Sync Schedules
How automatic transaction syncing works in Forbidden Finance — the honest cadence (daily, plus updates when your bank reports changes), what triggers a sync, how to check the last sync time, and pull-to-refresh.
Overview
When you connect a bank account, Forbidden Finance syncs your transactions automatically. The honest picture is the same on every tier: daily, plus updates whenever your bank reports changes. Banks don't push data the instant you swipe your card — our aggregator network is notified when your bank reports new activity, which typically happens a few times a day. Between syncs, you can trigger a manual sync anytime with pull-to-refresh.
How Sync Works
| Tier | Bank connections | Sync cadence |
|---|---|---|
| Free | None (manual accounts only) | Not applicable |
| Starter | Up to 5 | Daily, plus updates when your bank reports changes |
| Pro | Up to 15 | Daily, plus updates when your bank reports changes |
| Premium | Unlimited | Daily, plus updates when your bank reports changes |
The cadence is the same across paid tiers because it is set by how often your bank reports, not by your plan. What higher tiers add is more connections — not a faster clock. Free tier does not include bank connections, so sync schedules do not apply; Free users track transactions manually or via CSV or JSON import.
Banks linked through Bring your own connections also sync daily, and they do not count toward the connection numbers above.
What Happens During a Sync
Each sync performs the following steps:
- Checks for new transactions. Any new activity since the last sync is pulled in and added to your transaction list.
- Updates pending transactions. If a previously pending transaction has been finalized by your bank, it is updated to its final posted amount.
- Handles removed transactions. In rare cases, a bank removes a transaction (for example, a voided charge). These are removed from your records as well.
- Refreshes account balances. Your account balance is updated to reflect the latest information from your bank.
What Triggers a Sync
Syncs happen in three ways:
- Scheduled sync: runs automatically once a day. You do not need to open the app for it to occur.
- Bank-reported update: when your bank reports new activity to our aggregator network, a sync is triggered without waiting for the daily pass. How often this happens is up to your bank — typically a few times a day.
- Manual refresh: pull down on the transactions list or account detail screen to request an immediate sync. Useful right after a purchase.
How to Check the Last Sync Time
Go to Accounts
Open the Accounts tab.
Tap an account
Select the bank-synced account you want to check.
View sync status
The account detail screen shows Last synced with a timestamp. If a sync is in progress, you see a spinning indicator.
Pull-to-Refresh
You can request an immediate sync at any time:
- Go to your Transactions list or open a specific bank-synced account.
- Pull down on the screen (swipe downward from the top of the list).
- A sync is requested. New activity your bank has reported appears within a few seconds.
Pull-to-refresh works on all paid tiers and does not count against any limits. Note that it pulls whatever your bank has reported so far — if your bank has not yet reported a recent purchase, refreshing will not conjure it.
Key Details
- Syncs run in the background. You do not need the app open for scheduled syncs to work.
- Sync covers all connected accounts. When a sync runs for a connection, all accounts under it update at once.
- History depth. The initial sync pulls in recent history (typically several months). Later syncs only pull new activity since the last sync.
- Sync failures. If a sync fails (for example, a network issue), it retries on the next cycle. If the connection is expired or invalid, you see a degraded-connection banner prompting you to re-authenticate.
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does my bank data sync?
Daily, plus updates whenever your bank reports changes — the same on Starter, Pro, and Premium. The cadence depends on how often your bank reports, not on your plan. You can always pull to refresh for an on-demand sync.
Do higher tiers sync faster?
No. Higher tiers give you more connections, not a faster sync clock. Every paid tier syncs daily plus whenever the bank reports. There is no hourly or real-time bank sync on any tier.
Does syncing use a lot of data or battery?
No. Syncs are lightweight — they transfer only new transaction data since the last sync, and background syncs are optimized to minimize battery and data usage.
Why do I see "pending" transactions?
Some transactions appear as pending before your bank finalizes them (like a restaurant charge before the tip is added). Pending transactions update to their final amount on the next sync after your bank posts them.
What time does the daily sync happen?
The daily pass typically runs overnight. The exact time may vary, but your data is generally current when you check in the morning. Use pull-to-refresh if you need an update during the day.
Related Articles
Connect Your Bank
Set up your first bank connection.Reconnect a Bank
Fix a degraded or expired connection.Supported Account Types
What account types sync at each tier.Transactions Overview
How synced transactions appear in your list.Need more help? Contact us at [email protected].