Why we ask you to link your bank account
When you apply for a grant through Lightning Reach, the organisation reviewing your application may need to see recent bank statements to confirm your financial situation.
In the past, this meant manually sending over copies of your statements. Lightning Reach is designed to take the hassle out of that process and make everything quicker and more secure.
How it works
We use open banking to give the grants team secure, read-only access to your transaction history.
– It only shows the same information you’d find on a traditional bank statement
– It helps the grants team make faster decisions on your application
– And it removes the need to upload or send bank statements manually
Who provides the connection?
Lightning Reach works with a trusted technology provider called Plaid to securely connect your bank account.
– Plaid is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), firm reference number 804718
– They support many leading banks, financial apps, and large companies around the world
You’ll always have control over what accounts you connect and what information is shared.
Is it secure?
Yes – security and privacy are very important to us.
– The connection is strictly read-only
– We never see your login details or passwords
– Your financial data is only shared with the organisation reviewing your application – and only for that purpose
If you have any concerns or questions about the process, our team is here to help at hello@lightningreach.org.