Plaid and how to work with it

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Good day! Today we'll be talking about Plaid.

Briefly, Plaid is an aggregator that allows you to link bank accounts instantly, without waiting for mini-deposits, which take up to three business days. So, we're already seeing the benefits of Plaid: instead of waiting three days for mini-deposits, we can actually deposit with our company, saving time.

Instant Link.png

This is what a bank's instant link looks like.

Plaid also has its downsides — or rather, not downsides, but rather a peculiarity of working with it.

This peculiarity lies in the fact that Plaid verifies names, and in some cases, SSNs and the CH's address of the private bank, which is rare, but still possible.

You might encounter the following situation: you bought an instant Plaid bank, checked the name, but for some reason, you weren't allowed to register with your company. Checking for namesakes of our private bank can help. There are services that will find namesakes, any whim for your money.
If, like me, you don't want to spend money searching for namesakes, free background services are available to help. There are many. I'll share a couple of working ones that I use: fastbackgroundcheck.com and truepeoplesearch.com. Both options are good simply because they're free. The second option is more comprehensive; it includes relatives and up-to-date email addresses — basically, everything you need.

John Doe.png

Let's say John Doe is the name of your CH. If you can't register it with your company, you simply search for other people with the same name and do the same for them. The main goal when working with Plaid is to match the names.

I'll leave a list of current banks that are linked to Plaid as of January 2026.
ent.com - this bank has a funny story. It used to be very good, writing off large balances and generally writing them off. Now it doesn't write them off at all. It links and links, but it doesn't write them off at all. I thought the problem was that I was using different names, but after creating a couple of accounts under the CH name, the situation didn't change. I'm adding it to this list so you don't make the same mistakes and lose money buying scams. Shops don't mention this kind of thing, either because they don't know the scam they're selling, or because they know but don't want to talk about it, just to sell it.
achievacu.com is a good bank, it writes off balances and links.
afnb.com is also a good bank, I've had no problems with linking or writing off.
amfirst.org
eglinfcu.org
patelco.org
macu.com - Plaid/Online Access

Now I'll show you a company I used to work with myself. They have Plaid, high limits, and everything is as it should be. They still offer it, so everyone has the opportunity to try their hand at it.

KeySavvy.png

keysavvy.com

So, the company is called keysavvy. It's a marketplace for selling cars, motorcycles, and similar vehicles without intermediaries. Transactions are conducted between people, without third parties; the platform only acts as a guarantor of the sale.

What do you need to work with this company?

You need two accounts, the first one is used to actually buy the car, helicopter, motorcycle, or airship.

This will be the account registered to the fullz of the purchased bank account, which is linked to Plaid.

The second account is needed to accept payments; it's best to choose a strong payment system, like Lili or the old Albert.

So, you get the idea, right? Register two accounts, one for payment, the other for receiving funds, and that's it.

When listing a car for sale, you may be asked to verify your DL or ID, so listing a scooter or motorcycle for 5-9k rubles is practically guaranteed to have the highest verification rates.

UPD:
It sometimes asks now, but if the account is verified, everything goes through and the payment is made. The main thing is to find a suitable approach.

I think you get the idea; there are quite a few methods for working with Plaid.

(c) grizzliess
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Would I be able to use a bank account that’s linked to plaid to add to Coinbase and buy and withdrawal as well?
 

Plaid and Coinbase: A Thorough Comparison Between the US and Europe​

Plaid is a US-based fintech company that provides secure, instant bank account linking services. It allows apps like Coinbase to connect directly to users' bank accounts without requiring manual entry of routing/account numbers or sharing login credentials. Instead, users authenticate through their bank's interface within Plaid's secure portal. This enables fast verification and transactions.

Coinbase's use of Plaid (and equivalents in other regions) is strictly segmented by geography due to regulatory differences, banking infrastructure, and compliance requirements (e.g., KYC/AML rules, data protection laws like GDPR in Europe). As of early 2026, Coinbase does not use Plaid in Europe, including France. Plaid integration remains exclusive to US customers (and limited other regions like parts of LATAM in some cases). European users get comparable functionality through local open banking providers.

Plaid in the United States: How It Works with Coinbase​

In the US, Plaid is the primary (and preferred) method for linking bank accounts to enable ACH transfers (Automated Clearing House – the standard US electronic banking network).

Key Features and Process:
  • Instant Verification and Linking:
    • Go to Coinbase → Settings → Payment Methods → Add Bank Account.
    • Select Plaid integration.
    • Search for your bank (supports thousands of US institutions).
    • Log in securely via your bank's portal (Plaid handles authentication).
    • Verification is often instant or same-day.
  • Deposits (Adding Funds):
    • Free ACH deposits.
    • Typically clear in 1–5 business days, but "instant deposits" (up to $1,000–$100,000 depending on account history) allow immediate buying while funds settle.
  • Buying Crypto:
    • Use linked bank for direct purchases (low fees, often just the spread).
    • Or deposit to USD balance first.
  • Withdrawals:
    • Free ACH withdrawals to the same linked bank.
    • Usually 1–3 business days.
  • Benefits:
    • Convenience: No micro-deposits or manual verification needed (though fallback options like CDV – Check Deposit Verification – exist if Plaid fails).
    • Security: Coinbase doesn't store bank login details; Plaid acts as intermediary.
    • High limits: Often $10,000–$100,000+ daily/weekly after verification.
  • Limitations:
    • Only US banks/institutions.
    • Some users report connection issues (e.g., with certain banks or name mismatches), but support usually resolves.
    • Required for most USD fiat operations on US accounts.

