Changing your bank account in QuickBooks Online takes about five minutes and requires your new bank's login credentials
QuickBooks Online stores the connection details for each bank account you link — the login information, the account number, and the permission you've given the software to pull transaction data. When you want to switch to a different account at the same bank, move to a new bank entirely, or fix a connection that's stopped working, you disconnect the old account and add the new one through the same menu where you first connected it.
The process is straightforward because QuickBooks doesn't store your actual password. Instead, it stores an encrypted token — a kind of digital key — that your bank issued when you first logged in. When you disconnect an account, that token is deleted. When you add a new one, you log in fresh and get a new token.
Key Takeaways
- You disconnect the old account and add the new one separately; QuickBooks doesn't have a single "change account" button.
- You'll need your new bank's login credentials (username and password) ready before you start, because QuickBooks will ask you to log in directly during the connection process.
- Disconnecting an old account doesn't delete the transactions QuickBooks already downloaded from it — those stay in your file.
- After you add the new account, you may see duplicate transactions for a few days while both accounts are connected; this is normal and clears up once you disconnect the old one.
Where to find the bank account settings
Open QuickBooks Online and go to the Settings gear icon in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, select Linked Accounts (or sometimes labeled Bank Feeds depending on your version). This page shows every bank account you've connected to QuickBooks, along with the connection status for each one.
If you don't see Linked Accounts in your Settings menu, look for it under Tools instead — the exact location varies slightly by QuickBooks subscription level. Once you're on the Linked Accounts page, you'll see a list of all your connected accounts with a status indicator (usually green for active, yellow or red for problems).
Disconnecting your old bank account
Find the account you want to remove in the list and look for a menu button — usually three dots or a Settings option next to that account's name. Click it and select Disconnect or Remove. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm; click yes. The account is now disconnected, and QuickBooks will stop trying to read new transactions from it.
Disconnecting does not delete the transactions you've already downloaded. All the past transactions from that account remain in your QuickBooks file and stay linked to the account they were originally downloaded to. You can still see them, edit them, and reconcile them. You're only stopping the automatic read of new transactions going forward.
Adding your new bank account
On the same Linked Accounts page, look for a button labeled Connect Account, Add Account, or Link Account. Click it. QuickBooks will ask you to search for your bank by name or routing number. Type your bank's name and select it from the results.
Next, QuickBooks will open a login window for your bank. This is a find connection directly to your bank's website — QuickBooks itself never sees your password. Enter your username and password for that bank account, just as you would if you were logging into your bank's website directly. Your bank may ask you to verify your identity with a code sent to your phone or email; complete that step if prompted.
After you log in successfully, your bank will show QuickBooks a list of accounts you can connect. Select the specific account you want to link — if you have a checking account, savings account, and money market account at the same bank, you'll see all three listed. Choose the one you want QuickBooks to read transactions from, then click Connect or Authorize.
What happens after you connect the new account
QuickBooks will read the last 90 days of transactions from your new account and display them on your For Review page. You'll see each transaction listed with the date, amount, and description from your bank. From here, you can match them to existing transactions in QuickBooks (if you've already entered them manually) or add them as new transactions.
If you still have your old account connected while you're adding the new one, you may see some transactions appear twice — once from the old account and once from the new one. This happens because both accounts are still active and downloading. Once you disconnect the old account, the duplicates will stop appearing. If you've already matched or added the old transactions, straightforward delete the duplicate entries from the new account's review list.
Troubleshooting a connection that won't work
If QuickBooks can't connect to your new account, the most common reason is that your bank requires you to set up a separate login for third-party apps like QuickBooks. Some banks call this a "digital wallet" login, an "app password," or "third-party access." Check your bank's website or call their customer service line to ask whether you need to create one before connecting.
Another common issue is that your bank's security settings are blocking the connection. If you've recently changed your password, moved to a new location, or logged in from a new device, your bank may have flagged the connection as suspicious. Log into your bank's website directly and look for any security alerts or pending verification requests. Approve them, then try connecting to QuickBooks again.
If the connection still fails after you've checked both of those, disconnect and try again. Sometimes the connection times out on the first attempt. If it fails a second time, contact your bank's customer service — they can confirm whether QuickBooks is on their list of supported third-party apps and whether there are any blocks on your account.
Switching between multiple accounts at the same bank
If you're changing from one checking account to another at the same bank, you don't need to disconnect and reconnect. Instead, go to the account in your Linked Accounts list, click the menu button, and select Edit or Change Account. QuickBooks will let you log in again and choose a different account from the same bank. This keeps your connection token active and is faster than a full disconnect and reconnect.
This option is also useful if your bank has updated its login system or if you've changed your password. You can edit the connection to log in with your new credentials without losing your transaction history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my bank account delete my old transactions?
No. Disconnecting an account only stops QuickBooks from downloading new transactions. All transactions you've already downloaded stay in your file and remain linked to the account they came from. You can view, edit, and reconcile them anytime.
Do I need to tell QuickBooks my actual bank password?
You enter your bank password directly into your bank's login screen, which QuickBooks opens for you. QuickBooks never stores or sees your password — it only stores an encrypted token that your bank issues after you log in successfully. This is the same security method used by most banking apps.
How long does it take for transactions to show up after I connect a new account?
QuickBooks usually downloads the last 90 days of transactions within a few minutes of connecting. After that, it downloads new transactions daily, usually overnight. If you don't see transactions within an hour, check that the connection status shows as active (green) on your Linked Accounts page.
What if I connect the wrong account by mistake?
straightforward disconnect it and connect the correct account instead. The transactions from the wrong account stay in your file, but you can delete them manually if you don't need them. Disconnecting doesn't automatically remove transactions — you control what stays and what goes.
Can I connect the same bank account to QuickBooks more than once?
No. QuickBooks prevents duplicate connections to the same account. If you try to connect an account that's already linked, it will either show an error or automatically select the existing connection instead of creating a new one.