Account Aggregation: Combine All Your Financial Accounts in One Place

When you use account aggregation, the process of pulling data from multiple financial accounts into a single dashboard. Also known as financial aggregation, it lets you see your checking, savings, credit cards, investments, and loans all in one place—no more logging into five different apps just to know where you stand. This isn’t just about convenience. It’s about control. If you don’t know how much you have across all accounts, you can’t make smart decisions about spending, saving, or investing.

Account aggregation works by connecting securely to your banks and brokers using encrypted APIs—same ones used by fintech, technology that improves or automates financial services. Companies like Mint, YNAB, and Tiller use this to give you a real-time snapshot of your net worth. You don’t need to enter data manually. The system updates automatically, pulling in transactions, balances, and even investment changes. That’s why it’s a core feature in the budgeting apps, software tools designed to help people track and manage their spending and savings that people actually stick with.

But here’s the catch: not all aggregators are equal. Some only connect to big banks. Others miss credit unions or brokerage accounts. Some flag transactions incorrectly. And a few still ask for your login passwords instead of using secure API connections—big red flag. The best tools use read-only access and bank-level encryption. They also let you hide or exclude accounts you don’t want to track, like a business account or a joint account you’re just monitoring.

Why does this matter now? Because your money isn’t stuck in one place anymore. You’ve got a high-yield savings account, a Roth IRA, a side hustle PayPal, maybe even crypto wallets. If you’re juggling these without a unified view, you’re guessing. You might think you have $10,000 saved when half of it’s locked in a forgotten account. Or you might not realize you’re paying $200 a month in overdraft fees because your checking balance is hidden behind a login screen.

Account aggregation turns scattered data into clear insight. It helps you spot spending leaks, track progress toward goals, and catch fraud faster. It’s not magic—it’s data. And when you combine it with tools that auto-categorize spending or alert you to unusual activity, you’re not just organized—you’re protected.

Below, you’ll find real guides on how to use this tech, which apps get it right, how to keep your data safe, and how to avoid the traps that make people quit after a week. Whether you’re just starting to track your money or you’re tired of switching between apps, there’s something here that’ll make your finances easier to manage.