Can I spend money that is pending?

Asked by: Ludwig Becker  |  Last update: October 17, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (46 votes)

Can I spend the money that's being held for a pending transaction? No, the funds are temporarily unavailable until the transaction clears. Spending them could result in overdrafts or declined transactions.

Does pending mean I can use the money?

Pending transactions haven't been fully processed by your bank or credit card company, while posted transactions have. Whether money is withdrawn from or deposited into your account, both types of transactions will start as pending until they are fully processed and posted.

Can you spend money on a pending deposit?

With payments like paychecks from employers, you are most likely able to start spending money right away, even if your money is technically pending direct deposit. Other kinds of payments, like a refund from a retail store, may not be accessible until the money is no longer pending direct deposit.

Can I use my available balance if I still have money pending?

Available balance is how much money you are able to spend right now, including any pending transactions. Meanwhile, the current balance shows how much money is in your account without subtracting pending payments or withdrawals. Current balance can be useful in some situations, like when doing your monthly budgeting.

Can I still use my card if I have a pending transaction?

A pending transaction means that a transaction is yet to be fully processed. Credit card purchases may typically post within three days but may take up to 30 days in some cases. While you may use your credit card or bank account while a transaction is pending, they'll count towards your available funds.

Can you still spend money that is pending?

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Will a pending transaction definitely go through?

A pending credit card purchase might be declined if another merchant has placed a hold on your credit card. A pending purchase made with your bank account or credit card could be declined if your account doesn't have enough funds or the merchant won't accept payment from your bank.

Do pending transactions get declined?

Yes, pending payments can indeed be declined, even after they initially appear on your account.

How long does money sit in pending?

A pending transaction is a recent authorised card transaction that is waiting to be processed by the merchant and can take up to 28 days but normally takes 2/3 days to clear onto your balance. Once a pending transaction has cleared, it will appear below in your list of cleared transactions.

Can I withdraw money if its still pending?

Pending deposits aren't available for withdrawal; however, they'll generally post to your account within one to two business days. You can check the status of your deposit in your digital banking. Choose your account from the dashboard. Select Available balance on the right.

Does "pending" mean charged?

Pending transactions are charges that have been initiated but not yet fully processed or settled. They can take anywhere from a few hours to five business days to clear, depending on the charge. Restaurants, hotels, and car rental companies often initially list charges as pending until the payment is fully processed.

Are pending transactions already taken out?

You may have bought something in a shop or online. Either way, the word 'pending' shows that the payment is still being processed by the retailer and is waiting to leave your account. It means your bank has approved the payment, but the retailer needs to finish collecting it.

What to do if money is pending?

When a payment is marked as “pending” it means that the payment process still needs to be completed. In most cases, this simply means that you need to wait for this to happen. In some cases, however, the merchant may need to take action.

How long do pending transactions take to clear?

When you make a purchase using a credit or debit card (selecting credit, contactless payment or online/phone purchase) the bank will authorise the payment and immediately deduct that amount from your available funds. This authorised amount is held and appears as a “pending” transaction for up to 5 days.

Can you use money from a pending deposit?

What does it mean when a deposit is on hold? Sometimes when you make a deposit, the money isn't available to use right away. That's because the bank needs to verify that the deposit is legitimate and will place a hold on the funds until the issuing bank sends the money over to your bank.

Does pending mean the money is gone?

Not necessarily. A pending transaction means that the merchant has authorized the charge but hasn't completed it. In some cases, pending transactions may not go through if the merchant cancels the order, fails to finalize the payment, or adjusts the amount.

Does "pending" mean "approved"?

A pending sale means a seller has accepted a buyer's offer. Compare this to a contingent sale, which means the seller has accepted an offer with contingencies to resolve before finalizing the purchase.

How long does a deposit stay pending?

A transaction typically stays pending for one to three business days. During this time, your bank or financial institution processes the request and transfers money from one account to another according to your purchase or deposit amount. After these steps occur, the transaction is no longer pending.

How do I remove pending money?

Unfortunately, canceling a pending transaction isn't always simple. If you're trying to remove a hold or a pending transaction before it posts, you'll need to contact the merchant and ask them to remove the authorization. Once your transaction is finalized, however, you have more power in reversing the charge.

Can I spend my current balance?

The current balance on your bank account is the total amount of money in the account. But that doesn't mean it's all available to spend. Some of the funds included in your current balance may be from deposits you made or checks you wrote that haven't cleared yet, in which case they're not available for you to use.

Can you withdraw money that is pending?

When the status says 'pending', it means your withdrawal is waiting to be processed. That may well be the case and of course there can be potential 'glitches' where things don't work out the way they should do. Typically, the funds can be available for withdrawal even while listed as pending.

Does "pending" mean "waiting"?

The word pending comes from the French pendant, meaning “hanging.” If someone leaves you hanging, you are waiting for a call, a message, a visit — whatever the thing is that's supposed to happen.

Can you pay off a pending transaction?

Can you pay off pending transactions on a credit card? Because pending transactions are not officially posted to your account, you won't be able to make payments against them.

Can pending transactions be used?

Essentially, pending transactions mean the money has been committed to a specific purchase, but it's still moving between accounts. Your account balance may or may not reflect the money spent in a pending transaction. You are still able to use your card normally while these payments process.

Does pending mean declined?

Yes, a pending transaction can be declined. A pending transaction is a temporary hold placed on funds in an account, typically when a card is used to make a purchase or when a check is deposited. The hold ensures that the funds are available for the merchant to process the transaction.

How long can money stay in pending transactions?

Usually, a pending charge will show on your account until the transaction is processed and the funds are transferred to the merchant. This could typically take up to three days but may stretch longer depending on the merchant and the type of transaction.