ChatGPT Can Now See Your Bank Account—Here's What That Actually Means
OpenAI has introduced a personal finance feature in ChatGPT allowing U.S. Pro subscribers to connect their real bank accounts via Plaid. This lets ChatGPT access read-only financial data—including balances, transactions, investments, and liabilities—from over 12,000 institutions, to provide personalized spending analysis and budgeting advice. The tool generates tailored budgets based on actual user data, unlike the generic suggestions previously offered, automating financial data import that otherwise required manual input. OpenAI developed this feature after acquiring fintech startups Hiro Finance and Roi, and tested its accuracy with finance professionals. The default GPT-5.5 model for this feature scored 79/100 on finance benchmarks, while the Pro version scored 82.5. Data security relies on Plaid’s bank-level encryption, and synced financial data can be deleted within 30 days. OpenAI states this is not a fiduciary advisor and carries no legal responsibility for financial advice. Similar AI finance tools are emerging from competitors like Perplexity and Intuit. As with its earlier healthcare model, OpenAI brings domain-specific data into ChatGPT but avoids official responsibility for outcomes.
