Unlink your bank account in three steps
Go to your PayPal account settings, find the bank account you want to remove, and delete it. The process takes about two minutes and your account stays open—you're just cutting the connection between PayPal and that specific bank. PayPal stops being able to pull money from that account immediately, though any pending transfers may still go through.
You do not need to close your PayPal account or remove your card to unlink a bank account. You can keep using PayPal with a credit or debit card, or link a different bank account later. If you have a PayPal Cash or Cash Plus account that relies on direct deposit, unlinking your bank account means you lose that feature until you link a new one.
Key Takeaways
- Unlinking a bank account takes two minutes and happens in your account settings under Wallet or Payment Methods, depending on your account type.
- Any pending transfers from PayPal to that bank account may still complete even after you unlink it, so check for scheduled transfers first.
- Unlinking does not close your PayPal account or affect your ability to send and receive money through other payment methods.
- If you have a PayPal Cash account, direct deposit stops working once you unlink your bank account.
Where to find the unlink option in PayPal
Log into PayPal on a computer or the mobile app. On the website, click your name or profile icon in the top right, then select Account settings. On the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings.
Look for a section called Wallet, Payment methods, or Banks and cards—the exact name varies by account type. You will see a list of all connected bank accounts and cards. Find the bank account you want to remove and click or tap it to open the details.
What happens when you delete the connection
Once you click the delete or remove button, PayPal severs the link immediately. You will no longer see that bank account in your list of payment methods, and PayPal cannot initiate new transfers to it. The bank account itself is not affected—your bank account continues to exist and work normally.
If you had set that bank account as your primary transfer destination, PayPal will prompt you to choose a new one before the deletion completes. Any transfer you scheduled to happen in the future may still process if it was already queued in PayPal's system, so check your Activity or Transaction history for pending transfers before you unlink.
Pending transfers and what to do about them
A transfer is "pending" if you initiated it but PayPal has not yet sent the money to your bank. Pending transfers usually take one to three business days to complete. If you unlink your bank account while a transfer is pending, that transfer may still go through—PayPal has already instructed your bank to receive it.
To check for pending transfers, go to your Activity page and look for any transfers with a status of "pending" or "processing." If you see one going to the bank account you are about to unlink, wait for it to complete before removing the account, or contact PayPal Support to cancel it first. Once a transfer has been sent, you cannot stop it from your PayPal account.
Unlinking when you have a PayPal Cash account
PayPal Cash and PayPal Cash Plus accounts use a bank account for direct deposit—your employer or a government agency can send money straight into PayPal. If you unlink that bank account, direct deposit stops working. You will need to link a new bank account and update your direct deposit information with your employer or the agency sending the money.
You can still receive money through PayPal transfers and card payments even without a linked bank account. However, if you want to move money out of your PayPal balance, you will need to link a bank account again or request a check by mail (which takes longer and may have a fee).
Why PayPal might not let you unlink
PayPal sometimes blocks you from removing a bank account if there is a pending transfer, an open dispute, or a hold on your account. If you see an error message when you try to delete, check your Resolution Center for any open cases or disputes. If there is a hold, PayPal will tell you when it expires—you can unlink after that date.
If you recently received a transfer or refund to that bank account, PayPal may require you to wait a few days before unlinking it. This is a fraud prevention measure. Try again after three to five business days, or contact PayPal Support if the error persists.
Relinking a bank account later
If you unlink a bank account and want to use it again, you can link it once more by going back to your payment methods and selecting Link a bank account. PayPal will ask for your routing number and account number, or it can verify the account by making two small deposits to it (which takes one to two business days).
You do not lose any history or records by unlinking. Your past transactions with that bank account remain in your activity log. Linking the same account again is treated as a new connection, so you will go through the verification process again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unlinking my bank account close my PayPal account?
No. Unlinking a bank account only removes that payment method. Your PayPal account stays open and active. You can still send and receive money using other payment methods like a debit card or credit card.
Will my bank account be charged after I unlink it?
No. Once you unlink, PayPal cannot pull money from that account. Any pending transfers may still complete, but no new charges will occur after the unlink is done.
Can I unlink my bank account if I have a negative PayPal balance?
PayPal may block you from unlinking if you owe money. You will need to pay the negative balance first, either with a linked card or by waiting for PayPal to attempt collection from the bank account. Contact PayPal Support if you are unsure about your balance status.
What if I forgot which bank account I linked to PayPal?
Go to your payment methods and look at the account details—PayPal shows the last four digits of the account number and the bank name. If you still cannot identify it, contact your bank or PayPal Support with your account information and they can help you confirm which account is linked.
How long does it take for PayPal to stop using my bank account after I unlink?
The unlink is immediate. PayPal stops being able to initiate new transfers right away. However, transfers that were already in progress may still complete within one to three business days.