A pending transaction shows up when a merchant has accepted your payment, but it has not yet fully processed. It generally only takes a couple of days for transactions to fully process and post to your account, but could sometimes take a bit longer depending on the merchant and the transaction type. This can happen if:
- A transaction is pending overnight processing. Generally, if a purchase is made before 8:30 PM, the transaction will be processed overnight. If a purchase is made after 8:30 PM, it is usually processed the following night. Sometimes this can get delayed and you will see a pending transaction on your account for up to 5 business days.
- The merchant places a “pre-authorization” on the card. This is common for places like gas stations, car rentals, and hotels where the merchant puts a hold on your card before the service takes place. Sometimes, the amount that is pending is different from the final amount. This will usually be corrected after the final transaction is processed. Typically, the pending transaction disappears after the final transaction is processed, or after 5 business days.
Once the transaction is fully processed, it becomes a posted transaction and the amount is added to your Current Balance.