Disconnect Plaid from your bank in three places
You need to unlink your bank account in two locations: inside Plaid itself, and inside each app that uses Plaid to access your account. Plaid is the middleman — it holds the connection between your bank and the apps you've authorized. Removing it from one place does not automatically remove it from the other.
Start by disconnecting Plaid at your bank's website, then go through each app individually. This ensures no app can still pull data from your account through Plaid, and that Plaid no longer stores your bank login information.
Key Takeaways
- Unlinking Plaid requires action in two separate places: your bank's website and each app that connected through Plaid.
- Your bank's website usually has a "Connected Apps" or "Authorized Apps" section where you can revoke Plaid's access directly.
- Removing Plaid from an app does not automatically disconnect it from your bank — you must do both steps.
- After unlinking, Plaid stops storing your bank login credentials, but it may keep transaction history for a limited time before deletion.
Revoke Plaid access at your bank's website
Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for a settings section labeled "Connected Apps," "Authorized Apps," "Third-Party Access," or "Security." The exact name varies by bank. Chase calls it "Connected Apps," Bank of America uses "Authorized Accounts," and Wells Fargo labels it "Third-Party Authorization."
Find Plaid in the list of connected applications and select the option to revoke, disconnect, or remove access. Your bank will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, Plaid can no longer access your account through your bank's system, and your bank login credentials are no longer stored on Plaid's servers.
If you cannot find this section, call your bank's customer service line and ask them to revoke third-party access for Plaid. They can do it for you over the phone.
Disconnect Plaid from each app that uses it
Open each app or service that you connected to your bank through Plaid — this might include budgeting apps like Mint or YNAB, investment platforms, loan services, or accounting software. Go to the app's settings or account section and look for "Connected Accounts," "Linked Accounts," "Bank Connections," or "Financial Institutions."
Select your bank from the list and choose the option to unlink, disconnect, or remove. Some apps call this "Delete Connection" or "Unlink Bank Account." Confirm the action. Repeat this for every app that has access to your bank account through Plaid.
Disconnecting from the app does not automatically disconnect Plaid from your bank — that is why you must complete both steps. If you skip the app step, the app still has permission to request your data through Plaid, even though Plaid no longer has your login credentials.
What happens to your data after you unlink
Once you disconnect Plaid at your bank, Plaid stops storing your bank login information immediately. Your username and password are deleted from Plaid's servers.
Transaction history that Plaid already downloaded may remain in Plaid's system for a limited time — typically 15 to 90 days, depending on Plaid's data retention policy — before it is permanently deleted. The apps you used may keep their own copies of the transaction data they downloaded, so disconnecting from Plaid does not erase transaction history from those apps. If you want that data removed from an app as well, you may need to delete your account with that app or contact its support team.
If you cannot find the connected apps section
Not all banks display third-party connections in the same way, and some smaller banks or credit unions may not have a visible "Connected Apps" section at all. If you cannot locate it after checking settings and security pages, contact your bank directly.
Tell them you want to revoke access for Plaid or for a specific app that uses Plaid. Provide your account number and the name of the service you want to disconnect. The bank can revoke the connection on their end, which prevents Plaid from accessing your account even if the app still has permission to request it.
Reconnecting later if you change your mind
If you disconnect Plaid and later want to reconnect an app to your bank, you will go through the linking process again from scratch. Open the app, select "Link Bank Account" or "Connect to Your Bank," and follow the Plaid authentication flow. You will enter your bank login credentials again, and Plaid will ask you to authorize the connection.
Your bank may also ask you to confirm that you want to allow the app access. This is normal — it is the same authorization step you completed the first time you linked the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unlinking Plaid from my bank automatically unlink it from all my apps?
No. Disconnecting Plaid at your bank stops Plaid from accessing your account, but apps that were connected through Plaid may still show the connection as active in their settings. You must manually disconnect each app to fully remove the link and prevent the app from attempting to request data.
Will my budgeting app or investment app still work after I unlink Plaid?
No. Apps that rely on Plaid to pull live data from your bank will stop updating once you disconnect. You can still use the app, but it will not show new transactions or current balances. Some apps allow you to manually upload transactions or reconnect using a different method.
Can I unlink Plaid from just one app without disconnecting it from my bank?
Yes. You can disconnect Plaid from individual apps while keeping it connected to your bank and other apps. Simply go to that app's settings and remove the bank connection. Plaid will remain active for your other apps until you disconnect those separately.
How long does it take for Plaid to delete my bank login information?
Plaid deletes your login credentials immediately after you revoke access at your bank. However, transaction data that Plaid already downloaded may remain in its system for 15 to 90 days before permanent deletion, depending on Plaid's retention schedule.
What if my bank does not have a connected apps section?
Call your bank's customer service line and ask them to revoke third-party access for Plaid. Provide your account number and explain that you want to disconnect any apps that access your account through Plaid. The bank can revoke the permission on their end.