Open Banking for Consumers

Linking your own bank account to fund transfers on iSAP Exchange.

Linking your bank account through Open Banking lets you fund transfers, confirm account ownership and move money faster, without typing bank details by hand. iSAP Exchange supports three providers — Lean for UAE banks, Exthand for Europe, and Plaid for the US, UK and Canada. All three start the same way: identity verification inside your iSAP Wallet.

What you will need

• An active iSAP Exchange account
• A valid Emirates ID or passport for verification
• Online banking credentials for the account you want to link
• A smartphone or desktop browser

How it works

Step 1: Complete verification in your iSAP Wallet

Identical for all three providers.

1. Log in at isapexchange.com.
2. Go to My Wallet from the main menu or your dashboard.
3. Select Verify Identity or Complete KYC if prompted.
4. Choose your document: Emirates ID, recommended for UAE residents, or passport.
5. Upload a clear photo of the front and back.
6. Complete the liveness check by following the on-screen prompts.
7. Submit and wait. Usually a few minutes, occasionally up to 24 hours.
8. Once approved, your wallet status changes to Verified.

Flow A: Connect via Lean — recommended for UAE banks

Lean Technologies is a UAE-native Open Finance provider regulated under the Central Bank of the UAE's Open Finance framework. It connects directly to UAE retail banks — including Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Commercial Bank of Dubai — without redirecting you to a third-party website.

Lean's LinkSDK opens a secure embedded window inside iSAP Exchange. Your credentials are never shared with us; Lean authenticates directly with your bank and returns only a verified confirmation. Once linked, future top-ups can be completed with a single tap.

1. From your dashboard, open Settings and select Linked Bank Accounts or Open Banking.
2. Choose Connect via Lean.
3. The Lean window opens with a list of supported UAE banks. Select yours.
4. Log in with your online banking credentials, entirely within Lean's encrypted window.
5. Review the permissions requested — account identity, balance and transaction data — and grant consent. This one-time step is required under the UAE Open Finance framework.
6. Complete any additional authentication, such as a one-time code.
7. The window closes and you return to iSAP Exchange with the account linked.
8. Check the account holder name and account number shown, then confirm.

After linking: the account is verified and ready to fund international transfers. Consent under the CBUAE framework is explicit, time-limited and revocable at any time. Consent duration varies by bank; you will be notified when re-authorisation is needed.

Flow B: Connect via Exthand — European banks

Exthand, also known as BankingSDK, is a European Open Banking gateway connecting to hundreds of banks. It operates as a regulated intermediary using PSD2-compliant connections and never stores your credentials — it relies on your bank's own strong customer authentication to grant read-only access.

1. Open Settings → Linked Bank Accounts.
2. Choose Connect via Exthand.
3. Select your bank's country from the dropdown.
4. Search for and select your bank.
5. You are redirected to your bank's own secure login page. Enter your credentials there as usual.
6. Review the permissions requested — account information only — and authorise.
7. Complete any additional authentication your bank requires.
8. You are returned to iSAP Exchange with the account shown as linked.
9. Check the account holder name and IBAN displayed, then save.

After linking: the connection is read-only. Bank consent typically lasts 90 days, after which you will be asked to re-authorise.

Flow C: Connect via Plaid — US, UK, Canada and beyond

Plaid has strong coverage across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and several European markets. Plaid Link is a secure embedded window; your credentials go directly to Plaid's encrypted connection and are not visible to iSAP Exchange, which receives only a verified token.

1. Open Settings → Linked Bank Accounts.
2. Choose Connect via Plaid.
3. The Plaid Link window opens. Enter your phone number or email if prompted, so Plaid can check for existing connections.
4. Search for your bank by name and select it.
5. Enter your online banking username and password inside the Plaid window.
6. Complete any multi-factor authentication your bank requires.
7. Plaid shows the accounts linked to your login. Select the one to connect.
8. Confirm. Plaid returns a secure token to iSAP Exchange.
9. Review the account details in your dashboard and confirm.

