# 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)