Create a funding source for a customer #

There are multiple methods available for adding a bank or credit union account to a Customer. This section outlines how to create a funding-source via the API.

Before a Dwolla account or Dwolla API Customer is eligible to transfer money from their bank or credit union account they need to verify ownership of the account. For more information on bank account verification, reference this funding source verification resource article.

Virtual Account Numbers

Just as your Verified Customers can add bank accounts as Funding Sources, they also have the ability to add Virtual Account Numbers, or VANs as Funding Sources. VANs will have a status of verified by default.

Bank #

HTTP request - bank funding source #

POST https://api.dwolla.com/customers/{id}/funding-sources

Request parameters - bank funding source #

Parameter	Required	Type	Description
_links	conditional	object	A `_links` JSON object containing an on-demand-authorization and/or exchange link relation. See example bash request and response below.
routingNumber	yes	string	A bank routing number that identifies a bank or credit union in the U.S. Note: Validation of the routing number includes: a checksum, the first two digits of the routing number must fall within the range "01" through "12", or "21" through "32", and the string value must consist of nine digits.
accountNumber	yes	string	The bank account number. Note: The account number is validated to check if it is a numeric string of 4-17 digits.
bankAccountType	yes	string	Type of bank account: `checking`, `savings`, `general-ledger` or `loan`.
name	yes	string	Arbitrary nickname for the funding source. Must be 50 characters or less.
plaidToken	no	string	A processor token obtained from Plaid for `adding and verifying` a bank. Reference our Plaid Link developer guide to learn more about this integration.
channels	no	array	An array containing a list of processing channels. ACH is the default processing channel for bank transfers. Acceptable value for channels is: "wire". e.g. `“channels”: [ “wire” ]`. A funding source (Bank Account) added using the wire channel only supports a funds transfer going to the bank account from a balance. As a result, wire as a destination funding source can only be added where the Customer account type is a Verified Customer. Note: `channels` is a premium feature that must be enabled on your account and is only available to select Dwolla customers.

HTTP status and error codes - bank funding source #

HTTP Status	Code	Description
400	InactiveExchange	The Exchange was removed or disabled.
400	InvalidExchangeToken	The exchange token is not valid to perform this operation. Either the token is expired, invalid, or the products permissions to the token are invalid or expired.
400	ValidationError	Can be: Duplicate funding source or validation error. Authorization already associated to a funding source.
403	Forbidden	Not authorized to create funding source.
404	NotFound	Customer ID not found. Check Customer ID.

Request and response - bank funding source #

JavaScript

// Using dwolla-v2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-node
var customerUrl =
  "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/customers/AB443D36-3757-44C1-A1B4-29727FB3111C";
var requestBody = {
  routingNumber: "222222226",
  accountNumber: "123456789",
  bankAccountType: "checking",
  name: "Jane Doe’s Checking",
};

dwolla
  .post(`${customerUrl}/funding-sources`, requestBody)
  .then((res) => res.headers.get("location")); // => 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/funding-sources/375c6781-2a17-476c-84f7-db7d2f6ffb31'

Request and response - using on-demand authorization #

For an example of using on-demand authorization, see the example for adding a customer funding source using Plaid Link.

JavaScript

// Using dwolla-v2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-node
var customerUrl =
  "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/customers/AB443D36-3757-44C1-A1B4-29727FB3111C";
var requestBody = {
  _links: {
    "on-demand-authorization": {
      href: "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/on-demand-authorizations/30e7c028-0bdf-e511-80de-0aa34a9b2388",
    },
  },
  routingNumber: "222222226",
  accountNumber: "123456789",
  bankAccountType: "checking",
  name: "Jane Doe’s Checking",
};

dwolla
  .post(`${customerUrl}/funding-sources`, requestBody)
  .then((res) => res.headers.get("location")); // => 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/funding-sources/375c6781-2a17-476c-84f7-db7d2f6ffb31'

Request and response - using an exchange resource #

JavaScript

// Using dwolla-v2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-node
var customerUrl =
  "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/customers/AB443D36-3757-44C1-A1B4-29727FB3111C";
var requestBody = {
  _links: {
    exchange: {
      href: "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/exchanges/30e7c028-0bdf-e511-80de-0aa34a9b2388",
    },
  },
  bankAccountType: "checking",
  name: "Jane Doe’s Checking",
};

dwolla
  .post(`${customerUrl}/funding-sources`, requestBody)
  .then((res) => res.headers.get("location")); // => 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/funding-sources/375c6781-2a17-476c-84f7-db7d2f6ffb31'

Virtual Account Number #

HTTP request - VAN funding source #

POST https://api.dwolla.com/customers/{id}/funding-sources

Request parameters - VAN funding source #

Parameter	Required	Type	Description
name	yes	string	Arbitrary nickname for the funding source.
type	yes	string	Denotes that this is a virtual funding source being created (VAN). Value must be `virtual`.
bankAccountType	yes	string	Value must be `checking`. VANs with a `bankAccountType` of `savings` are not currently available.

HTTP status and error codes - VAN funding source #

HTTP Status	Message
403	Virtual account numbers are not enabled for this account.

Request and response - VAN funding source #

JavaScript

// Using dwolla-v2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-node
var requestBody = {
  name: "My First VAN",
  type: "virtual",
  bankAccountType: "checking",
};

dwolla
  .post(`${customerUrl}/funding-sources`, requestBody)
  .then((res) => res.headers.get("location")); // => 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/funding-sources/04173e17-6398-4d36-a167-9d98c4b1f1c3'

Overview

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Financial institutions play an important role in our network.

All funds transfers made using the Dwolla Platform are performed by a financial institution partner, and any funds held in a Dwolla Balance are held by a financial institution partner. Learn more about our financial institution partners.