When you use your Mercury Debit or IO Credit card, you might notice that some charges show as pending before they're finalized. This article explains what pending transactions mean, why the amount might be higher than expected, how long they typically take to settle, and how to check their status from your dashboard.
Why a transaction is pending
When you see a pending transaction, the merchant has started the payment process but hasn’t fully completed it. This is called a pre-authorization, which allows the merchant to request a hold on funds before they finalize or cancel the charge.
- Pending transactions are not final
- The merchant can settle or cancel the charge
- You may see a temporary hold amount that differs from the final total
How long it takes to settle
Most pending transactions are resolved within 1–3 business days, but timing depends on the merchant. Here’s what to expect:
- Some merchants settle the charge immediately while others wait until they reconcile their payments
- We allow up to an industry-standard of 30 business days for the merchant to complete or cancel the transaction before it is cancelled
Why the pending amount may be higher
If you're seeing a pending amount that's greater than your purchase, it's likely a pre-authorization. This happens when a merchant—like a gas station—places a temporary hold on your card for more than the final total.
These charges typically update to the correct amount once the merchant settles the transaction or drop off entirely after a few business days.
How to check the status of a card transaction
To check whether a card transaction is pending or posted:
- Go to the Transactions page in your Mercury dashboard
- Locate the transaction manually or use filters to narrow it down
- Look for a "Pending" or "Failed" badge next to the transaction
- Click into the transaction to view more details, including the reason if it failed
The Mercury Debit Cards are issued by Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to licenses from Mastercard. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.