llms.txt
# Method Financial
> Method is the infrastructure layer for consumer liability data and payments. Businesses use Method's single API to connect to 15,000+ financial institutions, access real-time consumer liability data, and initiate payments — all with a single user authentication using just a phone number (no credentials required). For complete marketing site content in a single file, see [Full Site Content](https://methodfi.com/llms-full.txt). For complete API documentation, see [API Docs](https://docs.methodfi.com/llms.txt).
Founded in 2022 (Y Combinator W20). Series B ($42M led by Emergence Capital). Based in Austin, TX.
## How Method Works
Unlike aggregators that require users to share bank login credentials, Method uses a fundamentally different approach. When a user verifies their identity, Method's network automatically discovers all their liabilities — credit cards, auto loans, student loans, mortgages, personal loans, and more — without any manual account entry or credential sharing. Once discovered, Method retrieves real-time data directly from financial institutions and can initiate payments to any creditor.
## Why Method
### By the Numbers
- 20,000+ financial institutions connected
- 45M+ users connected
- $1B+ in payments processed per month
- 12 of the top 13 credit card issuers covered
- 91% of US credit card volume covered
- 55+ data points per account type
- 300+ behavioral and risk attributes
- SOC 2 Type II compliant
### Customers
Credit Karma, Figure, SoFi, Bilt, OneMain Financial, USAA, Upstart, Blend, BHG, Avant, BestEgg, Upgrade, Caribou, Robinhood
### Backed By
- Y Combinator (W20)
- Emergence Capital (Series B lead, $42M)
- Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
### Recognition
- Tearsheet 2024 Best Alternative Data Product
- TechCrunch: "Method is helping fintech companies like SoFi build repayment functionality into their apps"
### What Investors Say
- "Method has made a genuine technological breakthrough with its debt repayment API. The vision of automating a consumer's balance sheet will now become a reality." — Anish Acharya, General Partner, a16z
- "Method's strength lies in the broad usability of its data and payment products across a wide range of industries and verticals." — Anu Hariharan, General Partner, Y Combinator
- "Method is solving a massive challenge in financial account connectivity, enabling real-time credit data and seamless payments." — Phil Bronner, Managing Partner
### What Customers Say
- "Method's APIs enable a user experience better by leaps and bounds than the incumbent processes for embedded balance transfer and digital engagement." — Josh Meyer, Head of Finance, Aven
- "We can more easily and accurately identify our borrowers' high-interest debt and streamline their paths to debt consolidation and payoff." — Barron Ernst, Head of Product, Figure
- "Leveraging Method's real-time data capabilities, Vola is able to help users meet their loan obligations and improve their Credit Scores." — Tushar Bagamane, CEO, Vola
## Products
### Connect
- [Method Connect](https://methodfi.com/products/connect): Link all consumer credit and liability accounts with a single auth. No credentials needed. Evergreen connections that never break.
- [Connect API Documentation](https://docs.methodfi.com/guides/concepts): Core concepts for entities, identity verification, and account discovery.
- [Opal (Embedded UI)](https://docs.methodfi.com/guides/opal): Drop-in, white-labeled UI that handles identity verification and account discovery. Go live in days, not weeks.
### Data
- [Method Data](https://methodfi.com/products/data): Real-time liability data across 15,000+ FIs — balances, due dates, APRs, credit limits, transactions, card details, property data, and 300+ behavioral attributes.
- [Data API Documentation](https://docs.methodfi.com/reference/accounts/updates/overview): Real-time account updates with normalized fields.
- [Attributes](https://docs.methodfi.com/guides/additional-products/attributes): Structured financial metrics — utilization, payment behavior, delinquency, APR, and opportunity scoring at entity and account level.
- [Card Brands](https://docs.methodfi.com/reference/accounts/card-brands/overview): Card art, network, co-brand name, and product details for checkout and rewards experiences.
- [Transactions](https://docs.methodfi.com/reference/accounts/transactions/overview): Near-real-time credit card transaction data including merchant, time, and amount.
### Pay
- [Method Pay](https://methodfi.com/products/pay): Initiate payments to any consumer liability account. Loan payoffs, bill pay, balance transfers with real-time tracking from pending to posted.
- [Payments API Documentation](https://docs.methodfi.com/reference/payments/overview): Create, track, and manage payments to creditors.
- [Payment Instruments](https://docs.methodfi.com/reference/accounts/payment-instruments/overview): Tokenized card credentials for checkout and payment workflows. Keep your existing ACH rails.