This setup is tailored to the US banking system and regulations (e.g., under FinCEN). Coinbase heavily promotes Plaid for its speed and reliability.

Plaid in Europe: Not Available on Coinbase​

Coinbase does not integrate Plaid for European accounts. Searches and official help articles confirm no Plaid option for EU/EMEA users as of 2026. Even though Plaid has expanded internationally (e.g., to the UK and parts of Europe for other apps), Coinbase opts for region-specific providers to comply with EU regulations.

Why No Plaid in Europe?
  • Regulatory Framework: The EU's PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2) mandates "open banking" – banks must provide secure APIs for third-party access. This is handled by licensed European providers, not US-centric ones like Plaid.
  • Different Banking Infrastructure: Europe uses SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) for cross-border transfers, not ACH.
  • Data Privacy and Localization: GDPR requires stricter data handling; using local providers reduces cross-border data transfer risks.
  • Coinbase's Structure: European operations are often through entities like Coinbase Europe Limited (regulated in Ireland or other EU hubs), separate from the US platform.

Attempting to use a Plaid-linked US bank on a European Coinbase account will fail due to residency verification – your account is tied to your French address/IP/KYC.

European Alternatives: Open Banking via Tink (The Closest Equivalent to Plaid)​

Coinbase partners with Tink (a Visa-owned European open banking platform) for "Easy Bank Transfer" or "Pay by Bank" features across the EU, including France and Germany. This provides a very similar experience to Plaid: secure, direct bank linking without sharing credentials.

Key Features and Process (as of 2026):
  • Instant/Fast Linking:
    • In Coinbase → Assets → Deposit (EUR) → Or Payment Methods → Add → Easy Bank Transfer / Open Banking.
    • Select Tink integration.
    • Choose your bank (supports major French banks like BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, etc., plus thousands across Europe).
    • Authenticate securely via your bank's app or redirect (strong customer authentication under PSD2).
    • Linking is quick, often instant.
  • Deposits (Adding Funds):
    • Free or very low fees.
    • Faster than traditional SEPA: Often clears in hours or up to 72 hours (vs. 1–3 days for manual SEPA).
    • Recent expansions (e.g., 2025 launch in Germany) enable direct "Pay by Bank" for instant crypto purchases from your bank balance.
  • Buying Crypto:
    • Direct buys possible with linked bank (similar to US instant buys).
    • Or deposit to EUR balance.
  • Withdrawals:
    • Primarily via SEPA to any verified IBAN (free, 1–3 days).
    • Bank name must match Coinbase account.
  • Benefits:
    • Convenience and speed comparable to Plaid.
    • Secure: No credential sharing; uses bank-grade authentication.
    • Expanding: 2025 partnerships deepened Tink integration for more seamless "bank-to-crypto" flows.
    • Supports most EU banks.
  • Fallback Option: Manual SEPA:
    • If Tink isn't available for your bank, use provided IBAN/BIC/reference for standard transfers (slower but reliable).
  • Other EU Methods:
    • Cards (Visa/Mastercard with 3D Secure): Instant but 2–4% fees.
    • Apple/Google Pay: Often lower fees for instant.
    • Country-specific (e.g., BLIK in Poland, iDEAL in Netherlands).

Comparison Table: Plaid (US) vs. Tink/Open Banking (Europe)
AspectUS (Plaid + ACH)Europe (Tink + Open Banking/SEPA)
ProviderPlaid (US fintech)Tink (Visa-owned, EU-focused)
Linking SpeedInstant/same-dayInstant to quick
Deposit FeesFreeFree/low
Deposit TimeInstant (limited) to 1–5 daysHours to 72 hours (faster than manual SEPA)
WithdrawalACH (free, 1–3 days)SEPA (free, 1–3 days)
Instant BuysYes (common)Increasing (e.g., Pay by Bank)
AvailabilityUS residents onlyEU-wide, including France
RegulationUS (FinCEN, etc.)EU PSD2/GDPR

In summary, while you can't use Plaid in France/Europe on Coinbase, the Tink-powered Easy Bank Transfer offers nearly identical convenience and security. It's the modern European standard for open banking. For the best experience, check your Coinbase app for "Easy Bank Transfer" – it should be prominent for French users. If unavailable for your specific bank, fall back to SEPA. Limits and exact options depend on your verification level (upload ID/address proof for higher tiers).

If you provide more details about your bank or Coinbase verification status, I can offer more tailored guidance!
 
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