Ach Payments Keeps Disconnecting
ACH payment connections that keep disconnecting in 2026 are almost always an OAuth token issue or a Plaid link that needs to be re-authenticated. Bank connections through third-party aggregators (Plaid, MX, Finicity) expire periodically and require the customer to re-verify — this is a regulatory requirement, not a bug.
Why This Happens
- Configuration gaps between tools or services
- Missing integrations or manual workarounds that weren't designed to scale
- Changes in vendor behavior, pricing, or API that weren't communicated clearly
What To Check First
- Verify your current setup matches the vendor's latest documentation
- Look for recent changes — platform updates, new team members, configuration drift
- Check if the problem is consistent or intermittent (different root causes, different fixes)
When To Escalate
- The problem is costing you money or customers per week
- You've spent more than 2 hours on it without progress
- A vendor quoted you more than $500 and you're not sure if it's necessary
Dealing with this right now?
Build your ACH integration with re-authentication in mind from the start. When a connection expires, send the customer a re-link request immediately — the longer you wait, the harder it is to get them to complete it. Plaid's Link update mode handles this with a pre-built flow. For Stripe Financial Connections, use the refresh_url parameter to handle token expiry gracefully without the customer needing to re-enter account details from scratch.
