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Establishing a Connection

The Banking Connect Flows provide a structured process for users to securely link their bank accounts to your application. This guide outlines the steps involved in establishing a connection, from initiating a session to managing user consent and authentication.

Steps to Establish a Connection​

  1. Create a Connect User Session
  • Initiate the connection process by creating a connect user session using the Create Connect User Session endpoint.
  • This session will provide you with a redirect URL to our Universal Bank Access platform.
  • Also, this flow automatically creates a new user for the provided ID. If you intend to connect multiple bank accounts for the same user, please use the Create Management Session endpoint instead.
  1. Redirect User to Universal Bank Access
  • Upon entering our Universal Bank Access platform, the user may search their respective bank they intend to connect to.
  • After selecting their bank, the user may need to select what type of account to connect (e.g., Checking, Savings, Credit Card, etc.), depending on the bank's configuration. This is typically required for banks that support multiple account types. Please make sure, that the user selects the correct account type to ensure proper data retrieval.
  1. User Authentication and Consent
  • The user will be guided through the bank's authentication process, which may include entering their credentials and completing any required Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) steps.
  • After successful authentication, the user will be prompted to grant consent for data access.
  • Once consent is granted, the connection is established, and the user is redirected back to your application.

Please note that there are several types of SCA mechanisms that may be employed during the authentication process, depending on the bank's requirements. Generally, we differentiate between the following SCA procedures:

  • Embedded: The authentication process occurs within our Universal Bank Access platform, providing a seamless user experience.
  • Decoupled: The authentication process is handled through a separate device or application, such as a mobile banking app.
  • Redirected: The user is redirected to the bank's website to complete the authentication process.

There are several mechanisms that banks may use to implement SCA which results in multiple varying user experiences. The required mechanism is determined by every bank and the selected account types, so the exact flow may differ between banks and even account types within the same bank. In any case, our Universal Bank Access platform will guide the user through the appropriate steps to ensure compliance with SCA requirements.

Should you encounter any issues during the connection process, please refer to our Troubleshooting Guide for assistance or feel free to contact our support team for further help.