What happened to pending transactions?

Asked by: Leonel Jenkins IV  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (67 votes)

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 Whether money is withdrawn from or deposited into your account, both types of transactions will start as pending until they are fully processed and posted.

Why has a pending transaction disappeared?

Your bank is only holding the money. It has never left your account. The merchant has these few days to ``settle'' or ``finalize'' the charge. This is usually when they ship the order. Sometimes the hold drops off before settlement, and the pending transaction disappears without a trace.

Have pending payments gone through?

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.

Why is my bank not showing pending transactions?

Sometimes it takes a day or two to update to pending status in your bank. Wait a little while for it. It's not relevant whether or not it happened prior to this. If you suspect something is truly wrong, try contacting your financial institution.

Do pending transactions ever go away?

If the merchant agrees to cancel the charge, the pending transaction should eventually disappear from your account without posting. However, if the transaction posts before the cancellation is processed, you may need to file a dispute with your bank or credit card company to reverse the charge.

What does Charge Off mean on my Credit Report? Does Charged Off mean I don't have to pay?

30 related questions found

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.

Do pending transactions ever get Cancelled?

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.

Why can't banks stop pending transactions?

It can be difficult to cancel a pending transaction once it's listed in your account summary​. That's because both you and your bank have approved the payment. And you may have received the goods or services already. You might be able to contact the retailer and chat through potential options.

Why did a pending deposit disappear?

Pending deposits can be reversed if there is an issue verifying the funds, such as an attempted deposit from an account with insufficient funds or a name mismatch error in depositing to the account. You can contact the sender to understand the reason for the reversal.

Why is a payment not showing as pending?

Transactions using credit cards might not show up as pending right away because of system or merchant processing lag. There is a latency when certain merchants batch process payments at the end of the day. Different time zones or network problems could also have an impact on the publication time.

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.

How long do banks hold pending transactions?

Generally, pending transactions clear within one to five business days, but the exact timing depends on the type of transaction, the payment network, and the bank or credit card issuer.

Why is my money not showing in my bank account?

Occasionally, your deposit may not show up as planned because of a mix-up with the bank. You can look out for this by monitoring your account daily. When you deposit into your account, it should show up in your account history, even if the funds are not immediately available to you.

Why is money disappearing from my bank account?

Yes, money can go missing from a bank account. This can happen due to unauthorized transactions, bank errors or automatic deductions like fees and charges. It's important to monitor your account regularly to quickly identify and address any discrepancies.

What happens if a pending charge never posts?

Sometimes, a pending transaction will never post. A common example of this scenario is canceled and/or voided transactions. When this happens, your available balance is restored and your list of transactions will not include that specific transaction.

Does freezing your card stop pending transactions?

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.

Can a pending transaction be declined?

Can pending transactions be declined? Banks and credit card issuers might decline pending transactions, especially if the transaction amount exceeds 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.

Does pending mean the money hasn't been taken out?

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.

How long does money sit in pending?

How long do pending transactions typically last? The duration varies. It can range from a few hours to several days or more, depending on factors such as the merchant's processing time, weekends, holidays, and the policies of your bank or credit card issuer.

Why did a pending transaction disappear?

Sometimes pending transactions may disappear from your transaction history and the amount is returned to your available balance. This means the transaction has expired and at this stage has not been processed by the merchant.

What time of day do pending transactions post?

Most transactions post at the end of each business day but posting order and times can vary. Business days for banks are generally Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding federal holidays. Transactions received outside of these hours, including on weekends, are usually posted on the next business day.

Can a US bank stop a pending transaction?

If your bill pay payment is pending, you can make changes to it using digital banking. If it's in process, or is a same-day payment, it can't be changed.

Can a pending transaction stay forever?

Key takeaways. Pending charges on credit cards are temporary holds to ensure payment for potential damages or incidental expenses. Pending charges typically take up to three days to clear with the merchant, but can take longer.

Do pending transactions get reversed?

A Pending card transaction can turn into a Reversed transaction if the merchant you are purchasing from has decided not to go through with debiting your account. A common example of this is a security bond that hotels and car rental companies will hold temporarily, and return to you at the end of your trip.

Can I spend money that is pending?

Debit card purchases will immediately deduct from your balance to help prevent overspending. A pending debit is not part of your available balance and scheduled debit payments will deduct on the date they're expected to post.