Claude and ChatGPT can now read your bank data, but their privacy defaults differ
Anthropic and OpenAI both let assistants view bank accounts through Plaid. The gap is in training defaults and what happens to your data when you disconnect.
The short version
- Both tools connect through Plaid and are read-only: no transfers, no closing accounts, no investment orders.
- Claude's Personal Finance chats are not used for model training by default.
- ChatGPT Finances follows your existing Data controls, so training may be on unless you switched it off.
- OpenAI says synced data is deleted within 30 days of unlinking; Claude loses access to past financial data at once.
- Claude's feature is US-only for Pro, Max and Ultra plans; ChatGPT Finances reaches more tiers.
Why it matters
Linking a bank account gives an assistant a detailed record of how you spend, so the privacy settings matter as much as the features. The two tools feel alike in use, which makes the defaults easy to overlook. Check them before you connect, not after.
What the two assistants can do
Anthropic and OpenAI have both pushed their assistants into personal finance. As finance.technews.tw reported, you can link a bank account through Plaid, a third-party service that connects apps to banks. Then you can ask Claude or ChatGPT in plain language about spending, transactions and balances.
Both tools are limited to read-only access. They can look, but they cannot move money, close an account or place an investment order.
What each one can see
Claude's Personal Finance can read the bank name, account name and type, the last four digits of the account number, balances and credit limits. It can also see up to two years of transaction history. For investment, loan and credit card accounts, it is limited to balance and limit information.
ChatGPT's Finances can see balances, transaction details, investment positions and debt information. The article does not give the same level of detail for ChatGPT.
Where the privacy gap sits
The biggest difference is training. Claude's finance conversations are not used to train models by default. ChatGPT's finance chats follow your existing Data controls. If you have not turned off the option to improve the model for everyone, those chats may be used for training.
Unlinking also works differently. Once you disconnect a bank in Claude, it can no longer read any financial data it previously gained through the feature. OpenAI says synced data is removed from its systems within 30 days.
The outlet concludes that Claude's defaults are stricter. We are only relaying that view, not ranking the two ourselves.
Who can use them today
Anthropic's feature has a higher bar. It is available only in the US, and only to Pro, Max and Ultra subscribers. OpenAI's ChatGPT Finances is offered across more subscription levels.
What to watch
- Whether Anthropic widens Personal Finance beyond US paid plans.
- Whether either company adds actions like payments, which would raise the stakes of the privacy settings.
Try it
Before linking a bank, open ChatGPT's Data controls and see whether "Improve the model for everyone" is on. Then find where you would disconnect the account later.
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by finance.technews.tw · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.