A pending charge is an authorization of a purchase requested by the merchant to make sure your account is active and that funds are available for the purchase. Pending charges affect your available balance, but they are not final until the merchant approves the transaction. While pending, the amount of the authorization may change.
Some examples of when a charge will be pending include:
- Restaurants: when a tip is being added to your authorization
- Gas Stations: a pay-at-the-pump service center charging a small authorization
- Travel: a hotel or car rental agency authorizing an estimated amount for incidentals