Disconnect Plaid in three steps through your bank's settings
To disconnect Plaid from your bank account, log into your bank's website or app, find the connected apps or third-party access section (usually under Settings or Security), locate Plaid in the list, and select Revoke, Disconnect, or Remove. The exact wording and location varies by bank, but most banks group this under "Connected Services," "Authorized Apps," or "Third-Party Access." Once you revoke access, Plaid can no longer read your account information or initiate transfers.
The process takes less than five minutes. You do not need to contact Plaid directly or your bank's customer service — the bank's settings page handles the entire disconnection. After you revoke access, any app or service that relied on Plaid to connect to your bank will stop working, so make sure you know which apps you use Plaid for before you disconnect.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting Plaid happens through your bank's website or mobile app under Settings or Security, not through Plaid itself.
- You will see Plaid listed among your connected apps or authorized third parties; select the option to revoke or disconnect it.
- After disconnection, any app that uses Plaid to access your bank account will stop working until you reconnect.
- If you cannot find the connected apps section, your bank's customer service can walk you through the exact steps for your institution.
Where to find the connected apps section at major banks
The location of the connected apps menu differs by bank. Chase customers typically find it under Settings > Security > Connected Apps. Bank of America places it in Settings > Security & Fraud > Authorized Apps. Wells Fargo lists it under Settings > Security Preferences > Third-Party Access. Citi uses Settings > Security > Connected Apps. If you use a smaller regional bank or credit union, check the Settings or Security menu first, then search the help section for "connected apps" or "third-party access."
If you cannot locate the section after checking Settings and Security, your bank's mobile app often has a search function — type "connected apps" or "Plaid" and the app will direct you to the right page. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask them to walk you through disconnecting Plaid; they handle this request regularly and can confirm the steps specific to your account type.
What happens to your apps after you disconnect Plaid
Once you revoke Plaid's access, any app or service that uses Plaid to connect to your bank will stop working. Common apps that rely on Plaid include budgeting tools like Mint and YNAB, investment platforms like Robinhood and Betterment, lending services that verify income, and bill-pay apps. The app will either show an error message or ask you to reconnect your bank account using a different method.
Some apps offer alternative ways to connect — for example, you might be able to enter your bank login directly, upload bank statements, or use your bank's own API instead of Plaid. Check the app's settings or help section to see what other connection methods are available. If the app only supports Plaid and you want to keep using it, you will need to reconnect Plaid through the same process you used originally.
Reconnecting Plaid if you change your mind
If you disconnect Plaid and later decide you want to use it again, the process is straightforward. Open the app that uses Plaid, select the option to connect your bank account, and follow the Plaid login flow. You will enter your bank login credentials (or use your bank's own login if your bank supports it), and Plaid will ask you to authorize access again. Your bank will show the new Plaid connection in your connected apps list.
Reconnecting does not restore any historical data the app may have collected before you disconnected. For example, if you disconnect Plaid from a budgeting app, the app will start tracking transactions from the date you reconnect, not from the date you originally connected. Check the app's settings to see whether it has a way to re-sync older transactions after you reconnect.
Why you might want to disconnect Plaid
People disconnect Plaid for several reasons. You may no longer use an app that relies on Plaid and want to remove its access to your bank account. You might be concerned about data privacy and prefer to limit the number of third parties that can see your account information. You could be switching banks and want to clean up old connections before moving your accounts. Or you may have received a security alert and want to revoke access while you investigate.
Disconnecting Plaid does not affect your bank account itself — your money, account number, and routing number remain unchanged. It only stops Plaid from being able to read your transactions or initiate transfers on your behalf. If you are concerned about a specific app's access, you can disconnect just that app's connection rather than disconnecting Plaid entirely from your bank.
If Plaid does not appear in your connected apps list
If you cannot find Plaid listed in your bank's connected apps section, it may mean Plaid was never connected to that account, or the connection was already removed. Some banks do not display all third-party connections in their settings menu, particularly if the connection was made through an older version of an app or through a service that has since shut down.
If you are certain you connected Plaid to this account and it is not showing up, contact your bank's customer service and ask them to search for any active Plaid connections on your account. They can see connections that may not appear in the standard settings menu and can revoke them if they find any. You can also check the app that uses Plaid — if it shows your account as connected, the connection is active even if your bank's menu does not display it clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting Plaid affect my credit score?
No. Disconnecting Plaid from your bank account does not affect your credit score or credit history. Plaid only reads your bank account information; it does not report to credit bureaus. Your credit score is based on your credit report, which tracks loans, credit cards, and payment history — not third-party app connections.
Can I disconnect Plaid from one app but keep it connected to another?
Not directly. When you revoke Plaid access through your bank's settings, you disconnect it from all apps at once. However, you can reconnect Plaid to specific apps afterward. If you want to keep Plaid connected to one app but not another, you would need to disconnect it entirely, then reconnect it only to the app you want to use.
What if my bank does not have a connected apps section?
Some smaller banks and credit unions do not display a connected apps menu in their online banking platform. Call your bank's customer service line and ask them to revoke third-party access for Plaid. They can do this on your behalf and confirm when the disconnection is complete.
Does disconnecting Plaid delete my data from the apps that use it?
Disconnecting Plaid stops the app from accessing new information, but it does not delete data the app already collected. For example, if you disconnect Plaid from a budgeting app, the app will keep the transaction history it already downloaded. To delete that data, you would need to delete your account with the app itself.