> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.meld.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bank Linking Quickstart

Welcome to Meld's Bank Linking product. Meld's Bank Linking stack lets developers connect their users' bank accounts through multiple service providers (Plaid, MX, Finicity, Salt Edge, Yodlee, Akoya) using a single integrated API and UX flow. This quickstart covers how connections are created and managed, the data products available, and the terminology used throughout the rest of the bank linking documentation.

<Note>
  Looking for Meld's Crypto / Digital Assets documentation? Skip this section and head to the [Crypto Overview](/docs/stablecoins/crypto-overview_/index) instead.
</Note>

## Before you begin

* Complete [Onboarding](/docs/bank-linking/onboarding/index) so you have a Meld dashboard account.
* Grab your Meld API key from the **Developer** tab of the Dashboard (see [Step 3: Meld API Key](/docs/bank-linking/onboarding/step-3-meld-api-key)).
* Confirm which environment your key targets (sandbox or production).

<Note>
  Reach out to Meld if you would like the OpenAPI spec for bank linking.
</Note>

## How to use the product

The high-level flow is summarized in [Bank Linking Use Cases](/docs/bank-linking/bank-linking-quickstart/bank-linking-use-cases). For terminology and a relationship diagram, see the [Bank Linking Glossary](/docs/bank-linking/bank-linking-quickstart/bank-linking-glossary). For details on the financial-data products you can retrieve after a connection completes, see [Bank Linking Products](/docs/bank-linking/bank-linking-quickstart/bank-linking-products/index).

<Info>
  **Environments**

  Meld offers separate sandbox and production environments. Each environment has its own API key and base URL:

  | Environment | API Base URL             |
  | :---------- | :----------------------- |
  | Sandbox     | `https://api-sb.meld.io` |
  | Production  | `https://api.meld.io`    |
</Info>

## Accounts with service providers

Meld has reseller agreements with Finicity, MX, and Akoya and can create an account for you with each of these providers. For the other providers, if you don't have your own account with the provider already, Meld can temporarily share their account with you for testing while your account is being spun up. Contact Meld for more details.