External Data Preparation

External data in reconciliation refers to any and all documents that hold records of your transaction activity outside of your Blnk Ledger.

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1. Preparing your data

External data sources have different formats for exporting your data. To prepare your data for reconciliation in Blnk:

1. Download and extract your data from your partners (payment processor, bank, etc.)

2. Transform the extracted data to the following structure:

   Field	Type	Description
   amount	Float	The transaction amount, e.g. 100.50
   currency	String	ISO 4217 currency code, e.g. “USD”
   source	String	Origin of the transaction data, e.g. “Stripe”
   description	String	Transaction details or narration, e.g., “Monthly subscription”
   reference	String	Unique identifier of the transaction, e.g., “ref_128GA6Ag1298ahkj”
   date	ISO 8601	Transaction date and time, e.g., “2023-04-15T14:30:00Z”

3. Export and upload your data in CSV or JSON to Blnk using the endpoint below.

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Things to note

Take note of the following when uploading external data to prevent errors or mismatches in your reconciliation:

• Use consistent formatting across all fields.
• Ensure that each transaction has a unique reference value.
• Convert your date value to the UTC timezone to avoid timezone discrepancies.

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2. Upload your data

Once you have finished preparing your data, you can upload to Blnk with the following endpoint:

curl --location '<https://YOUR_BLNK_INSTANCE_URL/reconciliation/upload>' \\
--header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' \\
--form 'file=@"transactions.json"' \\
--form 'source="Stripe"'

{
  "upload_id": "upload_8c700d1b-09c0-4ef4-9ab1-a0decf3d0aa3",
  "status": "success",
  "record_count": 1000,
  "source": "Stripe"
}

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Common data sources

Depending on the type of fintech product/feature, these external data sources may differ from product to product. Some common sources include:

1. Bank statements: Monthly or daily statements from banks that detail all transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, fees, and interest.
2. Payment processor reports: Detailed reports from local and global payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, Square, Flutterwave, etc., showing transactions processed through their platforms.
3. Merchant account statements: Statements from merchant accounts detailing credit card and debit card transactions.
4. Gateway reports: Transaction reports from payment gateways that facilitate online payments.
5. Credit card statements: Statements from credit card companies showing transactions, fees, and interest.
6. Investment account statements: Statements from brokerage or investment accounts detailing trades, dividends, interest, and account balances.
7. Loan servicing reports: Reports from loan servicing platforms showing loan disbursements, repayments, and outstanding balances.
8. Interbank transfer reports: Reports detailing transfers between different bank accounts.
9. Third-party service provider reports: Reports from third-party service providers like payroll services, accounting software, or expense management tools.
10. Blockchain and cryptocurrency exchange statements: Transaction records from blockchain ledgers and cryptocurrency exchanges for fintechs dealing in digital assets.
11. ACH reports: Detailed records of ACH transactions including direct deposits and electronic payments.
12. E-wallet statements: Statements from digital wallet providers like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and similar services showing transactions and balances.
13. Foreign exchange transaction reports: Detailed reports of foreign currency transactions for fintechs involved in international trade.
14. Mobile payments reports: Reports from mobile payment services like Venmo, Zelle, and others.
15. Escrow account statements: Statements from escrow accounts used in various types of transactions, particularly in real estate or large purchases.

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Need help?

We are very happy to help you make the most of Blnk, regardless of whether it is your first time or you are switching from another tool.

To ask questions or discuss issues, please contact us or join our Discord community.