Connect First Direct to Actual Budget
Sync your transactions and balances to Actual Budget through its built-in SimpleFIN bank sync.
Regulated Open BankingSimple per-connection pricing
Features
From
First Direct
- Secure bank connection with automatic transaction syncing
- Supports pending transactions
- Supports credit card accounts
To
Actual Budget
- Works with any hosted Actual server, including self-hosted and PikaPods
- Syncs through the SimpleFIN bank sync built into Actual, no scripts or browser extensions needed
- Run Bank Sync in Actual whenever you want fresh data
- Customize payees and descriptions with bank account rules
- Secure, read-only access limited to the accounts you choose to share
Setup
How it works
Step 01
Connect securely
Log in through First Direct's own PSD2 flow. Synci never sees or stores your credentials.
Step 02
Pick accounts
Choose which First Direct accounts you want to sync.
Step 03
Link to Actual Budget
Step 04
Sync automatically
Transactions and balances flow from First Direct to Actual Budget from that point on.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- How often does First Direct sync to Actual Budget?
- Synci polls First Direct for new data every 30 to 360 minutes, depending on your plan. Some banks may not support high-frequency sync (30 min). When new transactions or balance changes are found, they are transferred to Actual Budget within seconds.
- Does First Direct support pending transactions?
- Yes — First Direct exposes pending transactions, and Synci syncs them to Actual Budget. When the bank eventually books them, Synci automatically updates the same transactions in Actual Budget rather than creating duplicates.
- Are First Direct credit card accounts supported?
- Yes — First Direct credit card accounts can be connected and synced to Actual Budget alongside your regular accounts.
- Is my First Direct login shared with Synci?
- No. Synci connects to First Direct through regulated PSD2 APIs, which means authentication happens on First Direct's own login flow. Your bank login credentials are never shared with or stored by Synci.
- Which provider does Synci use to connect to First Direct?
- Synci currently connects to First Direct through GoCardless, a regulated PSD2 data provider. Providers handle the technical connection to the bank — your login credentials stay between you and First Direct.