OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT into more specific financial scenarios. For U.S. Pro subscribers, this new feature has launched first on the web and iOS, allowing users to connect their bank accounts to ChatGPT so the model can answer financial questions based on actual transaction data, rather than providing only generic advice.
Can read account and transaction data
This feature connects via Plaid, a financial data infrastructure company. After connection, ChatGPT gains read-only access to view users’ account balances, transaction history, subscription expenses, investment accounts, and debt information, covering more than 12,000 financial institutions.
Decrypt reported that the integration includes institutions such as Chase, Fidelity, Schwab, American Express, and Capital One. Unlike previous methods that required users to manually upload statements, the new feature automatically syncs relevant data, reducing the steps needed to organize documents.
Switching to personalized budgeting
Without an account connected, ChatGPT typically provides generic advice for questions like “How to save money,” such as reducing subscriptions, cutting back on food delivery, or setting up automatic savings. After connecting an account, the model analyzes the user’s actual spending over the past 90 days and generates specific monthly spending targets categorized by dining, shopping, transportation, and more.
Over the past year, OpenAI has also been strengthening its team and product capabilities in this direction. Last month, the company acquired Hiro Finance, which specializes in an "AI personal CFO," and previously acquired the personalized investment app Roi. Both acquisitions point to a clearer goal: expanding ChatGPT from a general-purpose Q&A tool into a specialized financial assistant.
Data settings follow existing rules.
OpenAI stated that the data usage rules for these conversations are consistent with ChatGPT’s existing training settings. If users have disabled the use of conversations for model training, the same settings apply to conversations after connecting a financial account. Users can disconnect at any time, and OpenAI said that synchronized data will be deleted from its systems within 30 days.
Plaid handles the account connection layer securely using bank-grade encryption and does not store users' online banking credentials. However, external attention remains focused on how data is used after it enters OpenAI, and whether such features will face stricter scrutiny from banks and regulators in the future.
More financial tools are entering the chat interface.
OpenAI has clearly stated that this feature is not a financial advisory service. It can identify spending patterns and suggest budget goals, but it does not assume the legal obligations of a traditional financial advisor.
In addition to OpenAI, Perplexity has recently launched a financial product integrated with Plaid. Meanwhile, Intuit will also integrate with ChatGPT, potentially enabling features such as estimating tax implications of stock sales and assessing credit card approval probabilities in the future. As more financial data tools enter chat interfaces, AI assistants are evolving from providing information and answers to offering personalized financial management.