Abstract teal background with a flowing white line pattern curving across the right side of the image. The gradient shifts subtly from teal to blue, creating a dynamic and modern digital aesthetic. Ideal for fintech or technology-themed presentations or UI elements.

Plaid Signal

More successful payments. Fewer returns.

Signal uses machine learning to predict ACH return risk so you can boost conversions and deliver a frictionless payment experience.

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Autopay dashboard interface showing a bar chart with transaction data and performance metrics. A toggle in the top right corner indicates 'Autopay rules' are enabled, with a note that the rules were evaluated just now and last modified on Dec 12. Below the chart, key metrics include: Transactions accepted at 72%, Loss rate at 2%, and Return rate at 0.3%. The design uses a clean white and teal color scheme.

Risk assessments powered by the Plaid Network

Signal leverages over 1,000 data points from your customer’s account data and network history to analyze their transactions—giving you the insight to make powerful risk assessments.

Effortless, no-code risk management

Harness Signal’s insights through its decision dashboard and Rules Service—no coding needed. Here you can deploy pre-built rules, track their performance, and optimize in real time.

global financial institutions are on the Plaid Network

U.S. adults with a bank account have connected to an app or service using Plaid

daily connections

How Plaid Signal works

Analyze transactions

Signal analyzes account data and network history to generate two predictive scores that indicate return risk:

• Bank-initiated risk score (e.g., insufficient funds)
• Customer-initiated risk score (e.g., suspected fraud or disputes)

Financial dashboard showing transaction risk levels and customer insights. Left panel lists transactions with dollar amounts and risk labels (Low, Med, High). Right panel highlights a 'Low' risk score, indicating 12 bank-initiated and 14 customer-initiated actions. Insights include 1 total Plaid connection, 808 days since first connection, and an available balance of $22,198.34. A button at the bottom reads 'View all insights.'

Review assessments

Receive over 80 predictive insights from each transaction that explain the “why” behind both scores. 

• Insights come from the account’s connection history, past ACH return events, changes linked to identity, and more.

User interface displaying condition categories for financial rule configuration. Categories on the left include: All conditions, Risk scores and tiers, Transaction elements, Past ACH events, and Plaid connection history. On the right, a searchable list displays condition types such as Transaction amount, frequency, time, Bank risk score, Bank risk tier, and Customer risk score. Each item is accompanied by a colored icon, with a clean white and pastel UI.

Deploy and
optimize rules

Greater context for each transaction helps you fine-tune your risk model and uncover more low-risk payments—boosting conversion.

User interface for creating and managing custom transaction rules. On the right, a rule builder interface labeled 'Add a rule' allows selection of attributes, operators, and values with a dropdown showing options like Transaction elements, Bank account usage, and Manual account verification. On the left, a performance chart labeled 'Rule performance' displays trend lines for Accepted (green), Reviewed (blue), and Blocked (pink) transactions, indicating rule effectiveness over time.
Financial dashboard showing transaction risk levels and customer insights. Left panel lists transactions with dollar amounts and risk labels (Low, Med, High). Right panel highlights a 'Low' risk score, indicating 12 bank-initiated and 14 customer-initiated actions. Insights include 1 total Plaid connection, 808 days since first connection, and an available balance of $22,198.34. A button at the bottom reads 'View all insights.'
User interface displaying condition categories for financial rule configuration. Categories on the left include: All conditions, Risk scores and tiers, Transaction elements, Past ACH events, and Plaid connection history. On the right, a searchable list displays condition types such as Transaction amount, frequency, time, Bank risk score, Bank risk tier, and Customer risk score. Each item is accompanied by a colored icon, with a clean white and pastel UI.
User interface for creating and managing custom transaction rules. On the right, a rule builder interface labeled 'Add a rule' allows selection of attributes, operators, and values with a dropdown showing options like Transaction elements, Bank account usage, and Manual account verification. On the left, a performance chart labeled 'Rule performance' displays trend lines for Accepted (green), Reviewed (blue), and Blocked (pink) transactions, indicating rule effectiveness over time.

BILLING & RECURRING PAYMENTS

More successful payments
at a lower cost

Skip debit and credit’s high processing fees. Instantly identifying low-risk ACH transactions lets you comfortably process transactions and offer your customers a seamless payment experience.

