Connecting bank accounts so Claude can analyze spending
Anthropic is preparing "Personal Finance," a feature that analyzes users' bank account data, for its AI assistant "Claude," U.S.-based TestingCatalog, which tracks new features, reported on X on Oct. 18 (Oct. 19 Japan time). Accounts would be connected through U.S.-based Plaid, which provides financial data connection services, and Claude would analyze deposit and withdrawal data to build various dashboards, according to the report. The feature was named "Claude Money" during development but was renamed in the latest update. Anthropic has not announced it, and when it will be offered and which plans it will cover are unknown.
A "Money" tab in September, Plaid named for the first time
TestingCatalog reported on Sept. 14 that an unreleased "Money" tab had been found in Claude's smartphone app. The screen carried a description saying "connect bank accounts," and said users could ask Claude money questions such as about spending and planning. At that point, it was not known which connection service would be used. The latest information newly revealed that Plaid will be used and that the name has changed to "Personal Finance."
In its September article, TestingCatalog said the feature was likely to launch first in the United States, given bank connection services and regulatory considerations. Expanding to Europe would require putting systems and licenses in place, it said. Claude already has integrations that connect to outside personal finance services.
- OpenAI launches account connection via Plaid in ChatGPT (U.S. Pro)Official
- "Money" tab found in Claude's appLeak
- Renamed "Personal Finance," revealed to connect via PlaidLeak
OpenAI launched in May, plans to widen access
OpenAI launched a feature on May 15 that connects bank accounts via Plaid, for U.S. users of ChatGPT's top-tier "Pro" plan. It reads balance, transaction, investment and loan data and gives financial advice. Full account numbers are not visible, and it cannot operate the accounts. OpenAI had said it would soon extend access to "Plus" users and ultimately wanted to offer it to all users.
According to TestingCatalog, ChatGPT's finance feature has since expanded to eligible Plus and Pro users in the United States, covering spending, balances, subscriptions, net worth and investments. Claude's feature would catch up with this. ChatGPT's finance feature is still limited to U.S. users.
