plaid
Plaid
Everything runs as plaid <command> and returns JSON for you to read, not to show the user. Add --help to any command to see its options.
Reads cover every linked institution at once. To narrow to one bank, pass --credential-id <id>, taking the id from body.institutions[] in an earlier read. Some reads also take --account-id <id> (repeatable) to narrow to specific accounts; when more than one institution is linked, pair it with --credential-id so the account ids resolve to the right bank.
Connecting
Plaid needs an initial connect before any read returns data. Run plaid status. If it comes back not connected, post the exact connect_url it returns as [Connect Plaid](<connect_url>) and wait for the user to finish linking one or more institutions, then run plaid status again before reading. Don't invent a URL, send the user to Settings, or ask for bank credentials.
If the user asks to add or link more banks or institutions, run plaid status and post the exact add_account_url it returns as [Add financial accounts](<add_account_url>). One Link session may add several institutions. Never reuse connect_url for an additional session. If add_account_url is absent, say that adding another institution is unavailable.
To disconnect every institution linked through Plaid, run plaid disconnect. If it returns a disconnect_url, post it as [Disconnect Plaid](<disconnect_url>) and wait for the user to confirm through that link; never claim disconnection before they confirm. If it has no URL, say Plaid is already disconnected. A bank-specific unlink is not available from chat: if the user asks to remove only one institution, direct them to that institution's account row in Settings instead of running the whole-Plaid disconnect. Don't set up a background check, goal, or reminder to monitor disconnection.
Common flows
Accounts and balances
List the linked accounts with plaid accounts — names, types, masked numbers, and each account's balances (balances carries available/current/limit). Start here to see what's linked and to answer "how much is in my checking," "what's my total across accounts," or net-worth questions. There is no separate balances command; plaid accounts is the balance read. Balances are Plaid's last reported figures, not live.