ClearCheckbook Knowledge Base
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Connecting to your Bank
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you're having trouble connecting your bank to ClearCheckbook, it might be a problem with the financial institution or the API. Some common connection errors can be found on Plaid's website.
We are able to retrieve a maximum of 24 months worth of data, when available. If you have more than 24 months of data in your bank account, we will create a starting balance that makes up the difference.
ClearCheckbook looks for new transactions that have posted to your account several times per day. You can find information about the last sync by hovering over the icon in your account overviews or by hovering over the Connected and syncing transactions text under your account in the Settings -> Accounts management page.
If you connect an account you've already added to ClearCheckbook, we will not retrieve any historical transactions and will only start syncing transactions that get posted after the connection is made.
Connection Flow
When you initiate a connection for a new account or an existing account, the process for connecting your account is the same and is explained below. This process is handled securely by Plaid.
The first screen you see lets you know the connection process is about to begin.
The next screen is where you choose the financial institution you want to connect with.
Next, enter your login details for that financial institution.
Finally, select the account you want to connect and click the Continue button.
Connecting a new account
This section explains how you can connect to a bank and create the account within ClearCheckbook at the same time. If you haven't already added the account in ClearCheckbook, you can click the Sync a Bank Account button in the Create Account form.
Clicking the Sync a Bank Account button will launch the connection process. Once you complete the process, an account will be created and your transaction history will start to download as soon as it's available.
Connecting an existing account
If you've already set up and have been adding transactions to an account within ClearCheckbook, you can still connect it to your bank.
To connect an existing account, click on the Link to bank link under the account in question. This will start the connection process shown above.
Note: If you connect an existing account to your bank, we won't load any of your transaction history but will start adding any new transactions that appear after setting up the connection. This is to prevent any duplication of transactions that might affect your balances within ClearCheckbook.
Transaction Categorization & Text Replacement
All downloaded transactions come pre-categorized and we apply those categories to the transaction by default. If a category doesn't already exist in your categories list, the category will be created automatically.
You can change this behavior so transactions aren't automatically categorized or you can set some specific categories for transactions based on keywords in the transaction description. You can learn more about this process in our Settings Premium Membership Synced Transaction Settings knowledge base article.
Connection Statuses
You will see different messages depending on the status of the account in question. The table below explains what each status means and any actions that need to be done.
| Status | Meaning | Required Action |
|---|---|---|
Connected and syncing transactions |
The account is connected to your bank and recieving transactions. You can hover over the text for details of the last sync. | No action needed |
Connection failed - Reauthentication needed |
The login details of your account have changed (credentials, MFA, or required user action) and a reauthentication is required to fix the connection. | Click on the Fix Connection link to reauthenticate the connection to your bank. |
Link to bank |
The account is not linked to any banks. | To link this account, click the Link to bank link. |
Removing a connection
You can remove a connection between ClearCheckbook and your bank at any time by going to the Settings -> Manage Accounts page and clicking the Unlink link under any connected account.
Deleting an account will remove the connection for that account. Resetting your accounts, performing a Start Over action or disabling your ClearCheckbook account will also remove all of your connections.