In some circumstances, you won\u2019t be able to remove a bank account immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You cannot remove this bank account because it currently has a pending transaction. This transaction may take up to 6-8 days to complete, at which time you will be able to remove the bank account. Please try again after the transaction has been completed.<\/em><\/p>Typical PayPal error message<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThis may simply be due to the normal delays between checking systems across financial institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you see a message about pending transactions, then there will be some delay in getting your account removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read the next section on this common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Cannot Remove A Bank Account Because It Has A Pending Transaction<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn some circumstances, you won\u2019t be able to remove a bank account immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PayPal will display this message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You cannot remove this bank account because it currently has a pending transaction. This transaction may take up to 6-8 days to complete, at which time you will be able to remove the bank account. Please try again after the transaction has been completed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis may simply be due to the normal delays between checking systems across financial institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Explanation of pending transactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you made a payment within the last week on the bank account you want to remove, it can take up to eight days for the transaction to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PayPal is waiting to be sure that the money has been correctly debited from your account and credited elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The simplest solution is to wait for the transaction to clear. Log into your PayPal account after eight days and repeat the actions in the first section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what if weeks or months pass by and you continue to see this error message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if you know the bank account is closed so there can\u2019t possibly be a pending transaction? Unfortunately, you\u2019ve hit a glitch in the Paypal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read on to learn how to solve this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Fix 1: Make Sure You Confirmed The Bank Account Or Card<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere is a simple mistake that customers can make that will stop them from removing a bank account. This isn\u2019t PayPal\u2019s fault!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you set up a new bank account or card, you go through several steps to confirm how the account will be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you skipped out of those questions, you\u2019ve left the account unconfirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will stop you from removing the bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All you have to do is to click on the card or bank account and go through these options to the point that you have confirmed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once it\u2019s confirmed, you can go ahead and remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Fix 2: Talk To Customer Support<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAre you being blocked from removing your bank account due to \u201cpending transactions\u201d that don\u2019t exist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fastest way to fix this issue is to speak to a person in Customer Support<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAvoid or skip the support bot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is no point interacting with the support bot. The automated support cannot unlink or remove a bank or card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you try to follow the steps provided by the bot, you\u2019ll simply end up in a frustrating loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several ways to speak to support staff. There are also differences between regions with accessing a live person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Explaining the issue to support staff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you get through, simply explain that there has been a lengthy delay in getting your card or account removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that it\u2019s worth waiting the eight days before you contact Support. Otherwise, they may insist that the 6-8 days have to elapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If they agree with your assessment, the support staff can immediately remove or unlink the account while you\u2019re speaking with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Fix 3: If The Account Is Closed Then Send A Payment<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis solution works well if you know that the bank account you can\u2019t unlink is fully closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting the \u201cpending transactions\u201d message is very annoying when the bank account has been closed for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, I\u2019ve seen several reports from customers who simply used the unwanted account to make a small payment via the PayPal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, the source bank will decline the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You still need to be patient at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Customers report that after about a week, the payment is switched to your backup payment option and the unusable account was removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that the payment will actually be actioned! So think about that before you embark on this solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why you should be sure the bank account was closed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I saw a complaint from one customer who said that the account he wished to remove was one that he had previously held jointly with his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the couple divorced and agreed that she would be the sole bearer of the account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He understandably wanted to get it off his PayPal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, making a payment in this case won\u2019t be appropriate \u2013 the account isn\u2019t closed and his wife\u2019s funds will be debited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n