Update a client’s Open Banking bank feed

This article explains how to update a client’s Open Banking bank feed in FreeAgent.

To make sure your client’s Open Banking bank feed is kept active, fresh consent will need to be provided every 90 days as part of the Open Banking standard. Providing fresh consent every 90 days ensures that your client’s account is secure and that they’re in control of the apps that access their banking data.

If your clients’ bank feeds have expired, you can follow the steps below to update their bank feeds and FreeAgent will automatically import data from their last transaction date, so no data will be missing.

You can also update clients' bank feeds in bulk from your Practice Dashboard.

Please note:

  • You can only update bank feeds within FreeAgent for supported banks.

  • If the client’s bank feed isn’t with a supported bank, the client will need to update the bank feed themselves. There are also scenarios where the client will need to update the bank feed themselves even if the client’s bank feed is with a supported bank.

  • If the client has a Mettle bank feed that has expired, the client will need to update the bank feed by following these steps.

  • If the client has a bank feed integration with Starling Bank, they’ll need to update the bank feed directly with the Starling Bank app every 90 days.

How to update a client's Open Banking bank feed

Select the ‘My Clients’ tab in the ‘Clients’ area and select ‘Switch to’ beside the relevant client to access their account.

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Navigate to the 'Banking' tab at the top of the screen and select 'Bank Accounts' from the drop down menu.

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Choose the relevant bank account from the list.

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FreeAgent will display an ‘Expiring soon’ warning in the 'Bank Connection' box on the right-hand side of the screen 10 days before the client’s bank feed is due to expire. When this alert appears, select 'Update connection'.

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To begin the update process, select 'Continue’.

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Review the client’s bank accounts that are linked to FreeAgent and select 'Update your accounts'.

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This will complete the process if the client has set up a bank feed with a supported bank. The client’s bank feed will function as normal for the next 90 days, after which you’ll need to repeat this process to update it again.

Which bank feeds can I update for a client from within FreeAgent?

The ability to update a client’s bank feed in FreeAgent without being redirected to their bank’s website is available for the following banks. We plan to expand this functionality to other banks when they supply us with the technical information needed to support this functionality.

Bank Supported account types
Bank of Ireland (GB) Online banking business and personal accounts
Bank of Scotland Online banking business, commercial and personal accounts
Barclays Online banking business, personal, corporate, and wealth accounts
Barclaycard Online banking business, personal and commercial accounts
Cater Allen Online banking business and personal accounts
Danske Bank Online banking business and personal accounts
Halifax Online banking business and personal accounts
Lloyds Online banking business, commercial and personal accounts
MBNA Online banking business and personal accounts
Nationwide Online banking personal accounts
NatWest Online banking business and personal accounts
Royal Bank of Scotland Online banking business and personal accounts
Santander Online banking business and personal accounts
Tesco Bank Online banking business and personal accounts
Tide Business account
Ulster Bank Online banking business and personal accounts
Virgin Money Online banking business and personal accounts
Zempler Online banking business and personal accounts

Why can’t I update the client’s bank feed within FreeAgent?

There are a number of reasons why you might be redirected to a client’s bank’s website, where the client will need to complete the 90-day update process themselves:

  • Their bank feed is not with a supported bank
  • Due to Open Banking regulations, we are unable to import transactions older than 90 days without reconnecting to their bank
  • Open Banking access has been revoked by their bank, e.g. their online banking login details have changed, or for security reasons
  • In order for FreeAgent to comply with Open Banking technical changes, we may need the client to reconnect with their bank
  • You are adding a new bank account not previously connected to FreeAgent

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