# Connecting an account

Finch makes it simple to bring your financial data into the app so you can start seeing the full picture. There are two ways to connect your accounts: **automatic syncing through Open Banking**, or a **quick CSV file upload.**

## :arrows\_clockwise: **Automatic Daily Syncing with Open Banking**

The easiest way to keep your accounts up to date is through Open Banking. Open Banking is a secure, regulated system that lets you share your financial data with trusted apps like Finch. You choose which accounts to connect, and you can revoke that permission at any time.

To setup automatic daily syncing, either select **connect account** under the **Connected Accounts** menu on the **Dashboard** or head to the **Connected Accounts** section on the **Profile** tab and select **Add new account.**  From there, you will be greeted with an information screen describing a bit more about how we enable daily syncing.  Then, follow the instructions on screen or as seen below:

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When you connect via Open Banking, Finch automatically syncs your transactions and balances once every night. This means you will always have the latest information without having to upload anything manually.

Finch never sees or stores your online banking username, password, or any other login details. When you connect an account, you are taken to your bank’s own secure login page. You sign in there, directly with your bank, and your bank then confirms to Finch that it can securely share your account data. That confirmation comes in the form of a secure access token, not your credentials, so your login information always stays between you and your bank.

We also only receive **read-only access** to the minimal data we need to do our work. This includes your transactions and your current account balance. We cannot move your money, make payments, or change anything in your bank account. Finch can only see the information needed to help you understand your finances and nothing more.

## 📁 **Manual Syncing via File Upload**

If you prefer, you can bring your data into Finch with a CSV file upload. This is a great option if your bank is not supported by Open Banking, or if you prefer to manage updates yourself. &#x20;

Most banking institutions will provide a way to export your transactions.  They usually return this in a .csv file.  Once you have this file, come back to Finch.  Head over to the **Profile tab** and selecting **Connected Accounts.** You can either upload transactions for an existing account by clicking on the applicable account, or you can setup a new account by selecting **Connect new account** and then selecting **My bank isn't listed.**

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When importing via CSV, you will need to provide:\\

1. **Account Name:** So you can easily identify it in Finch.
2. **Account Type:** Bank account, credit card, or savings account.  Depending on the type of account chosen, Finch will adjust its calculations.  If you have a bank account, that is money that you possess and therefore a positive balance would indicate that this is money that you own.  If you have a positive balance on something like a credit card, then this is money that you would owe and therefore should be subtracted from your overall balance.
3. **Current Balance:** To ensure your account is accurate from day one.  Some banking exports will return the active balance in their import, but some do not.  In either case, we need to rely on your input to ensure we display the correct data for you within Finch.
4. **Transactions:** A CSV file with your recent activity. Most banks let you download this directly from their online banking site.  Annoyingly, many banks will only allow this on the desktop version of their app and not the mobile app.  Be sure to check both locations and see where your bank provides this information.

Finch uses AI to read the columns in your CSV and understand how they map into our system. This means you do not have to perfectly format your file ahead of time. Finch will automatically detect which column is the date, which is the description, and which is the amount, so your transactions are imported smoothly and accurately.

Here is an example of what your CSV file could look like:

{% file src="<https://2509092541-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7JJogkQ1ofEqZa3N2k1I%2Fuploads%2F3Sr3JZtYC3KiUmvb507U%2FTransactions%20for%20Manual%20Upload.csv?alt=media&token=203c8b60-1843-41ee-a6df-62cce765d1e7>" %}

Once uploaded, Finch will use your CSV data to display your transactions and balances just like it does with synced accounts. You can update as often as you like by importing a new CSV.
