring Plaid requests as soon as you remove it from the connected apps list. Any app trying to sync after that point will receive an error within seconds to minutes.