What is "PENDING" on my bank statement?

PENDING usually means a temporary card authorization, not a final charge. It should settle, change, or disappear within a few days.

Merchant: Pending Authorization | Category: Financial Services

What Is This Charge?

A charge from PENDING reflects a temporary card authorization, not a final purchase. PENDING is a banking descriptor, so it usually appears when a merchant, gas pump, hotel, rideshare app, or online checkout asks your bank to reserve funds before the final amount is posted. The charge is not tied to one single company, and it often disappears or changes within 1 to 7 business days. In some cases, the pending amount is larger than the final charge because the merchant is testing card validity or placing a hold.

Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement?

PENDING appears when a merchant sends an authorization request to confirm that your card is active and has enough available balance. A gas station can place a $1 to $100 hold before the final fuel amount is known. A hotel can place a hold for the room rate plus $50 to $200 for incidentals. A rideshare, delivery app, or online store can also show PENDING before the final transaction settles.

Typical Charge Amounts

PENDING amounts often start at $0.00, $1.00, or $1.01 when a merchant is testing a card. Gas station holds commonly range from $25 to $100, and hotel incidentals often range from $50 to $200. Restaurant and rideshare authorizations are often 15% to 25% higher than the expected final bill. If the charge never settles, the hold usually drops off after 1 to 7 business days, depending on the bank.

Common Variations

PENDING PENDING* PENDING TRANSACTION PENDING PREAUTH PENDING AUTH PENDING AUTHORIZATION PENDING CARD AUTH PENDING HOLD PENDING POS PENDING E-COMMERCE PENDING #1234 PENDING STORE 0142 PENDING STORE 2087

Is This Charge Legitimate?

A PENDING charge is usually legitimate if you recently used your card for a purchase, booking, refill, or account verification. Check your banking app, such as Chase Mobile, Bank of America Mobile Banking, or Wells Fargo Mobile, and compare the pending amount with your recent receipts. Review the merchant name, date, and authorization amount before you assume it is fraud. If you do not recognize the transaction, call the number on the back of your card and ask the bank to confirm whether it is a temporary authorization.

How to Dispute or Cancel

1. Contact the merchant first and ask whether the charge is only a preauthorization or a final sale. 2. Ask for the cancellation policy, refund timeline, or hold release timeline, because some hotels and car rentals keep holds for 3 to 10 days. 3. If the merchant cannot help, call your bank or card issuer immediately and open a dispute for an unauthorized authorization. 4. If the charge posts as final, keep your receipt, screenshots, and cancellation email, because those records help the bank reverse the charge. 5. For card issues, use the customer service number on the back of your card or the bank’s official website, such as chase.com, bankofamerica.com, or wellsfargo.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PENDING charge show as PENDING AUTH?

PENDING AUTH means the merchant asked your bank to approve the card before the final charge posts. This is common for gas stations, hotels, rideshare apps, and online checkouts. The amount can change, settle lower, or disappear after the merchant completes the transaction.

How do I cancel my PENDING subscription?

You usually cannot cancel PENDING itself because it is not a merchant subscription. First find the real merchant name in your banking app, then cancel through that company’s website or app. If the charge is only an authorization, the hold should fall off after the merchant releases it.

Why is my PENDING charge a different amount than expected?

A PENDING amount can differ from the final bill because merchants place temporary holds before the exact total is known. Gas pumps, hotels, restaurants, and delivery apps often authorize more than the final amount. The posted charge may match the receipt later, or the extra hold may disappear.

How long does a PENDING charge stay on my card?

Most PENDING charges stay visible for 1 to 7 business days, but some hotel and car rental holds can last longer. The timing depends on when the merchant captures the payment and when your bank releases unused authorization funds. If it remains after a week, contact the merchant and your bank.

Can a PENDING charge turn into a real charge?

Yes, a PENDING charge can become a posted charge when the merchant completes the sale. The final amount may be the same, lower, or slightly higher than the hold. If the merchant never captures it, the pending authorization should expire automatically.

Similar Charges

  • PENDING
  • PENDING*
  • PENDING TRANSACTION
  • PENDING PREAUTH
  • PENDING AUTH

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