Direct feeds

Overview

Direct feeds are a quick and reliable way to import company card expenses. Connect your bank to Expensify with your login credentials to be up and running in minutes!

Prerequisites for enabling a direct feed

If you haven’t already, you need to create a workspace before setting up a direct feed. Go to Settings > Workspaces > New workspace to create one. Additionally, you’ll need to enable company cards on your workspace by navigating to Settings > Workspaces > [your workspace] > More features, and toggling on Company cards. Note that upgrading to the Control plan is required to access this feature.

How to set up a direct feed

After creating a Control workspace, you can add a direct feed by going to Settings > Workspaces > [your workspace] > Company cards and selecting Add cards.

Click add cards to add a card feed

Select your bank from the list. If your bank isn’t there, check out commercial feeds.

Select your bank and click Next

Select Direct feed.

Select your feed type and click next

Log into your bank’s website using the master credentials (typically those of the account owner with the highest-level access), then follow the steps to select your account(s) and connect them to Expensify.

Login to your bank

How to assign company cards

Once your feed is connected, you can assign cards to employees. To do this, navigate to Settings > Workspaces > [your workspace] > Company cards.

Click company cards in the workspace editor to open the feed

If you have multiple feeds, click the feed name at the top left to select the appropriate one.

Click the feed name in the top left to open the feed selector where you can select a feed from the list

Click Assign card to begin the process. Often, you’ll be prompted to log into your bank before you can assign cards. Select an employee. All workspace members appear in the list.

Click assign card to begin the flow. Start by selecting a member from the list

Select the card you want to assign. Cards only appear if they have recent transactions.

Select a card from the list

Choose a start date:

  • From the beginning: Imports all available transactions (typically 30-90 days).
  • Custom start date: Allows you to specify a date.

Choose a transaction start date

Review the details and click Assign card. Transactions will import immediately.

Check your selections and assign the card

Managing cards

Clicking an assigned card opens the Card details page, where you can:

  • Change the card name.
  • Select a card-specific export account (if connected to accounting software like QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, etc.).
  • Update the card to pull recent transactions.
  • Unassign the card (note: unassigning deletes unsubmitted expenses on draft reports in the cardholder’s account).

Tap the assigned card to open the card details page where you can manage the card

FAQ

My direct feed is connected. Why is a specific card not appearing for assignment?

Make sure you used your bank’s master credentials when connecting. Also, note that cards will only appear for assignment if they’re active and have at least one recent transaction. If a card meeting these conditions doesn’t appear, reach out to your account manager or email concierge@expensify.com.

Are direct bank connections the best option for connecting credit cards to Expensify?

Direct bank connections are a great option if Expensify supports your bank. For enhanced stability and added functionality, consider setting up a commercial feed with your bank or using the Expensify Card.

Is there an extra fee for using direct feeds?

No, direct feeds are included with the Control plan at no additional cost.

What’s the difference between a direct feed and commercial feed?

Direct feeds use login credentials for quick setup, but can require re-authentication from time to time. Commercial feeds require bank involvement for setup but offer the most reliable connection.

What if Expensify doesn’t support direct feeds for my bank?

If direct feeds aren’t available for your bank, commercial feeds are the best option for importing company card transactions. Currently, Expensify supports direct feeds for:

  • American Express
  • Bank of America
  • Brex
  • Capital One
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • Stripe
  • Wells Fargo

Can direct feeds have maintenance/downtime?

Yes, occasionally. Banks may update their systems to enhance security, which can temporarily affect connections. Expensify’s engineering team works closely with banks to monitor and promptly update connections as needed.

My direct feed connection is broken, how do I fix it?

Direct feed connections may break if your bank login credentials, card numbers, or security questions change. To fix this, go to Settings > Workspaces > [your workspace] > Company cards > select log into your bank on the error message and follow the steps to fix the connection.

Can I connect several direct feeds with the same bank on one workspace?

No, only one direct feed per bank can be connected to a workspace. If you have multiple card programs with the same bank under different credentials, request that your bank consolidate them under one set of credentials. This allows you to connect all card programs through a single direct feed.

You can, however, connect multiple direct feeds to a workspace if they’re from different banks.

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