  • Boost adoption

    Plaid’s modern and intuitive interface makes it easy for your customers to connect their accounts, which can more than double the adoption of bank payments.

    Mobile interface for selecting a payment method using Plaid. The screen shows the option 'Pay by bank instantly' with a search bar to find a bank. Popular bank options displayed include Gingham Bank, HT, Brocade, KilimCredit, IKAT, and Twill Financial. A 'Manually connect' option appears below the banks, with a link labeled 'What is Plaid?' at the bottom. The background features a teal gradient with wave patterns, emphasizing a modern and secure financial experience.

  • Plaid lets your customers securely and instantly connect their bank using credentials or biometrics—allowing Signal to assess transaction risk.

    Mobile interface displaying verified bank accounts. The active account shown is with Gingham Bank, displaying a masked account number ending in 0291 and a routing number ending in 4451. Below it are additional banks: Argyle National and Bank of Brocade. A 'Verified' badge is shown at the top right, indicating secure account validation. The background features a smooth teal gradient with subtle wave patterns, suggesting a modern and trustworthy digital experience.

  • Confidently process low-risk ACH transactions and divert transactions with a high risk of return to different payment methods.

    Digital risk assessment interface showing Eva Prosperi from Birdseye Bank. A transaction evaluation rule is displayed: 'Balance is less than Transaction amount,' which leads to the outcome 'Low risk of ACH return.' The background features a teal gradient with smooth wave patterns, visually reinforcing the theme of real-time financial decisioning and ACH transaction risk monitoring.
Mobile interface for selecting a payment method using Plaid. The screen shows the option 'Pay by bank instantly' with a search bar to find a bank. Popular bank options displayed include Gingham Bank, HT, Brocade, KilimCredit, IKAT, and Twill Financial. A 'Manually connect' option appears below the banks, with a link labeled 'What is Plaid?' at the bottom. The background features a teal gradient with wave patterns, emphasizing a modern and secure financial experience.

reduction in processing costs when using ACH payments

reduction in return rates

increase in instantly processed transactions

Portrait of a woman with the label 'Account verified' beneath her image. Below that, a checkmark icon next to the text 'Instantly connected' signifies successful and immediate account authentication. The background features a glowing teal gradient with an intricate circular pattern, symbolizing secure and seamless digital verification.

ACCOUNT FUNDING

Speed up account funding.
Slow down returns.

Confidently offer near-instant funding for low-risk transactions, backed by deep financial insights and Plaid’s account verification tools.

  • Instantly verify account ownership

    With Plaid, authenticate account info and ownership in seconds—giving you the tools to weed out fraud and consistently identify low-risk transactions.

    Portrait of a woman with the label 'Account verified' beneath her image. Below that, a checkmark icon next to the text 'Instantly connected' signifies successful and immediate account authentication. The background features a glowing teal gradient with an intricate circular pattern, symbolizing secure and seamless digital verification.

  • Instantly fund transactions with a low risk of return, enabling customers to move money, make investments, and more—without friction.

    Confirmation screen displaying a $1,000.00 deposit with a 'Low risk of ACH return' banner at the top. The message 'Funds available for use instantly' is shown below the deposit amount, indicating real-time availability. The deposit is from Argyle Investments with a displayed balance of $61,384.32. The background features a gradient teal-blue design, emphasizing security and instant transaction confidence.

  • Predicting ACH return risk gives you the confidence to offer customers flexible ways to move money—powered by our multi-rail bank payment solution.

    ACH deposit confirmation interface showing a $1,000.00 transfer to Argyle. The deposit is from two sources: Argyle Investments (Main Investment • 3201) with a balance of $6,012.90, and Gingham Bank (Adv Checking • 1544) with a balance of $10,324.00. A connector labeled 'ACH' with a blue-purple gradient visually links the transaction to the network. The background features a teal gradient, emphasizing secure and verified banking transfers.
By leveraging Signal and our own data, we’re able to offer instant trading to more customers while lowering the risk of returns. It’s a win-win.


Omid Scheybani
Head of Partnerships and Business Development

Get the insights you need to predict ACH return risk

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