What to know about pending transactions

Imagine you’re scrolling through your recent bank and credit card accounts. You might see your balance, recent transactions and upcoming payments. Chances are, you may also see things like purchases and payments marked as “pending.” These are your pending transactions. 

A pending transaction hasn’t been fully posted to an account yet. But what does that mean for you? Learn more about pending transactions, including how long they can take to post. 

Key takeaways

• Purchases, deposits and payments can be among pending transactions. 
• Depending on things like the financial institution and the type of transaction, pending transactions often may take up to three days to post. 
• Pending transactions can affect your available balance or available credit. 

A pending transaction might include a purchase, deposit or payment that hasn’t fully processed—sometimes referred to as settled, cleared or posted. Pending transactions can happen when the money needed for the transaction is still moving between accounts, like after using your credit or debit card to purchase gas at the pump or add a tip at a restaurant.

In a bank account, cash, check and direct deposits; electronic funds transfers (EFTs); and debit card transactions can be considered pending transactions. And with a credit card, pending transactions could follow account payments and purchases.

In general, it can take up to three business days for a pending transaction to clear. But that time frame can depend on the bank or credit card issuer, the payment network—like the Automated Clearing House (ACH)—and the type of transaction. 

Here are a few examples of how long pending transactions could take:

• In general, a cash deposit should settle by the next business day. 
• A check deposit should typically post within two business days.
• An EFT processed through the ACH network may settle within the same day or could be settled in a business day or two. 
• A pending credit card purchase may take up to three days for the merchant to receive the funds and process the purchase. 

Until it processes, a pending transaction could put a hold on an account balance or credit limit. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t use your credit card or bank account. But it can affect your available balance—or the funds you’re able to access. 

Keep in mind your online or mobile banking app may not include pending transactions in the current balance, so it might not match your available balance. Consider keeping your own records, perhaps in a checkbook register or on a budget sheet, for reference.

Learn more about pending transactions with these frequently asked questions. 

Can pending transactions be declined?

Banks and credit card issuers might decline pending transactions, especially if the transaction is more than your available funds. That’s why it’s good to keep track of your account activity to avoid overdraft fees and penalties if your bank still charges them. Capital One eliminated overdraft fees and insufficient fund fees in 2021. 

Can you cancel a pending transaction?

Canceling a pending transaction isn’t guaranteed. But if it’s a pending purchase, you could ask the merchant to cancel the transaction. They may be able to cancel the order or offer a refund or store credit if they can’t cancel it. 

If you don’t recognize the transaction, you should contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report suspected fraud.

Anyone with a bank account or credit card could encounter pending transactions. So it could be useful to know when and how they affect your bank or credit card account. Pending purchases may not automatically be deducted from your account balance, but the funds should eventually settle. 

To learn more about managing your money, check out these money management tips.