Whether you are requesting a payment or making a payment, linking a business's bank account or card to Forwardly is easy.
Adding a bank account
Here are some easy steps to add a new business bank account:
- On the left-hand navigation bar, click on Settings.
- Select Payment Methods, and then Bank Account.
- Click Add Bank Account.
- Connect & verify your bank account instantly through Plaid, or add and verify the bank manually.
- Adding a bank account manually will add a 2-3 business day wait before you can use the account. During this time, payments may be delayed.
- Once added, link the new Bank Account to a Chart of Accounts in your accounting software (if connected) to sync it.
| Warning: Don't see your bank on the list? We can also only connect with banks that use Plaid Auth and support Plaid's Identity, Balance, and Transactions services. If your bank isn't supported by Plaid then you will have to either connect the bank account manually (see below) or connect with a different bank account. |
| Tip: Make sure to select the correct primary account you'd like to use for sending and receiving payments. |
If your bank isn't supported by Plaid
If your bank account isn't supported by Plaid, you can manually enter your bank details to connect it to Forwardly. Once a bank account is manually added, you will need to wait 2-3 business days for a micro-deposit from Forwardly to appear in your bank account. Once you get an email from us confirming the micro-deposit has settled, you will need to enter the unique code from the transaction on Forwardly to verify ownership of the bank account.
| Warning: Payments made with manually-connected bank accounts may experience slower processing times when compared to payments made with accounts connected via Plaid. Manually connected bank accounts can also incur additional payment fees if payments fail. |
I connected my bank via Plaid, but don't want to leave it connected. Is there another option?
If you have already connected your bank account using Plaid and would prefer not to use that connection any further, there is a solution. With your consent, we can disconnect the Plaid connection for you and switch it to a manual connection instead. While a manual connection allows you to continue making payments, there is no real-time visibility into your balance. As a result, faster payment options may be restricted, and additional charges would apply if a payment fails due to an account issue. If you'd like to downgrade your bank connection, please submit a ticket.
Adding a card
Here are some easy steps to add a new card to your account:
- On the left-hand navigation bar, click on Settings.
- Select Payment Methods, and then Cards.
- Click Add a Card.
- Add in the payment details and billing address.
- Click Continue.
- Once added, link the new card to a Chart of Accounts in your accounting software (if connected) to sync it.
| Reminder: Don't see your card in the payment options when you go to pay your bill? Make sure your vendor has enabled payment by card. They will need to complete this step before you can pay via card. |
Why did my bank connection expire?
To keep your bank accounts secure, Forwardly's connection to your business's bank accounts through Plaid eventually expires and will need to be reauthenticated. Typically, bank connections take several months to expire.
If it's been less time, and you get an email asking you to reconnect, then the most common reason is because of invalid login credentials. Plaid requires valid login information to maintain Forwardly's banking connection for your business payments. If you update your banking password, your bank connection will expire and you will need to reconnect your business's bank account to Forwardly.
Why am I unable to add a bank account?
To maintain platform security and ensure smooth usage, Forwardly monitors how frequently bank accounts are added. If you see messages like:
- "Please try again later”
- “You have reached the maximum limit for adding bank accounts”
... then it may mean that a temporary or overall limit has been reached. We recommend waiting a while before trying to connect again and, in the future, avoiding adding multiple bank accounts in rapid succession.
If you keep running into problems, submit a ticket for help.