Before connecting, decide which question you want to answer, then plan the cleanup for each data layer separately.
As of Oct. 6, 2026, U.S. Finances access is listed for Free/Go/Plus/Pro on web, iOS, Android. An October 2 note announced U.S. rollout to Free and Go.
Choose a source by your goal
| Your goal | Starting point | A useful check |
|---|---|---|
| Review transactions, balances, or recurring charges | Plaid for chosen accounts. | Before approving, review the institution and account names shown on your connection screen. OpenAI account guidance |
| Review credit-report or score information | Separate Experian credit-report link; no bank link. OpenAI Experian guidance | What report information and date span would answer the question? |
| Work from a simple summary or sample figures | Start with a summary or clearly labeled synthetic figures that you choose to type; no connected account is needed for this approach. | Ask the answer to state which period or figures it used. Leave out account numbers and details you do not need to share. OpenAI Finances overview |
A synthetic prompt could say: “Using only these sample transactions dated [date range], list recurring charges and state the latest date you used. Separate observed entries from guesses.” These placeholders are examples, not account results or financial recommendations.
How fresh is the connected data?
Initial Plaid sync usually finishes in minutes (rarely hours); later updates are automatic, with last-sync time shown but no fixed interval. OpenAI’s account-sync guidance
ChatGPT’s connected credit score and report update monthly. Shown balances reflect data last sent to Experian by lenders, not live balances. OpenAI’s Experian guidance
What remains after a source is disconnected?
| Data or control | Action and what remains |
|---|---|
| Plaid financial accounts | Remove an account in Finances Accounts or disconnect Finances under Settings > Apps > Finances. Synced Plaid data is deleted from OpenAI systems within 30 days. Data associated with the ChatGPT connection is deleted from Plaid within 30 days under Plaid policies. Separately authorized Plaid app connections are unaffected. OpenAI disconnection guidance. Plaid’s general policy lists exceptions such as another active app connection, requested services, legal duties, fraud/security/support/misuse needs, aggregated or de-identified data, or consent to longer retention. These provider-wide terms are not a ChatGPT-specific contract. Plaid end-user privacy policy |
| Experian credit data | Disconnect Experian separately. Experian stops sending reports/scores to ChatGPT; OpenAI deletes copies from its systems within 30 days. Experian’s June 24, 2026 U.S. notice describes processor handling but gives no ChatGPT-specific Experian-side deletion interval. OpenAI disconnection guidance; Experian U.S. privacy notice |
| Financial memories | Financial memories survive disconnection; delete them in Finances or Settings. OpenAI Financial memories guidance; general Memory controls |
| Saved conversations | Delete chats separately from memories. Deleted chats disappear from account view immediately and are scheduled for system deletion within 30 days, subject to stated legal, security, or de-identification exceptions. OpenAI chat and file retention; Memory controls |
| Model-improvement setting | “Improve the model for everyone” applies to new conversations. Changing it does not delete existing conversations. OpenAI Data Controls |
| Temporary Chat | In the Finances context, Temporary Chat will not access connected financial accounts or use or create memories for personalization. General Temporary Chat has a separate mode choice: “Personalized” can use existing memories, custom instructions, and plugins; “Unpersonalized” uses none. Temporary chats are not used to improve models while temporary and may be retained up to 30 days for safety. They do not disconnect accounts or delete existing chats or memories. Finances guidance; Data Controls; Temporary Chat guidance |
OpenAI’s general Memory guidance explains that deleting a saved memory does not delete the conversation where it was discussed, and deleting a conversation does not necessarily remove a separately saved memory. The general chat-retention page describes exceptions for de-identified/disassociated content or longer retention for security or legal obligations.
Ask for the source date in the answer
If you connect, make the relevant date part of the question: “Summarize spending through the latest date shown in this connected account. State that date and flag any gap before it.” For a credit-report question, ask: “Which report date and lender-reported information are you using? Do not treat them as current balances.” These are synthetic prompts, not results from a live account.
Connected data is informational: Finances cannot move money, pay bills, trade, or file taxes. OpenAI Finances guidance
If you prefer not to connect, you can ask a general question using a summary you prepare yourself. Avoid sharing identifiers you do not need. This article explains documented product and privacy controls; it is not financial advice or an assessment of an individual account’s security.
For a separate overview of permission choices for connected ChatGPT apps, see the ChatGPT app-permissions checklist. That guide covers general connected-app permissions, not Finances’ Plaid or Experian data-connection controls.
