Have you ever looked at your account balance and been surprised to see that it’s different than what you expected? If so, it’s likely because of a pending transaction. But what exactly is a pending transaction, and how does it differ from a posted transaction? Keep reading to find out (TLDR at the bottom).
A pending transaction is any transaction that has been authorized but has yet to be posted to your account. For example, let’s say you use your debit card to buy a new tablet for $500. The pending transaction will show up in your account immediately, but the funds won’t be transferred from your bank account to the tablet retailer until the transaction posts.
Once the transaction posts, it will be reflected in your account balance as a posted transaction. A posted transaction is a completed transaction that has been fully processed and appears on your account statement.
It’s important to remember that pending transactions can impact your available balance—the amount of money you have available to spend—even though they haven’t technically been posted to your account yet. For example, if you have a balance of $1,000 in your checking account and there are two pending transactions totaling $300, then your available balance would be $700. On the other hand, once those transactions post, they’ll no longer impact your available balance since they’ll be reflected in your current balance—which is the total amount of money you have in your account, including any transactions that haven’t cleared yet.
TLDR: A pending transaction is any transaction that has been authorized but has yet to be posted to your account. Pending transactions can impact your available balance (the amount of money you have available).
A posted transaction is a completed transaction that has been fully processed. Once those transactions post, they’ll no longer impact your available balance since they’ll be reflected in your current balance (the total amount of money you have in your account).
Armed with this knowledge, you can rest assured that you’re always aware of how much money you have available at any given time! If you have more questions, let us know!
FAQs
Pending and posted transactions
What is the difference between posted and pending transactions? ›
Some institutions may post multiple times in a day or post live, so it is important to understand how your institution works. During posting, “pending" transactions that have been received throughout the day and are ready to be settled (paid) will become “posted."
What does it mean if a transaction is posted? ›
A posted transaction is a completed transaction that has been fully processed. Once those transactions post, they'll no longer impact your available balance since they'll be reflected in your current balance (the total amount of money you have in your account).
Can a transaction be both pending and posted? ›
Once a pending transaction is posted to your account, there may be a delay before that transaction is removed from the pending transactions list. This might result in the transaction showing in both the pending and posted transaction list. Not to worry, this does not mean that you'll be charged twice.
Is a pending transaction already paid? ›
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.
Are pending transactions already deducted from my account? ›
Pending Transactions are deducted from your available credit immediately, but are not included in your Account balance.
How long does it take for a transaction to go from pending to posted? ›
A credit card transaction is generally pending for one to five business days. Bank of America says a pending transaction on debit cards can take three to five business days to post. The time depends, to some extent, on how the debit card is used.
Is posted the same as cleared? ›
Posting is part of the clearing and settlement process in credit card transactions. Settlement refers to the stage when the merchant gets their payment from the card issuer, while clearing involves all of the steps leading up to that.
What is the difference between authorized transactions and posted transactions? ›
Authorized Transactions are those that still need to be settled by a retailer or service provider. Most transactions stay authorized for 3-5 days. When a retailer or service provider finishes the work on their end, the transaction will move to Posted Transactions. Posted Transactions are 100% complete.
How long does it take for a posted payment to go through? ›
It generally takes one to five business days for a credit card payment to post to your account. Your payment may even be credited to your account before it posts. In other words, your card issuer may acknowledge receipt of the payment before the transaction is fully processed.
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.
Do pending transactions show immediately? ›
How Long Do Pending Transactions Take to Post? Although pending transactions typically post within two to three business days, they may post immediately in some cases or take up to 30 days in others. It depends on the type of transaction; when it takes place; and the merchant, bank or credit card issuer's policies.
How long can a transaction sit in pending for? ›
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. While a transaction is pending, the amount is deducted from your available funds, not your account balance.
Does "pending" mean "approved"? ›
A pending transaction is a credit card transaction that is authorised but not yet processed. Your bank has approved the charge, but the transaction still needs to be processed by the merchant.
Is a pending transaction final? ›
The pending status provides a temporary snapshot of the transaction's progress before it's finalized and appears as a cleared transaction on the account statement.
Can I spend money that is pending? ›
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.
What does it mean when payment will be posted? ›
Posting occurs once a transaction has been fully processed, which may be immediately following the transaction or after some brief interval of time. Posting is part of all types of credit card transactions, including purchases, payments, refunds, and chargebacks.
What does posted mean on a bank transfer? ›
Transaction posting order is the process of applying transactions—both debits and credits—to your account balance.
Why is my check posted but not available? ›
Your bank may hold the funds according to its funds availability policy. Or it may have placed an exception hold on the deposit. If the bank has placed a hold on the deposit, the bank generally should provide you with written notice of the hold.
How long does a posted payment take? ›
It generally takes one to five business days for a credit card payment to post to your account. Your payment may even be credited to your account before it posts. In other words, your card issuer may acknowledge receipt of the payment before the transaction is fully processed.
