> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.budgetbandit.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect a bank

> Connect a bank to Budget Bandit with Plaid so transactions import automatically, and control how often they sync.

Linking a bank pulls your transactions in automatically through Plaid, the same
connection layer your bank already trusts. Budget Bandit never sees your bank
password — you sign in inside Plaid's secure window.

## Link an institution

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Connections">
    Go to Settings, then Connections. Under "Link a new institution," choose
    **Connect a bank**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in through Plaid">
    Find your bank, then enter your credentials in the Plaid window. If your bank
    uses a one-time code or app approval, complete it there.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map the accounts">
    Plaid returns the accounts at that institution. For each one, choose to
    **create a new account** in Budget Bandit or **attach it to an existing
    account** you have been tracking by hand. Attaching keeps the transactions
    you already entered and lets the linked feed take over from there.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish">
    Budget Bandit creates or links the accounts and pulls the first batch of
    transactions. They land in your <a href="/transactions/to-review">To Review</a>
    queue uncategorized, so nothing is filed until you confirm it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Linking a bank does **not** create a new budget. It adds or links accounts
  inside the budget you are in. Only the file migration importers (YNAB,
  Monarch, Actual) create a separate budget. See <a href="/import/overview">Import overview</a>.
</Note>

## What auto-sync does

Once linked, Budget Bandit pulls new transactions from the institution on a
recurring basis. Each sync:

* **Adds** new transactions to the matching account, unapproved, in To Review.
* **Promotes** a pending transaction to posted in place when the bank clears it,
  so you do not get two rows for the same purchase. See <a href="/accounts/pending-vs-posted">Pending vs posted</a>.
* **Removes** a transaction if the bank reverses or drops it.

You can also pull on demand. On the Connections page, choose **Sync now** next to
an institution. The toast tells you how many were added, updated, or removed.

<Tip>
  Imported transactions are denominated in the amounts your bank reports. Confirm
  and categorize them from To Review, then they flow into your budget.
</Tip>

## When a connection needs attention

Banks periodically require you to re-authenticate. When that happens the
institution shows **Reconnect required** or **Expiring soon** on the Connections
page. Fix it with <a href="/accounts/reconnect-a-bank">Reconnect a bank</a>.

## If something looks wrong

* Transactions not updating: <a href="/accounts/fix-sync-problems">Fix sync problems</a>.
* Two of the same charge, or a charge missing: <a href="/accounts/duplicate-or-missing-transactions">Duplicate or missing transactions</a>.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Supported banks" icon="building-columns" href="/accounts/supported-banks">
    Coverage through Plaid, and what to do if your bank is not found.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reconnect a bank" icon="rotate" href="/accounts/reconnect-a-bank">
    Restore a broken or expired connection, including the MFA step.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manual accounts" icon="pen" href="/accounts/manual-accounts">
    Track an account by hand when a feed is not available.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sync and privacy" icon="lock" href="/concepts/sync-and-privacy">
    How your data moves and what stays on device.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>