Yes. You can securely sync a business credit card or external business bank account to your Lili account to bring more of your business activity into one place for bookkeeping and reporting.

This connection is used to import transaction data from your external account into Lili for categorization and Smart Bookkeeping. It does not let Lili move money in or out of that external account.

What syncing does

When you sync an external business credit card or external bank account to Lili:

• Lili can import recent transactions from that external account so you can view and categorize them alongside your Lili transactions.
• Those external transactions can be included in your Smart Bookkeeping views and reports, making it easier to see your full business picture in one place.

Syncing does not:

• Turn your external card or bank into a Lili‑funded payment method.
• Allow you to transfer funds between your Lili account and the external account directly from the sync.

If you need to move money between Lili and another bank, you’ll still use ACH, wires, or other transfer methods as described in our moving‑money articles.

How we connect to external cards and accounts

To sync your external business credit card or bank account, Lili uses a secure third‑party connection similar to those used by many financial apps.

When you connect:

• You sign in to your external bank or card issuer within a secure connection module.
• That provider shares read‑only transaction data (and sometimes balances) with Lili so we can display and categorize those transactions in your Lili bookkeeping views.
• Lili does not receive your bank or card login credentials and cannot initiate payments from your external account.

How to sync a business credit card or external bank account

To add a business credit card or external bank account and sync it to your Lili account, do the following using Lili's Web App:

• Open your Lili Transactions dashboard
• On the right, select ‘Sync External Cards & Accounts’ (screenshot 1)
• Choose ‘Credit Card’ or ‘Business Bank Account’ depending on your needs (screenshot 2)
  Note: the connection with your Lili account will be made using the 3rd party integration platform called Plaid - see disclaimer
• Once you choose an option, a “Plaid” window will open (screenshot 3); follow the steps including choosing your external bank, entering credentials and selecting the credit card account.

Screenshot 1. Transactions Dashboard: ‘Sync External Cards & Accounts’ Link

Screenshot 2. Sync External Cards & Accounts: Credit Card and Business Bank Account Options

Screenshot 3. Plaid Window (3rd party integration platform)

Once connected, transactions from the beginning of the current year will be imported automatically. Your synchronized transactions will show in a new dedicated tab on the Transactions page, called “Synced Cards & Bank Accounts” and will also appear in your reports.

Each imported transaction can then be categorized via the "Synced Cards & Bank Accounts" tab. Please go here to find a list of the available income and expense categories.

How do I update my business credit card / external bank account credentials when they expire / change?

When your linked credit card credentials expire / change, you will be notified with a message that appears on the specific account/card, visible at the top of the “Synced Cards & Bank Accounts” tab. To resolve the issue, open your account using Lili's Web App, click on the “Manage” option and to the right of the relevant account/card, click on the three dots, choose “Reconnect” and enter the new/valid account/card credentials.

Will the synched credit card / external bank account transactions be automatically included in my accounting reports?

Yes. Once you confirm or edit the category of a transaction, it will automatically be included in your financial and tax reports, in the same way that your categorized Lili debit card and Lili bank account transactions are included.

Note that for a synched credit card, When an external credit card payment is deducted from the Lili account, you should categorize that transaction (in the "Bank Transactions" tab) as "Credit Card" expense category. That expense type is not available in the "Synced Cards" tab in order to ensure that the same transactions (of the actual card purchases) are not included twice for tax deduction purposes. Meaning the credit card payment record in the "Synced Cards" tab should not be categorized at all.

How do I disconnect a linked credit card or external bank account? 

If you wish to disconnect a linked credit card/account, using the Web App, go to the Transactions > Synced Cards & Bank Accounts > “Manage” option, and click on the symbol to the right of the card/account. You will receive a popup asking if you are sure about unlinking the card/account and deleting all the synced transactions. Click on “Remove” to complete the process.

Refresh timing and limitations

After your external account is connected:

• Lili will typically refresh and import new transactions automatically on a regular cadence (for example, daily), though exact timing can vary by provider.
• In some cases, you may see a short delay between when a transaction posts at the external institution and when it appears in Lili.
• There may be limits on how far back we can import historical transactions when you first connect. In most cases, we’ll bring in a recent window of data and then keep syncing new activity going forward.

If a connected account stops updating, you may need to re‑authenticate via the secure connection module or remove and reconnect it.

If you run into issues connecting or syncing

If you have trouble syncing a business credit card or external bank account:

• Double‑check that you’re selecting the correct login experience for your provider (for example, business vs personal banking).
• Make sure your external account is active and that you can sign in to it directly on the provider’s site.

If issues persist, you can:

• Contact your external bank or card issuer to confirm there are no security holds or connection restrictions.
• Reach out to the Lili team (See contact options in points here: How do I contact the Lili team?) for help reviewing your connection and next steps.

Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC. The Lili Visa® Debit Card is issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. The Card may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. 

Wire Transfer services are provided by Column Bank N.A., Member FDIC. All wires are subject to acceptance criteria and risk-based review and may be rejected at the sole discretion of Column Bank N. A. or Lili App Inc.