Overview
You may have received an email or in-product message regarding a new and improved way to connect to your financial institution or noticed a lightning bolt next to your accounts. This is due to an upgraded connection method called an OAuth API.
The financial institutions that currently use an API to connect in Simplifi are:
American Express
Bank of America
Capital One
Charles Schwab
Chase
PayPal
PNC Bank
USAA
U.S. Bank
How Does an API Work?
For the financial institutions that use an API to connect in Simplif, you'll use a bank-hosted sign-in form to authorize downloads. The overall process for adding accounts and downloading is the same, however, the screen you use to sign in to the financial institution from Simplifi will look different.
As additional financial institutions begin to support an API connection in Simplifi, you may be prompted to migrate your accounts. When it's time to do so, you'll see a lightning bolt next to the account(s) and Simplifi will walk you through authorizing them under the new connection. You'll simply enter the username and password you use to sign in to the bank's website, check the box next to each of your accounts, and then authorize the access.
You'll want to ensure that all of your accounts are checked, even if they're already added to Simplifi. If there are accounts you don't want to add to Simplifi, you'll still want to select all of them on the authorization screen, and you'll then be able to ignore any that you don't want to add to Simplifi on the next screen.
Note: If prompted, you are not required to select to 'include new, eligible accounts automatically' to move forward with authorizing your accounts.
Here are some examples of how this may look in Simplifi:
American Express Tips & Tricks
If you receive a blank screen when authorizing your American Express accounts, a pop-up blocker could be preventing the prompts from appearing. You will need to temporarily disable any pop-up blockers or update their settings to allow pop-ups from American Express.
Depending on the type of accounts you're trying to add, you may need to use a different American Express instance in Simplifi:
For Credit Card Accounts, you'll want to use the option listed as "American Express".
For Checking and Savings Accounts, you'll want to use the option listed as "American Express - Banking".
USAA Tips & Tricks
USAA's API does not support the download of pending transactions.
If your account isn't discovered during the authorization process, ensure transactions have posted in that account in the past two years. If no transactions have posted in the last two years, the account is considered dormant and will not be discovered. To resolve a dormant account with USAA, you can make a small transfer or transaction into or out of the account.
If you receive a blank screen when authorizing your USAA accounts, a pop-up blocker could be preventing the prompts from appearing. You will need to temporarily disable any pop-up blockers or update their settings to allow pop-ups from USAA.
Insurance accounts will not be supported after this connection update.
Chase Tips & Tricks
Chase is limiting download access to only the Primary user. Chase Authorized users may encounter an error while adding Chase or reactivating Chase accounts, which will appear in the authorization window. This is for security purposes to ensure the account owner(s) are allowing access to the bank data. Unfortunately, there is currently no workaround for this issue.
Capital One Tips & Tricks
Capital One's API does not support the download of pending transactions.
PNC Bank Tips & Tricks
PNC Bank's API does not support the download of pending transactions at this time.
PayPal Tips & Tricks
Checking and Savings accounts will transition to the new connection method in Simplifi and will need to use the option listed as "PayPal".
Other accounts, such as Credit Cards, will remain on the regular connection type but need to be connected or transitioned to a specific PayPal instance in Simplifi listed as "PayPal Credit, MasterCard and Crypto".
Charles Schwab Tips & Tricks
Due to the upgraded connection method with Charles Schwab, accounts must now meet certain criteria to be available for download:
You must be the owner of the account.
View-only users will not show up. Example: Your spouse has an account that they granted you access to view. You will see this account on the Charles Schwab website, but you will not be able to download it. This is because you can only download accounts you have legal ownership of.
Donor-Advised accounts will not be included for download.
529 accounts are enabled for download.
Credit cards are not supported; you will need to set up the account for download via American Express.
Supported account types: Brokerage, IRA, 401(k), Line of Credit, and Loans (balance only).
Unsupported account types: Employee Benefit Accounts (RSU, Employee Stock Options).
If your accounts meet the criteria above and still aren't available for reauthorization, you may need to enable third-party access on the Charles Schwab website. To do this:
Sign in to your Charles Schwab account on their website.
Click the profile options icon in the upper-right and select Security Center.
Under Third-Party Access to Account Information, choose Enable Third-Party Access.
In the Quicken section, select the accounts you want to link to Simplifi.
Click Save.
Go back into Simplifi and try to add your accounts again.
If you need any assistance connecting your accounts in Simplifi, our Support Team will be happy to help!