Why do I have to reconnect my account after I’ve already connected?
It’s normal that your accounts require re-authentication from time to time. This might happen for several reasons.
- When financial institutions make upgrades or updates to their own platform. In instances like this, they would need you to reconnect to ensure any connections with other third-party platforms, like Bench, include the latest security enhancements that have been implemented on their end. The frequency at which you need to reconnect your account is dependent on your bank and their security measures to keep your data safe. This is generally every few months.
- Re-authentication requests will also happen at regular intervals as a security measure. You may be asked to reconnect if you update your credentials (username/password) or if a multi-factor authentication (MFA) times out as some banks only authorize MFAs to work for ~90 days at a time. This is dependent on the bank and their security practices.
How to reconnect accounts
- Open Bench and click on ‘My Books’
- Expand the menu and click 'Connections' underneath.
- Click the ‘Reconnect’ button and follow the prompts that you see from Plaid.
Why reconnecting accounts is important
Having accounts connected to Bench makes everything flow smoother and faster. In fact, it’s an essential step in order for your bookkeeper to have access to the raw data they need to do your books, and get them ready on time.
When your accounts become disconnected, your bookkeeper will be missing critical data to be able to work on your books. The quicker you’re able to re-connect your accounts, the faster your bookkeeper can continue their work.
We know it’s not fun to have to reconnect, but consider it an important safety measure that keeps your financial data safe and secure.