SQUARE · READ 2026-10-16 · SOURCES
Square payment reserve: what Square says
Square says a rolling reserve sets aside a percentage of card payments and releases it on a rolling basis. Accounts with reserves are reviewed after a minimum of six months. Your Reserve Dashboard shows the duration and the upcoming releases. Source: squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square), read 2026-10-16.
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Reserves
OFFICIAL Square uses a rolling reserve: for card payments subject to a reserve, a percentage is set aside and released on a rolling basis.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL The reserved funds still belong to you and are only used if you cannot cover a chargeback. If no chargebacks occur you receive the full amount.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Square names these factors for a reserve: prepayment for goods or services, chargeback rates in your industry and on your account, sporadic processing activity, and being new to Square.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Square notifies you by email and in your Dashboard before a reserve goes into effect.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL The Reserve Dashboard in the Balance section shows your current, future and past reserve terms, including the date of each upcoming release.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Reserves apply to card payments, not to ACH bank transfers.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Accounts with reserves are reviewed after a minimum of six months. The review is done proactively and does not need to be requested.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Square may release some or all reserve funds before the full duration has passed, for example when the reserve is removed.
Source: Square Support: Manage payment reserves with Square - squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6832-reserves-faq (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Square may raise, reduce or remove a reserve at any time, based on your payment history and other factors.
Source: Square Payment Terms (sections 12 and 14) - squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/payment (read 2026-10-16)Investigations and disputes
OFFICIAL You may not have access to your funds if your Square account is being investigated, you are involved in a dispute, Square suspects fraudulent, unlawful or improper activity, or for legal reasons.
Source: Square Payment Terms (sections 12 and 14) - squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/payment (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL Square may defer payout or restrict access to proceeds, temporarily or indefinitely, while it conducts an investigation or resolves a dispute.
Source: Square Payment Terms (sections 12 and 14) - squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/payment (read 2026-10-16)OFFICIAL If you have pending chargebacks, Square may delay payouts to you.
Source: Square Payment Terms (sections 12 and 14) - squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/payment (read 2026-10-16)What to do first
- Open the Reserve Dashboard in the Balance section. Square says it shows your current, future and past reserve terms. (point SQ5)
- Watch for Square's email. Square says it notifies you by email and in the Dashboard before a reserve goes into effect. (point SQ4)
- Expect the review without asking for it. Square says it is done proactively after a minimum of six months. (point SQ7)
What not to do
- Do not count on the six months as a release date. It is the earliest review, and Square may raise, reduce or remove a reserve at any time. (point SQ9)
Questions
Do I lose the reserved money?
Square says the funds still belong to you and are only used if you cannot cover a chargeback. If no chargebacks occur you receive the full amount.
Does a reserve cover bank transfers?
Square says reserves apply to card payments, not to ACH bank transfers.
How long is an investigation?
Square names no number of days. Its terms say it may defer payout or restrict access to proceeds, temporarily or indefinitely, while it investigates.
Where do I see my dates?
In the Reserve Dashboard, which shows the duration and the date of each upcoming release.