How to Revoke Plaid Access to Your Bank Account (Step-by-Step)

A clear, practical guide to finding out which apps have access to your bank data through Plaid, disconnecting the ones you no longer use, and requesting that your data be deleted.

Why You Should Audit Your Plaid Connections

Every time you have used an app that asked you to "connect your bank account," there is a good chance Plaid was involved. Plaid powers the bank connection flow for over 8,000 apps, including Venmo, Cash App, Robinhood, Coinbase, Chime, and many budgeting and lending tools.

The issue is that these connections persist even after you stop using the app. If you signed up for a budgeting app two years ago, used it for a month, and deleted it from your phone, the Plaid connection may still be active. Plaid may still be refreshing your bank data in the background, and the app may still have access to your transactions, balances, and account information.

Auditing and revoking these connections is a straightforward process. Here is exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Visit the Plaid Portal

Plaid offers a consumer-facing portal where you can view and manage your data connections. Open your web browser and go to:

This is Plaid's official consumer portal. It was created partly in response to the 2022 class-action settlement and gives you visibility into what data Plaid holds about you and which apps have accessed it.

Step 2: Log In or Verify Your Identity

The portal will ask you to verify your identity, typically by entering the email address or phone number associated with your bank connections. Plaid will send a verification code to confirm it is you. If you have used multiple email addresses with different apps, you may need to check the portal with each email to find all your connections.

Note: You do not need to create a "Plaid account" in the traditional sense. The portal looks up your information based on the contact details tied to your existing bank connections.

Step 3: Review Your Connected Apps

Once logged in, you will see a list of every app that has accessed your bank data through Plaid. For each connection, the portal typically shows:

• App name. The name of the application that initiated the connection (e.g., Venmo, Robinhood, Monarch).
• Connected bank accounts. Which of your bank accounts are linked through this connection.
• Data accessed. What types of data the app has permission to access (transactions, balances, identity, etc.).
• Connection date. When the connection was originally established.

Take a moment to review this list carefully. Most people are surprised by the number of connections they have, particularly from apps they no longer use or barely remember signing up for.

Step 4: Delete Connections You No Longer Need

For each app you want to disconnect, select it and look for a "Delete" or "Disconnect" option. When you delete a connection:

• Plaid will stop refreshing your bank data for that app.
• The app will no longer be able to access new transaction or balance data.
• The app may still have a copy of data it previously collected (deletion from the app itself is a separate step).

Be mindful of apps you are actively using. If you delete the Plaid connection for an app you still use daily (like your primary payment app), the app may stop functioning properly until you reconnect. Focus on deleting connections for apps you have abandoned or no longer need bank access for.

Step 5: Request Data Deletion

Disconnecting stops future data access, but Plaid may retain data it has already collected. The portal provides an option to request deletion of your stored data. When you submit a data deletion request:

• Plaid will delete the data it holds for the disconnected connection.
• This does not delete data that the app itself has already stored on its own servers. You will need to contact the app directly or use its account deletion process for that.
• Plaid may retain certain data for legal or compliance reasons, but it should delete the core financial data (transactions, balances, account details).

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the CCPA to request deletion and verify that it has been completed. EU residents have similar rights under GDPR.

Step 6: Check Your Bank's Third-Party Access Settings

The Plaid Portal shows connections managed by Plaid, but some apps may use other aggregators (MX, Yodlee, Finicity), and your bank may have its own third-party access management page. Log into your bank's website or app and look for:

• Chase: Look under "Security & Privacy" for linked apps and websites.
• Bank of America: Check "Profile & Settings" for third-party access.
• Wells Fargo: Navigate to "Security Center" for connected apps.
• Capital One: Check "Account Settings" for data sharing preferences.
• Other banks: Search for "third-party access," "connected apps," or "data sharing" in your bank's settings or security section.

Revoke any connections you do not recognize or no longer need. This is separate from the Plaid Portal and catches connections that Plaid may not show.

After Revoking: What Are Your Budgeting Options?

If you have revoked Plaid connections for budgeting apps, you might be wondering how to track spending going forward. The good news is that you do not need a bank connection to budget effectively. Here are your options:

PDF Statement Upload

Every bank provides monthly PDF statements. Upload these to a tool like Spend & Invest and AI will extract and categorize every transaction automatically. No bank credentials required. No ongoing access. You control exactly what data is shared.

CSV Export

Some banks offer CSV or OFX file downloads. You can import these into spreadsheets or budgeting tools that accept file imports. This is more manual than PDF upload but works for people comfortable with spreadsheets.

Manual Entry

Apps like Goodbudget support manual transaction entry. This is the most private approach (no data shared at all) but also the most time-consuming.

For a detailed comparison of all these approaches, read our guide to Plaid alternatives for budgeting.

Common Questions

Will revoking Plaid break my active apps?

Yes, if the app relies on Plaid for bank data, disconnecting will likely break that feature. Only revoke connections for apps you no longer use. For apps you still use, consider whether the app offers an alternative data import method, or whether you are comfortable maintaining the connection.

Does revoking Plaid close my bank account?

No. Revoking a Plaid connection has zero effect on your bank account. It only stops Plaid from accessing your bank data on behalf of that specific app. Your bank account continues to function normally.

What if I cannot find all my connections?

Some connections may be under different email addresses or phone numbers. Try checking the Plaid Portal with every email you have used for financial apps. Also check your bank's third-party access settings directly, as this may show connections that Plaid does not surface. If you used apps that rely on other aggregators (MX, Yodlee, Finicity), you may need to contact those services or the apps directly.

Is Plaid safe to keep connected for apps I actively use?

Plaid has legitimate security measures including SOC 2 Type II certification, AES-256 encryption, and regular penetration testing. For apps you actively use and trust, maintaining a Plaid connection is a reasonable choice. The key is to be intentional about it rather than having connections persist by default. For a balanced assessment, read our full article on whether Plaid is safe.

Make It a Habit: Quarterly Privacy Audit

Revoking old Plaid connections is not a one-time task. New connections accumulate over time as you try new apps, and old connections linger if you do not actively manage them. Set a quarterly reminder to:

1. Visit the Plaid Portal and review your connections.
2. Check your bank's third-party access settings.
3. Delete connections and accounts for services you no longer use.
4. Request data deletion where available.

This takes about 10 minutes per quarter and significantly reduces your financial data exposure over time. For a comprehensive approach to financial privacy, read our complete guide to financial data privacy.