Can I spend my pending balance?

Asked by: Joaquin Stracke  |  Last update: April 18, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (51 votes)

A pending transaction can place a hold on your account balance and count toward your credit limit until it is processed. 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.

Can I spend money that is pending?

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.

Can you spend available balance when pending?

However, be aware that your available balance does not include items that you authorized but that haven't been presented for payment. This might include checks that haven't been cashed yet or recurring payments.

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.

How long does it take for a pending balance to go through?

Article Summary. Pending transactions are debits or credits that have been authorized but not yet processed. These placeholders affect the amount of money available in the account. Pending transactions typically take between one and five business days to process.

STEAM PENDING FUNDS!

17 related questions found

How does pending balance work?

It's simply a recent payment that you've made with a debit card or a credit card. 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.

Does pending mean the money is already taken out?

Does pending mean the money is already taken out? Pending transactions are authorized transactions that are still being processed. The transaction amount is deducted from any available funds but isn't reflected in account balances until processed and posted.

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.

Can you make a payment on a pending transaction?

Because pending transactions are not officially posted to your account, you won't be able to make payments against them. One reason for this is that pending charges are by their nature temporary — so it's possible they may end up posting for a different amount or being removed completely before they hit your account.

How long can a transaction sit in pending for?

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.

Can you spend money from available balance?

The current balance of your bank account is the total amount of money in the account, while the available balance is the amount you can actually access and use. The available balance is important to track because it reflects the funds that you can withdraw and use, and may be less than the current balance.

Can I lock my card if a payment is pending?

In general, locking your debit card won't stop transactions that were made and authorized before you locked it but are still pending. In other words, if you made a purchase that's pending, then locked your debit card before it completed, that transaction should still go through.

Do pending transactions go through on weekends?

Many transactions will show as pending over non-working days, meaning transactions may show as pending over weekends and holidays. Typical processing times for different transaction types are as follows: Cash and direct deposits are usually cleared by the following business day.

Does pending mean you have the money?

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.

What can I do if my transaction is pending?

A pending transaction will affect the amount of credit or funds you have available, effectively deducting money from your account. Canceling a pending transaction usually requires contacting the merchant who made the charge. Once a pending transaction has posted, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute it.

How long do pending funds take to clear?

How long will a transaction remain in pending? Generally it takes about 3 to 5 business days to process a transaction, although it can take up to 10 business days or longer.

Can pending transactions be declined?

Can a pending transaction be declined? Yes, pending transactions can be declined even after they initially appear on your account as pending. This may occur for a variety of reasons: There are insufficient funds to cover the charge.

Can a pending transaction go back into your account?

If the money isn't collected within a certain time, the transaction status will change to 'Reverted' and the money will be returned to your account. If a merchant cancels the payment, the transaction will remain pending for a few days. Then the money will be returned to your account once processed.

Can pending payments expire?

How long do pending transactions take to clear? Many pending charges disappear in around 5 days or less. Though some institutions may have a longer period. It ultimately depends on the type of transaction, the processor settings for the credit card program, and what's stated in your agreement.

Do pending transactions already take money?

A pending transaction on your bank account means your bank is processing a purchase you made, a bill you paid, or a deposit that's heading your way, but it hasn't been completed yet. Either the payment hasn't been sent to the vendor yet or the incoming funds haven't cleared, although they are in process.

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.

Can I spend 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 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.

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.

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.