After linking: read-only for verification purposes. If your bank uses OAuth — common for major US and UK banks — you are redirected to your bank's own website to authorise, then returned automatically.

Which provider should you use?

Troubleshooting

My UAE bank does not appear in the Lean list

Lean supports the major UAE retail banks, and coverage expands as more banks complete the CBUAE Open Finance testing programme. Contact support. If your bank offers international online banking, Exthand or Plaid may work depending on where it is registered.

My bank is not showing at all

Coverage differs between providers, so try another first. If your bank appears nowhere, contact support to explore manual bank verification.

I was redirected to my bank and then nothing happened

Expected for OAuth-based banks. After authorising you should return automatically. If not, close the tab and go back to your dashboard — the account may already be linked. If it is not, run the connection again.

My verification is pending and I cannot proceed

Open Banking stays locked until verification is approved. If it has been pending more than 24 hours, contact support with your account details.

I linked the wrong account

Settings → Linked Bank Accounts → find the account → Remove or Unlink. Then repeat the flow with the correct one.

The connection expired

Consents are time-limited: typically 90 days with Exthand, variable with Plaid, and set by your bank for Lean. You will be notified and prompted to re-authorise, following the same steps as the first connection.

What you can do once linked

A verified bank account lets you fund transfers, lock live rates and send money internationally with ownership already confirmed. From there, see international remittance, currency exchange, or the other wallet guides: stablecoins and the Sokin multi-currency account. Businesses accepting customer payments should see Open Banking for Merchants.

Frequently asked questions

Which provider should I use?

It depends where your bank is held. Lean for UAE retail banks. Exthand for banks in the EU or EEA. Plaid for the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For the United Kingdom, either Exthand or Plaid works. For other GCC countries or Africa, contact iSAP Exchange support.

Does iSAP Exchange see my banking password?

No. With Lean you log in inside Lean's secure window, with Plaid inside Plaid's, and with Exthand on your own bank's page. In every case the credentials go to your bank or the provider, never to iSAP Exchange. What returns is a verified token or read-only account information.

Can iSAP Exchange move money out of my linked account?

No. All three connections are read-only for account verification and funding purposes. No funds move without your active instruction on the iSAP Exchange platform.

What is different about Lean?

Lean is a UAE-native Open Finance provider regulated under the Central Bank of the UAE's Open Finance framework. It connects directly to UAE retail banks without redirecting you to a third-party website, and once linked, repeat funding can be initiated without re-entering your credentials.

My UAE bank is not in the Lean list.

Lean supports the major UAE retail banks and coverage is expanding as more banks complete the CBUAE Open Finance testing programme. Contact iSAP Exchange support. If your bank offers international online banking, Exthand or Plaid may work depending on where the bank is registered.

My bank is not in any list.

Coverage differs between providers, so try another one first. If your bank appears nowhere, contact iSAP Exchange support to discuss alternative funding methods or to request that your bank be added.

I was redirected to my bank and nothing happened.

That is normal for banks using OAuth authentication. After authorising you should return automatically. If the redirect does not complete, close the tab and go back to your iSAP Exchange dashboard, where the account may already be linked. If not, run the connection again.

Why is the Open Banking option locked?

Identity verification is not yet approved. Open Banking stays locked until your wallet shows verified status. If verification has been pending for more than 24 hours, contact support with your account details.

How long does a connection last?

Consents are time-limited and vary: typically 90 days with Exthand, variable with Plaid depending on your bank, and set by your bank for Lean connections under the CBUAE framework. You will be notified when re-authorisation is needed, and the process repeats the original steps.

I linked the wrong account.

Go to Settings, then Linked Bank Accounts, find the account and select Remove or Unlink. Then repeat the connection flow with the correct account.

Need help?

If you hit a problem during verification or connection, contact office@isapexchange.com or use the Help section in the iSAP Wallet.