## Solutions
- [Consumer Lenders](https://methodfi.com/solutions/consumer-lenders): Personalized offers, embedded direct pay, balance transfers, and streamlined payment operations.
- [Banks](https://methodfi.com/solutions/banks): Real-time account connectivity for loan payoffs during origination.
- [Credit Unions](https://methodfi.com/solutions/credit-unions): Member-centric lending with pre-qualified offers powered by real-time data.
- [Auto Lenders](https://methodfi.com/solutions/auto-lenders): Auto loan refinancing and payoff with VIN-level vehicle data.
- [Personal Finance](https://methodfi.com/solutions/personal-finance): Comprehensive debt dashboards, credit health monitoring, and bill pay.
- [User Engagement](https://methodfi.com/solutions/user-engagement): Drive retention with real-time financial insights and alerts.
- [Wallet Onboarding / Card Connect](https://methodfi.com/solutions/card-connect): Instant card linking with branded card art, tokenized credentials for checkout.
- [Checkout & Loyalty](https://methodfi.com/solutions/loyalty-and-rewards): Card-linked offers, rewards enrollment, and transaction monitoring.
- [Employer Benefits](https://methodfi.com/solutions/employer-benefits): Financial wellness and debt management for employee benefit platforms.
## Customer Stories
- [SoFi](https://methodfi.com/customers/sofi): $1B+ in loan payoffs via Direct Pay across 15,000+ institutions.
- [Bilt](https://methodfi.com/customers/bilt): 500K+ cards linked for rewards on rent, dining, and travel. 148% increase in card enrollment.
- [Happy Money](https://methodfi.com/customers/happy-money): Coverage of same-day payment execution increased from ~50% to ~96%.
- [Aven](https://methodfi.com/customers/aven-transforms-home-equity-access-with-instant-balance-transfers): 25% higher utilization through instant balance transfers.
- [Cleo](https://methodfi.com/customers/cleo): 60% of eligible users engaged with Debt Reset in week 1.
- [Figure](https://methodfi.com/customers/figure): More HELOC borrowers approved with faster loan utilization.
- [Flexcar](https://methodfi.com/customers/flexcar): 14% more approved applicants, 20% fewer bad loan outcomes.
- [Vola](https://methodfi.com/customers/vola): Real-time personal finance and credit-building advice.
- [Ditch](https://methodfi.com/customers/ditch): Bill negotiation and payment optimization.
- [Clutch](https://methodfi.com/customers/clutch): Credit union member segmentation and pre-qualified offers.
- [Sequence](https://methodfi.com/customers/sequence): Automated debt paydown workflows.
- [Spritz](https://methodfi.com/customers/spritz): Crypto-to-bill-pay integration.
- [Plannery](https://methodfi.com/customers/plannery): Financial planning for healthcare workers.
- [Gauss](https://methodfi.com/customers/gauss): Student loan management and optimization.
- [Highway Benefits](https://methodfi.com/customers/highway-benefits): Employee student loan repayment benefits.
## Key Resources
- [What is Method?](https://methodfi.com/blog/what-is-method): Deep dive into the debt connectivity problem and how Method solves it.
- [Method for Commerce](https://methodfi.com/blog/method-for-commerce-one-connection-for-the-full-wallet): How Method powers card linking, checkout, and wallet experiences.
- [Series B Announcement](https://methodfi.com/blog/series-b): $42M raise led by Emergence Capital.
- [Introducing Opal](https://methodfi.com/blog/introducing-opal): Drop-in embedded UI for identity verification and account discovery.
- [About Method](https://methodfi.com/company/about): Team, investors, and company information.
## Developer Resources
- [API Documentation](https://docs.methodfi.com): Full API reference, guides, and SDKs.
- [API Docs for AI Agents](https://docs.methodfi.com/llms.txt): LLM-optimized documentation index.
- [Full API Content](https://docs.methodfi.com/llms-full.txt): Complete API documentation in a single file.
- [Quickstart Guide](https://docs.methodfi.com/guides/quickstart): Four-step integration process.
- [Changelog](https://docs.methodfi.com/changelog): Latest API, SDK, and Dashboard updates.
- [Dashboard](https://dashboard.methodfi.com): API keys and integration management.
## Contact
- [Book a Demo](https://methodfi.com/book-a-demo)
- Email: hello@methodfi.com
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/methodfi)
- [X / Twitter](https://x.com/methodfinancial)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@MethodFi)
