You can remove a bank account from PayPal in under a minute through your account settings
Log into PayPal on a web browser (not the app), go to Wallet in the top menu, select Banks and Cards, find the account you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it. PayPal will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the account is disconnected from your PayPal profile when ready. You will no longer be able to transfer money to or from that bank account through PayPal.
The process is the same whether you added the account for sending money, receiving deposits, or as a backup payment method. Removing it does not close your PayPal account or affect any transaction history. If you added the account by linking your routing and account number, or by connecting through your bank's app, both methods remove the same way.
Key Takeaways
- Use the web version of PayPal, not the mobile app, to access the full Wallet menu where bank accounts are listed.
- The trash icon next to your bank account is the removal button; PayPal asks for confirmation before the deletion takes effect.
- Removing a bank account happens when ready and does not affect your PayPal balance, transaction history, or ability to use other payment methods.
- If you want to stop receiving direct deposits from PayPal, you must remove the account; straightforward deleting the connection does not stop future transfers.
Why you might need to remove a bank account
The most common reason is switching banks. When you close an old bank account or move to a new bank, you need to remove the old account from PayPal so you do not accidentally try to transfer money to a closed account. PayPal will reject the transfer, but removing it first prevents the confusion.
You might also remove an account if you no longer want PayPal linked to that bank, even if the account is still open. Some people keep separate accounts for different purposes and prefer not to connect all of them to PayPal. Removing an account is also the right step if you suspect fraud or unauthorized access — disconnecting the account stops anyone with access to your PayPal from draining that bank account.
What happens to pending transfers when you remove an account
If you have a transfer in progress to the bank account you are about to remove, that transfer will still go through. PayPal completes transfers that are already queued before you delete the account. You cannot cancel a removal once you confirm it, but the account deletion does not interrupt money that is already on its way.
If you remove an account and then realize you need it again, you can re-add it by going back to Banks and Cards and selecting Link a Bank Account. PayPal will ask you to verify the account again, which usually takes one to two business days. There is no penalty for removing and re-adding the same account multiple times.
Removing an account added through your bank's app
Some banks let you connect directly to PayPal through their own app or website. If you linked PayPal that way, you have two options: remove it from PayPal's side (using the steps above), or disconnect it from your bank's side. Both work, but doing both is cleaner.
To disconnect from your bank's side, log into your bank's app or website, find the connected apps or third-party access section (the name varies by bank), locate PayPal, and select disconnect or revoke access. Then remove the account from PayPal as well. This ensures PayPal cannot re-establish the connection if you accidentally authorize it again later.
If you cannot find the bank account in your Wallet
The most common reason is that you are using the PayPal mobile app instead of the web version. The app does not always show the full Banks and Cards menu. Open PayPal in a web browser on your phone or computer, log in, and navigate to Wallet to see all linked accounts.
If you are on the web version and still do not see the account, it may have already been removed, or it may be listed under a different section. Check Wallet first, then look under Settings (the gear icon) and select Payments to see if it appears there. If you still cannot locate it, contact PayPal support through the Help menu and provide the last four digits of the account number.
What to do if you want to stop receiving PayPal deposits
If your employer, a client, or another source sends you money through PayPal and deposits it directly to your bank account, removing the account from PayPal will stop those deposits. However, the money will not disappear — it will stay in your PayPal balance until you add a new bank account or request a check.
Before you remove the account, notify anyone who sends you regular deposits through PayPal. Give them your new bank account information if you have one, or let them know you will be receiving payments in your PayPal balance instead. If you remove the account without warning, deposits will pile up in PayPal and you may not notice the money is there.
Removing an account does not close your PayPal account
Deleting a bank account from PayPal is not the same as closing your PayPal account. Your PayPal profile, balance, and transaction history remain intact. You can still use PayPal to send and receive money through other methods — credit cards, debit cards, or other linked bank accounts.
If you want to close your entire PayPal account, that is a separate process. You would go to Settings, select Account, and look for the option to close your account. PayPal requires your balance to be zero before you can close, so you would need to transfer any remaining money out first or request a check. Removing a single bank account is much simpler and does not affect the rest of your PayPal setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a bank account from PayPal affect my credit score?
No. Removing a bank account from PayPal is a disconnection, not a financial transaction or credit inquiry. It does not appear on your credit report and has no impact on your credit score. Your credit is only affected by borrowing, payments, and credit inquiries — not by linking or unlinking accounts.
Can I remove a bank account if I have a dispute or claim pending?
You can remove the account, but PayPal may need it if the dispute involves a refund or reversal. If you remove the account and PayPal needs to send money back to it, the transfer will fail. Contact PayPal support before removing an account if you have an open dispute, and ask whether it is safe to disconnect.
What if I remove an account by mistake?
You can re-add it when ready by going to Wallet, selecting Banks and Cards, and clicking Link a Bank Account. You will need to verify the account again, which takes one to two business days. There is no waiting period or penalty for removing and re-adding an account.
Will PayPal notify my bank when I remove the account?
No. Removing the account from PayPal only disconnects it on PayPal's side. Your bank will not receive a notification, and the account itself is not affected. If you want to revoke PayPal's access on your bank's side as well, you need to do that separately through your bank's app or website.