Manage sterling accounts
Real GBP accounts
A real account is a physical account held with ClearBank and can be used to send and/or receive payments.
Before creating an account, please check which account type you need. If you are unsure, please get in touch.
The balance of a real account is also held by ClearBank and can be viewed via the Institution portal and the ClearBank API. Real accounts are reconciled for you by ClearBank.
Get all accounts (real)
get/v3/Accounts
Gets all accounts associated with your institution.
All accounts are returned except those which have been disabled or where the account is a virtual account.
Parameters
- pageNumber integer, query
The page number to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 1.
- pageSize integer, query
The page size to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 50.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
Response (application/json)
- 200 OK
- 400 Bad Request
OK
{"accounts": [{"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "Sample Account Type Name","label": "John Smith","type": "CACC","currency": "GBP","balances": [{"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"}],"minimumBalance": {"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"},"status": "Enabled","statusReason": "AccountHolderDeceased","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"}],"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Create an account (real)
post/v3/Accounts
Creates an account with the specified name.
Currently, this endpoint only supports the creation of current accounts.
AccountName must not be null, and must only contain whitespace, letters, numbers and the following special characters: - ,.
Account names are automatically prefixed with an abbreviated account-type label, depending on the account type.
For example, if an account were created with the following parameters:
AccountName: 'account one'
UsageType: 'Segregated Designated'
When inspected using the GET /v3/Accounts/{accountId} endpoint, the name would be returned as: `Des Seg Wsale account one`
UsageType specifies an account's type. The account type you choose should depend on your agreement with ClearBank, your FCA permissions, and the purpose of the account.
An account's usage type is immutable. Take care to set the correct usage type when making a new account.
This endpoint uses the X-Request-Id as a duplicate check and to ensure the request is idempotent.
Parameters
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
- DigitalSignature string, header, Required
Signed hash of the body of the request. The hash is signed by your private key.
- X-Request-Id string, header, Required
A unique identifier for the request; valid for 24 hours, max length 83.
Request Payload (application/json)
- accountName string, Required
The friendly name that should be associated with the account.
- Minimum length
- 1
- Maximum length
- 70
- Pattern
- ^[a-zA-Z0-9\- ,.&]*$
- owner object, Required
Set of elements used to identify a person or an organisation.
- sortCode string, Required
The sort code these accounts should be created under.
- Pattern
- ^\d{6}$
- usageType string
The type of funds the account will hold. Default if not supplied: YourFunds.
- Enum array
- YourFunds, SegregatedPooled, SegregatedDesignated, ClientMoneyPooled, ClientMoneyDesignated, SafeguardedPooled, SafeguardedDesignated, ClientSuspense
request
{"accountName": "Current Account","owner": {"name": "John Smith"},"sortCode": "010203","usageType": "YourFunds"}
Response (application/json)
- 201 Created
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 409 Conflict
Created
{"account": {"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "Sample Account Type Name","label": "John Smith","type": "CACC","currency": "GBP","balances": [{"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"}],"minimumBalance": {"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"},"status": "Enabled","statusReason": "AccountHolderDeceased","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"},"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Associated Webhooks
Get information for an account (real)
get/v3/Accounts/{accountId}
Gets a detailed view of an account.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
Response (application/json)
- 200 OK
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
OK
{"account": {"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "Sample Account Type Name","label": "John Smith","type": "CACC","currency": "GBP","balances": [{"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"}],"minimumBalance": {"name": "Current Account","amount": 0,"currency": "GBP","status": "VALU"},"status": "Enabled","statusReason": "AccountHolderDeceased","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"},"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Amend an account (real)
patch/v1/accounts/{accountId}
This endpoint is used to amend the properties of an existing real account.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
- DigitalSignature string, header, Required
Signed hash of the body of the request. The hash is signed by your private key.
- X-Request-Id string, header, Required
A unique identifier for the request; valid for 24 hours, max length 83.
Request Payload (application/json)
- status string
Current status of the account. Valid options include Not Provided, Enabled, Closed, Suspended.
- Enum array
- NotProvided, Enabled, Closed, Suspended
- statusReason string
Reason that the account is Closed or Suspended. Valid options include NotProvided, AccountHolderBankrupt, AccountHolderDeceased, AccountSwitched, CompanyNoLongerTrading, DissatisfiedCustomer, DuplicateSoleTraderAccount, FinancialCrime, FraudFirstParty, FraudThirdParty, FraudConfirmed, InternallyDormant, KYCRequired, LegallyDisputed, PotentialSanctionedIndividual, SanctionedIndividual, SuspectMoneyLaundering, TransactionDispute, Other.
- Enum array
- NotProvided, AccountHolderBankrupt, AccountHolderDeceased, AccountSwitched, CompanyNoLongerTrading, DissatisfiedCustomer, DuplicateSoleTraderAccount, FinancialCrime, FraudFirstParty, FraudThirdParty, Other, FraudConfirmed, InternallyDormant, KYCRequired, LegallyDisputed, PotentialSanctionedIndividual, SanctionedIndividual, SuspectMoneyLaundering, TransactionDispute
- ownerName string
The name used to identify the legal owner of the account.
- Minimum length
- 0
- Maximum length
- 70
- Pattern
- ^[^\|_\[\]<>^`~\\$]*$
- legalOwnerType string
Nature of funds held in the account. Valid options include: Personal, Business.
