> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clearspend.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect your card (Coming soon)

> Link credit-card accounts via Plaid to auto-detect SaaS charges in ClearSpend.

The **Connect your card** integration (tagged **Track Spend**) lets you link checking accounts and credit cards through **Plaid** so ClearSpend can automatically detect SaaS charges from your transaction history — without manual statement uploads.

## When to use Plaid

* You want **ongoing** charge detection without exporting CSVs
* Invoice emails don't exist for some vendors (e.g. card-only SaaS)
* You need **Actual Spend** dates that match your card statement

For one-time backfill without card OAuth, use [Import subscriptions](/connect/data-sources#import-subscriptions) instead. See [Plaid vs CSV](/connect/choosing-integrations#plaid-vs-csv-statement-upload).

<Frame caption="Connected card account on Integrations: institution name and last sync.">
  <img src="https://assets.clearspend.ai/content/videos/bank%20connection.png" alt="Plaid card integration connected" />
</Frame>

## What it does

| Result                                        | Where to see it                                                                     |
| --------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Card transactions matched to vendors          | **[Subscriptions](/features/subscriptions)** and subscription history               |
| Charge dates and amounts from your statements | **[Dashboard](/features/dashboard)** spend charts (including **Actual Spend** view) |
| Transaction records for audit                 | **[Documents](/features/documents)** — each charge stored with full metadata        |

Plaid connections run on a schedule in the background, similar to [Gmail](/connect/gmail) and [Google Drive](/connect/google-drive), so new SaaS charges appear without re-uploading CSV files.

## How it works

ClearSpend uses [Plaid Link](https://plaid.com) — the same card-connection flow used by major finance apps:

1. You choose your institution in Plaid's secure modal.
2. You authenticate directly with your card issuer (ClearSpend never sees your login credentials).
3. Plaid returns a read-only access token that ClearSpend stores encrypted.
4. ClearSpend syncs transactions and matches recurring SaaS charges to subscriptions.

ClearSpend **never stores your card credentials**. Authentication runs entirely through Plaid. Access is **read-only** — ClearSpend does not initiate payments or transfers.

## Who can connect

**Owners** and **Admins** can link and disconnect card accounts from **Integrations**, consistent with other integrations. See [Roles and permissions](/reference/roles-permissions).

## Connect your card

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Integrations">
    Navigate to **Integrations** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Connect your card">
    Locate the **Connect your card** card under **Track Spend**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Connect">
    Click **Connect** or **Link card account**. A Plaid modal opens to choose your institution.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in with your card issuer">
    Complete Plaid's authentication flow for the account or card you want to link. You can connect more than one institution over time.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the first sync">
    After linking, ClearSpend imports recent transactions and matches SaaS charges to subscriptions. The integration card shows the linked institution and **last sync** time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also start the flow from **+ Add Data Source** when connecting more data sources.

## Security

* **Read-only access** — transaction history only; no ability to move money.
* **Credentials stay with Plaid** — ClearSpend receives an encrypted token, not your card password.
* **Disconnect anytime** — revoke access from **Integrations** or through your card issuer's connected-apps settings.
* **Per-org isolation** — your transaction data stays in your ClearSpend workspace.

## Pair with other sources

Card data confirms *what was charged and when*; invoices provide contract terms, seat counts, and renewal dates. Most teams use both for the fullest picture:

* **[Import subscriptions CSV](/connect/data-sources#import-subscriptions)** — backfill historical spend before Plaid sync completes
* **[Connect Gmail](/connect/gmail)** — ongoing invoice import from billing email
* **[Forward invoice email](/connect/data-sources#forward-an-invoice-email)** — send individual invoices without OAuth

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Will ClearSpend see my full card number?">
    No. Plaid provides transaction metadata (merchant, amount, date). ClearSpend never receives or stores full account or card numbers.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I link multiple accounts?">
    Yes. Link more than one card — useful when SaaS spend is split across a company card and departmental cards.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does this replace Gmail or invoice uploads?">
    No. Card data confirms charges and dates; invoices provide renewal terms and seat counts. Use both for the fullest picture.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Something wrong?

| Symptom                  | What to do                                                                                                             |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Plaid modal won't open   | Owner/Admin only; check plan integration limit — [Billing](/settings/billing#usage-limits)                             |
| No charges after linking | Wait for first sync; check [Activity](/features/activity) — [Troubleshooting](/reference/troubleshooting#integrations) |

## Related

* [Integrations overview](/connect/integrations)
* [Adding a data source](/connect/data-sources)
* [Gmail integration](/connect/gmail)
* [FAQ — card data](/reference/faq)