The feature was released May 15 as a preview for ChatGPT Pro users (the $200-a-month plan) in the U.S. on the web and iOS. OpenAI says it will learn from early use before rolling it out to Plus, the $20-a-month plan. 

To use it, you open Finances from the ChatGPT sidebar and select “Get started.” ChatGPT then guides you through linking accounts through Plaid, the company that connects bank data for more than 12,000 financial institutions.

Once your accounts are connected, ChatGPT can show a dashboard with spending, subscriptions, upcoming payments, portfolio performance and other information. You can ask things like, “Where did I spend the most money this month?” or “Can I afford to put more toward my credit card balance?” You can also add extra context, such as a savings goal or a planned car purchase, and save that as a financial memory.

That is the main difference between ChatGPT and the information you get from your bank. Your bank can show what happened inside that bank. If you have a checking account at one institution, a credit card at another and retirement savings somewhere else, you see across connected accounts and goals you have shared to explore financial decisions.

The risk, of course, is receiving poor advice, and that’s why you should not rely on the app alone. OpenAI is careful to say that ChatGPT is not a fiduciary, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, tax preparer or law firm. It cannot take action for you, such as moving money or paying bills. If you have a complicated financial situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified expert to validate any recommendations.

That is the right boundary. For routine budgeting, debt payoff and “what if I do this?” questions, ChatGPT can be helpful. 

The bigger risk is data exposure. When you connect your accounts, you are giving an outside platform access to sensitive financial data. OpenAI says ChatGPT can access balances, transactions, investments and liabilities but cannot see full account numbers. You can disconnect accounts and delete financial memories.

Those protections are useful, but they do not eliminate risk. Financial institutions are already targets, and recent breaches show that the weak point is not always the bank itself. In 2025, hackers breached SitusAMC, a technology vendor used by major banks for real estate loans and mortgages, prompting JPMorgan Chase, Citi and Morgan Stanley to assess possible exposure. Other financial-sector breaches have involved Fidelity Investments, Union Bank & Trust through the MOVEit software attack and Marquis Software Solutions, a fintech vendor serving banks and credit unions. The pattern is clear: Your bank has strong defenses, but your data can still be exposed through a connected company.

Security firms are warning that financial services remain a prime target. CrowdStrike’s 2026 Financial Services Threat Landscape Report said hands-on-keyboard intrusions against financial institutions rose 43% globally and 48% in North America over the past two years as attackers exploited trusted identities and software-as-a-service applications.

While a big breach is unlikely in these early days for ChatGPT Finance, users should still be on the lookout for phishing attempts and other moves including fake emails, texts or ads claiming there is a problem with your ChatGPT finance connection. Eventually, hacking attempts will come, too. A feature that combines bank balances, spending, debts and investment information is too valuable for criminals to ignore.

If you are concerned, sidestep this new feature or use it intermittantly. You can ask ChatGPT hypothetical questions and remove anything that identifies you. Don’t include your full name, bank name, account numbers, exact address or Social Security number. Use rounded numbers. You could also connect your accounts, and then delete them at the end of your session. Use can also use ChatGPT’s temporary chat when you do not want the conversation saved or used for training purposes. OpenAI says temporary chats will not access connected finances. 

The prudent path is simple: Let ChatGPT do the math, explain tradeoffs and help you think through options. Keep your bank connection out of it unless you’re willing to connect and disconnect with each use. For many people, a careful hypothetical question will get you most of the benefit with far less risk.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.