# Plaid Fintech

> Expert patterns for Plaid API integration including Link token flows, transactions sync, identity verification, Auth for ACH, balance checks, webhook handling, and fintech compliance best practices.

- Skill: `ranbot-ai/plaid-fintech` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add ranbot-ai/plaid-fintech`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/ranbot-ai/plaid-fintech/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: ranbot-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/ranbot-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/ranbot-ai/plaid-fintech

---



# Plaid Fintech

Expert patterns for Plaid API integration including Link token flows,
transactions sync, identity verification, Auth for ACH, balance checks,
webhook handling, and fintech compliance best practices.

## Patterns

### Link Token Creation and Exchange

Create a link_token for Plaid Link, exchange public_token for access_token.
Link tokens are short-lived, one-time use. Access tokens don't expire but
may need updating when users change passwords.

// server.ts - Link token creation endpoint
import { Configuration, PlaidApi, PlaidEnvironments, Products, CountryCode } from 'plaid';

const configuration = new Configuration({
  basePath: PlaidEnvironments[process.env.PLAID_ENV || 'sandbox'],
  baseOptions: {
    headers: {
      'PLAID-CLIENT-ID': process.env.PLAID_CLIENT_ID,
      'PLAID-SECRET': process.env.PLAID_SECRET,
    },
  },
});

const plaidClient = new PlaidApi(configuration);

// Create link token for new user
app.post('/api/plaid/create-link-token', async (req, res) => {
  const { userId } = req.body;

  try {
    const response = await plaidClient.linkTokenCreate({
      user: {
        client_user_id: userId,  // Your internal user ID
      },
      client_name: 'My Finance App',
      products: [Products.Transactions],
      country_codes: [CountryCode.Us],
      language: 'en',
      webhook: 'https://yourapp.com/api/plaid/webhooks',
      // Request 180 days for recurring transactions
      transactions: {
        days_requested: 180,
      },
    });

    res.json({ link_token: response.data.link_token });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Link token creation failed:', error);
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to create link token' });
  }
});

// Exchange public token for access token
app.post('/api/plaid/exchange-token', async (req, res) => {
  const { publicToken, userId } = req.body;

  try {
    // Exchange for permanent access token
    const exchangeResponse = await plaidClient.itemPublicTokenExchange({
      public_token: publicToken,
    });

    const { access_token, item_id } = exchangeResponse.data;

    // Store securely - access_token doesn't expire!
    await db.plaidItem.create({
      data: {
        userId,
        itemId: item_id,
        accessToken: await encrypt(access_token),  // Encrypt at rest
        status: 'ACTIVE',
        products: ['transactions'],
      },
    });

    // Trigger initial transaction sync
    await initiateTransactionSync(item_id, access_token);

    res.json({ success: true, itemId: item_id });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Token exchange failed:', error);
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to exchange token' });
  }
});

// Frontend - React component
import { usePlaidLink } from 'react-plaid-link';

function BankLinkButton({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const [linkToken, setLinkToken] = useState<string | null>(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    async function createLinkToken() {
      const response = await fetch('/api/plaid/create-link-token', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
        body: JSON.stringify({ userId }),
      });
      const { link_token } = await response.json();
      setLinkToken(link_token);
    }
    createLinkToken();
  }, [userId]);

  const { open, ready } = usePlaidLink({
    token: linkToken,
    onSuccess: async (publicToken, metadata) => {
      // Exchange public token for access token
      await fetch('/api/plaid/exchange-token', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
        body: JSON.stringify({ publicToken, userId }),
      });
    },
    onExit: (error, metadata) => {
      if (error) {
        console.error('Link exit error:', error);
      }
    },
  });

  return (
    <button onClick={() => open()} disabled={!ready}>
      Connect Bank Account
    </button>
  );
}

### Context

- initial bank linking
- user onboarding
- connecting accounts

### Transactions Sync

Use /transactions/sync for incremental transaction updates. More efficient
than /transactions/get. Handle webhooks for real-time updates instead of
polling.

// Transactions sync service
interface TransactionSyncState {
  cursor: string | null;
  hasMore: boolean;
}

async function syncTransactions(
  accessToken: string,
  itemId: string
): Promise<void> {
  // Get last cursor from database
  const item = await db.plaidItem.findUnique({
    where: { itemId },
  });

  let cursor = item?.transactionsCursor || null;
  let hasMore = true;
  let addedCount = 0;
  let modifiedCount = 0;
  let removedCount = 0;

  while (hasMore) {
    try {
      const response = await plaidClient.transactionsSync({
        access_token: accessToken,
        cursor: cursor || undefined,
        count: 500,  // Max per request
      });

      const { added, modified, removed, next_cursor, has_more } = response.data;

      // Process added transactions
      if (added.length > 0) {
        await db.transaction.createMany({