- Enum array
- Personal, Business
- relationshipType string
Operating nature of the account. Valid options include Single, Joint. If legalOwnerType is Business, then the relationshipType cannot be Joint.
- Enum array
- Single, Joint
- minimumBalance number
The minimum allowable balance of the account (example: -£1000). Note that you must send a negative number to create an overdraft. This field can only be used if your organisation is an embedded banking client with an overdraft agreement in place; otherwise the request will be rejected.
request
{"status": "Enabled","statusReason": "AccountHolderDeceased","ownerName": "John Smith","legalOwnerType": "Personal","relationshipType": "Single","minimumBalance": 0}
Response (application/json)
- 204 No content
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 409 Conflict
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Conflict
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Virtual GBP accounts
Virtual accounts are held on your platform, but their funds are kept in a real account held with ClearBank.
To create a virtual account with ClearBank, you must create it under one of your real general (also known as pooled) accounts. You can then use this account's virtual IBAN (vIBAN) to send and receive payments using funds from the associated real account.
You can create virtual accounts using the POST /v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual endpoint.
You are responsible for managing and reconciling your virtual accounts' balances.
Get accounts (virtual)
get/v1/accounts/virtual
Lists all of the virtual accounts belonging to an institution.
All virtual accounts are returned including those which have been disabled. A status field is available.
Parameters
- pageNumber integer, query
The page number to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 1.
- pageSize integer, query
The page size to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 50.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
Response (application/json)
- 200 OK
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
OK
{"accounts": [{"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "John Smith","type": "CACC","status": "Enabled","currency": "GBP","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"}],"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Create accounts (virtual)
post/v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual
Creates a series of virtual accounts.
This endpoint uses accountIdentifier as a duplicate check.Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
- DigitalSignature string, header, Required
Signed hash of the body of the request. The hash is signed by your private key.
- X-Request-Id string, header, Required
A unique identifier for the request; valid for 24 hours, max length 83.
Request Payload (application/json)
- virtualAccounts array, Required
The virtual accounts that should be created.
request
{"virtualAccounts": [{"ownerName": "John Smith","accountIdentifier": {"iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678"}}]}
Response (application/json)
- 202 Accepted
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
Accepted
{"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Associated Webhooks
Get all virtual accounts for a real account
get/v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual
Lists all of the virtual accounts belonging to a given account.
All virtual accounts are returned including those which have been disabled. A Status field is available.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- pageNumber integer, query
The page number to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 1.
- pageSize integer, query
The page size to control returned results into manageable sets. Default if not supplied: 50.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
Response (application/json)
- 200 OK
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
OK
{"accounts": [{"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "John Smith","label": "John Smith","type": "CACC","status": "Enabled","currency": "GBP","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"}],"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Get information for an account (virtual)
get/v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual/{virtualAccountId}
Gets a specific virtual account.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- virtualAccountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the virtual account. This can be retrieved from GET /v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
Response (application/json)
- 200 OK
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
OK
{"account": {"id": "01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef","name": "John Smith","label": "John Smith","type": "CACC","status": "Enabled","currency": "GBP","iban": "GB12CLBK01020312345678","bban": "CLBK01020312345678","upic": "string","cuid": "string"},"halLinks": [{"name": "string","href": "string","templated": true}]}
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Not Found
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Amend an account (virtual)
patch/v1/accounts/{accountId}/virtual/{virtualAccountId}
This endpoint is used to amend the properties of an existing virtual account.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- virtualAccountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the virtual account. This can be retrieved from GET /v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
- DigitalSignature string, header, Required
Signed hash of the body of the request. The hash is signed by your private key.
- X-Request-Id string, header, Required
A unique identifier for the request; valid for 24 hours, max length 83.
Request Payload (application/json)
- ownerName string
The name used to identify the legal owner of the virtual account.
- Minimum length
- 1
- Maximum length
- 140
- Pattern
- ^[^\|_\[\]<>^`~\\$]*$
- legalOwnerType string
Nature of funds held in the virtual account. Valid options include: Personal, Business.
- Enum array
- Personal, Business
- relationshipType string
Operating nature of the virtual account. Valid options include Single, Joint. If legalOwnerType is Business, then the relationshipType cannot be Joint.
- Enum array
- Single, Joint
request
{"ownerName": "John Smith","legalOwnerType": "Personal","relationshipType": "Single"}
Response (application/json)
- 204 No content
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
- 409 Conflict
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}
Disable an account (virtual)
delete/v1/accounts/{accountId}/virtual/{virtualAccountId}
Disables the virtual account that belongs to the given account.
Parameters
- accountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the real account. This can be retrieved from GET /v3/Accounts.
- virtualAccountId string, path, Required
The unique identifier for the virtual account. This can be retrieved from GET /v2/Accounts/{accountId}/Virtual.
- Authorization string, header, Required
Your API Token, obtained from the ClearBank Portal.
- X-Request-Id string, header, Required
A unique identifier for the request; valid for 24 hours, max length 83.
Response (application/json)
- 204 No content
- 400 Bad Request
- 403 Forbidden
- 404 Not Found
Bad Request
{"type": "../dictionary","title": "string","status": 100,"detail": "string","instance": "../dictionary","errors": {"property1": ["string"],"property2": ["string"]}}