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Plaid Overview

OntarioLandlord uses Plaid to securely connect to your bank account and automatically sync transactions.

What is Plaid?​

Plaid is a financial technology company that connects apps to bank accounts. It's used by thousands of popular apps including:

  • Venmo
  • Acorns
  • Robinhood
  • Betterment
  • Chime

How It Works​

sequenceDiagram
    participant You
    participant App as OntarioLandlord
    participant Plaid
    participant Bank

    You->>App: Click "Connect Bank"
    App->>Plaid: Open Plaid Link
    You->>Plaid: Select your bank
    Plaid->>Bank: Authenticate
    Bank->>Plaid: Verify credentials
    Plaid->>App: Connection established
    App->>Plaid: Request transactions
    Plaid->>Bank: Fetch transactions
    Bank->>Plaid: Return data
    Plaid->>App: Deliver transactions

1. Authentication​

  • You select your bank from Plaid's list
  • You enter your banking credentials directly with Plaid
  • OntarioLandlord never sees your password

2. Connection​

  • Plaid establishes a secure link to your account
  • Connection persists until you disconnect
  • May require periodic re-authentication

3. Syncing​

  • Transactions sync automatically (daily)
  • Manual sync available anytime
  • Only incoming deposits are matched

Security​

Your Credentials​

OntarioLandlord Never Sees Your Password

When you connect your bank, you enter your credentials directly into Plaid's secure interface. OntarioLandlord receives only:

  • Account name
  • Last 4 digits of account number
  • Transaction data

Plaid's Security​

  • Bank-level 256-bit encryption
  • SOC 2 Type II certified
  • Regular security audits
  • Used by major financial apps

Your Control​

You can:

  • Disconnect anytime
  • See what data is shared
  • Revoke access through your bank (some banks)

What Data Is Accessed​

What We See​

DataUsed For
Transaction datePayment matching
Transaction amountPayment matching
Transaction descriptionIdentifying payer
Account balanceNot used

What We Don't See​

  • Your banking password
  • Account numbers (only last 4)
  • Your outgoing payments
  • Other accounts you didn't connect

Connection Process​

Step 1: Initiate Connection​

  1. Go to Integrations → Bank Connection
  2. Click Connect Bank Account

Plaid's secure window appears. This is a Plaid interface, not OntarioLandlord.

Step 3: Select Your Bank​

Search and select your bank from the list.

Step 4: Authenticate​

Enter your banking credentials. Complete any 2FA your bank requires.

Step 5: Select Account​

Choose which account receives rent payments.

Step 6: Complete​

Connection established! First sync begins automatically.

Re-Authentication​

Banks may require you to re-authenticate periodically:

  • Some banks every 90 days
  • After password change
  • After security alerts

When needed:

  1. You'll see a notification
  2. Click "Reconnect"
  3. Re-enter credentials
  4. Connection restored

Troubleshooting​

Bank Not Listed​

  • Try alternative names (TD vs TD Canada Trust)
  • Some small credit unions may not be supported
  • Contact support for alternatives

Connection Failed​

  • Verify credentials are correct
  • Check for bank outages
  • Try again later
  • Clear browser cache

Transactions Not Syncing​

  • Check connection status
  • Click "Sync Now"
  • May take up to 24 hours after reconnect

Privacy Policy​

Plaid's handling of your data is governed by their privacy policy. Key points:

  • Data used only for requested purpose
  • Not sold to third parties
  • You can request deletion

Plaid Privacy Policy

Disconnecting​

To disconnect your bank:

  1. Go to Integrations
  2. Find your connected bank
  3. Click Disconnect
  4. Confirm

After disconnecting:

  • No more transactions sync
  • Existing data preserved
  • Can reconnect anytime

Next Steps​