---
key: add-a-bank-connection
title: Add a bank connection
audience: staff
section: bookkeeping
routes: ["/bookkeeping/bank-connections", "/bookkeeping/bank-connections/new"]
permissions: ["bookkeeping.bank_connections.read"]
features: ["bookkeeping"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: "Record which bank or card feed fills which account in your books, and disconnect one you stop using. A connection does not bring in bank lines by itself."
keywords: [bank feed, connect bank, link bank account, Plaid, Flinks, bank link, feed status, disconnect bank]
related: [import-a-bank-statement, add-a-ledger-account, reconcile-a-bank-account]
---

In the sidebar, open **Bookkeeping**, then **Accounting**, then **Bank Connections**. The page address is `/bookkeeping/bank-connections`. A new connection opens at `/bookkeeping/bank-connections/new`.

## Before you start

- The bank or card account needs to exist in your chart of accounts first; see [[add-a-ledger-account]].
- A connection is a record of a feed and the account it fills. Choosing a feed provider does not link Nova to your bank or bring in any lines by itself. Statement files are still imported on the Transactions page; see [[import-a-bank-statement]].
- Your role needs permission to create bank connections to add one. Updating, disconnecting and reconnecting each need their own permission.

## Steps

1. Press **Add bank connection**. The **Add bank connection** window opens.
2. Under **Provider**, pick the feed provider. It starts on manual, which is the choice for a feed you fill yourself with statement files.
3. Type the **Institution**, for example your bank's name.
4. Under **Account mask**, type the last digits of the account number so you can tell accounts apart.
5. Under **GL account**, pick the bank, cash or credit-card account in your chart of accounts this feed fills. Every field is optional.
6. Press **Add connection**. Nova shows **Bank connection added.** and the connection appears in the list with the status pending.

## What you see

- The list shows each connection's **Provider**, **Institution** with the masked digits, **GL account**, **Last synced** date and **Status**. A status can show a detail next to it, such as the reason given when it was disconnected.
- Click a row, or choose **View details** from its actions menu, to open it. With update permission you can change the **Institution**, **Account mask** and **GL account**, then press **Save changes**. The button reads **Saved** for a moment. The provider cannot be changed.
- **Filters** narrows the list by **Status**: **Active**, **Pending**, **Error** or **Disconnected**.

## If something looks different

- **Add bank connection** is missing: your role cannot create bank connections.
- **GL account** reads Unknown in the list: the list cannot show the account's name. If your role can update connections, open the connection; the **GL account** box shows it.
- **Last synced** shows a dash and the status stays pending: nothing has come in through this connection. Nova does not pull lines from a provider yet.
- You closed the bank account or stopped the feed: choose **Disconnect** from the row's actions menu or the window. In the window that opens you can pick a **Reason category** and add a note, then press **Disconnect**. The status turns disconnected; imported lines and reconciliations are kept. To start it again, choose **Reactivate** in the row's actions menu, or **Reconnect** in the window, and confirm with **Reconnect**. It goes back to pending.
- The row has no actions menu: your role can neither disconnect nor reconnect connections. Click the row to open it.
- The list reads that there are no bank connections yet: none has been added for this organization.

[[route:/bookkeeping/bank-connections/new|Add a bank connection]]