If you are looking for bank data APIs for customer transactions and credit checks, you have come to the right place. Stay tuned to learn more about it and to read our recommendation on the best 3 APIs to use.

Although the concept of an application programming interface has been around for many decades, it can still be difficult to grasp. To get everyone on the same page, we’ll unpack it quickly here.

Websites and mobile apps are examples of digital interfaces designed for humans. These interfaces convert information that would otherwise be incomprehensible to most people (such as raw computer code) into something that most people can understand.

There are interfaces designed for humans, but there are also interfaces designed for programmes — application interfaces that allow programmes to communicate with one another. As a result, the term “application programming interfaces” was coined (APIs).

The financial services industry is fragmented, with tens of thousands of fintech companies and banks worldwide. The space offers a nearly infinite number of services, which can be overwhelming. This is one of the reasons why web APIs are becoming more common.

Free photo front view of person with a jar of money

If you are wondering which API to use, we are going to go over the best 3 in the market:

1. Routing Number Bank Lookup API

In the United States, a routing number (also called routing transit number) is a nine-digit code that identifies financial institutions. It is mainly used to facilitate the transfer of money between financial institutions through systems such as ACH, Fedwire, checks, etc. The routing number can be found at the bottom of a check. This API will help you detect the information that is provided in the routing number. 

To make use of it, you must first:
1- Go to Routing Number Bank Lookup API and simply click on the button “Subscribe for free” to start using the API.
2- After signing up in Zyla API Hub, you’ll be given your personal API key. Using this one-of-a-kind combination of numbers and letters, you’ll be able to use, connect, and manage APIs!
3- Employ the different API endpoints depending on what you are looking for.
4- Once you meet your needed endpoint, make the API call by pressing the button “run” and see the results on your screen.

2. Datastream BIS

This API provides real-time access to worldwide bank data from more than 40 countries. It includes data on more than 200 banks from around the world, including SWIFT codes and IBANs. Access data from national central banks, commercial banks, investment banks, private banks, and other financial institutions.

It supports more than 30 languages in addition to English. You can monitor over 2 million accounts worldwide in real-time with this API. You can also view statistics on international money transfers.

3. Finestra

Finestra offers a global real-time bank data API that provides access to over 12,000 financial institutions in 220 countries around the world. With Finestra’s bank data API, developers can access bank account information including account balances, transactions (deposits/withdrawals), and other metrics (interest rates).

It also provides access to aggregated IBAN data by country/currency pairs; as well as statistics on cross-border money transfers between countries.