> ## 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.

# Importing Connections

If you already have connections with a service provider — for example, because you previously integrated directly with Plaid or Akoya — you can bring them into Meld. Importing a connection does not involve the customer; there is no widget flow and no re-authentication required. This page is for developers migrating from a direct provider integration to Meld.

## Before you begin

<Info>
  * You have provider-level credentials (Plaid `access_token`, Akoya equivalent) for each connection you want to import
  * The corresponding service provider is enabled on your Meld account
  * You have decided what `externalCustomerId` to associate with each imported connection
</Info>

<Note>
  **Importing is currently supported for Plaid and Akoya only.** For other providers, the customer must complete the standard widget flow.
</Note>

## How to import a connection

Call the [import connections endpoint](/api-reference/bank-linking). Use the `externalCustomerId` field to tie each imported connection to an id of your choice for tracking.

Importing a connection does the following:

1. Adds the connection and all its financial accounts to Meld.
2. Ties the connection to your `externalCustomerId`, if provided.
3. Tells the underlying provider to send webhooks for that connection to Meld going forward (instead of to your servers).
4. Refreshes the connection at the time of import.
5. Sends you the standard aggregation webhooks (`BANK_LINKING_ACCOUNTS_UPDATING`, `BANK_LINKING_ACCOUNTS_UPDATED`, `BANK_LINKING_TRANSACTIONS_AGGREGATED`) just like a fresh connection.

<Warning>
  Once a connection is imported, the provider will stop sending webhooks to your old endpoint. Make sure your Meld webhook profile is configured before importing in production.
</Warning>

<Note>
  For the full request and response schema, refer to the [Bank Linking API reference](/api-reference/bank-linking).
</Note>

## Common errors

| Symptom                                     | Likely cause                                                | Developer action                                                                                                                     |
| :------------------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `400 Bad Request` — provider not supported  | Importing only works for Plaid and Akoya                    | Use the standard widget flow for other providers.                                                                                    |
| `401` or `403` from the underlying provider | Provider-level credentials supplied are invalid or expired  | Verify the `access_token` is valid for the environment; re-issue if needed.                                                          |
| Import succeeds but no webhooks arrive      | Meld webhook profile not configured for bank-linking events | Configure the webhook profile per [Webhook Quickstart](/docs/bank-linking/onboarding/step-5-setting-up-webhooks/webhook-quickstart). |