--- title: "Claude Desktop: Add Your Bank as a Connector | BankBridge" description: "Check balances and spending from Claude Desktop. Add one Custom Connector, sign in with OAuth, and start asking about your accounts in about two minutes." url: "https://bankbridge.money/docs/claude-desktop" --- [← All integrations](https://bankbridge.money/docs) Claude Desktop # Custom Connector. Add BankBridge in Settings → Connectors. OAuth signs you in, tools + prompts appear in-app automatically. Same flow as claude.ai web, just inside the desktop app. Step 01 ## Click to install, or open Settings → Connectors. [Add to Claude →](https://claude.ai/directory/connectors/bankbridge) Opens BankBridge in the Claude Connectors Directory. Click Connect, then sign in to BankBridge. Directory not loading? [Add it as a custom connector instead](https://claude.ai/customize/connectors?modal=add-custom-connector&connectorName=BankBridge&connectorUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fbankbridge.money%2Fapi%2Fmcp) (name and URL come prefilled). Claude Desktop → **Settings** → **Connectors** → **Browse connectors**, search for **BankBridge**(it’s in the Claude Connectors Directory) and click **Connect**. Prefer a URL? Use **Add custom connector** with the URL below. Step 02 ## Or paste the server URL. URL: ``` https://bankbridge.money/api/mcp ``` Leave the Advanced fields empty. OAuth is auto-discovered. Step 03 ## Connect + approve. Click **Connect**, sign in with your BankBridge email, click **Allow**. Claude Desktop gets an access token scoped to your account. No API key to copy, no token to paste. If you rotate anything later, click Connect again. Step 04 ## Use the tools + the + button. The 12 MCP tools are available to every chat automatically. Try: try this ``` how much did I spend this week? ``` The **\+ button** in the chat input surfaces BankBridge’s **19 slash-command prompts**: `/monthly-check`, `/subscriptions`, `/portfolio-health`, and more. One click fills the full prompt template; Claude runs the multi-step flow. Works the same way in Claude iOS, Android, and Cowork. Troubleshooting Desktop shows 'Unable to connect to extension server'. Claude Desktop has an occasional bug where the connector fails to (re)start after a laptop sleep or update. **Fix:** Settings → Connectors → toggle BankBridge off, then back on. 401 Unauthorized on every call. The API key is missing, typo'd, or got revoked. Check the Authorization header starts with \`Bearer \` (note the space) and ends in a key you still own. **Fix:** Paste a fresh key from [Settings](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard/settings). Tools return setup\_required. Your BankBridge account has no active subscription yet, or it was canceled or is past due. The connection itself works; each tool answers with the link that finishes setup. **Fix:** Visit [Settings](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard/settings) to start or restore your subscription, then connect a bank. Tools return a NO\_CONNECTIONS warning. You haven't linked a bank yet. **Fix:** Visit [Connect a bank](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard/connect) . The bank-connect flow opens automatically, ~30 seconds. Tools return REAUTH\_REQUIRED. Your bank requires re-authorization (happens every 90 days at most institutions). **Fix:** Visit [the dashboard](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard). The affected bank will have a Reconnect button. Why the Custom Connector (not `.mcpb`) Claude Desktop supports two install formats: Custom Connector (remote URL, OAuth) and the `.mcpb` bundle (local executable, bearer token). We recommend the Custom Connector because the `.mcpb`flow shows a generic “grant this extension access to everything on your computer” warning on install accurate for the format in general, but misleading for BankBridge, which only makes HTTP calls to our server. Custom Connector skips all of that: no local process, no filesystem access, no scary dialog. Prefer the `.mcpb` bundle? Still supported. Download [bankbridge.mcpb](https://bankbridge.money/download/bankbridge.mcpb), double-click it, paste your API token from [your dashboard](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard) when prompted. The bundle wraps `mcp-remote`, a stdio → HTTP proxy that forwards your requests to `bankbridge.money/api/mcp`with your bearer token. It’s functionally equivalent to the Custom Connector. Only the install path differs. Problems? Email [hello@bankbridge.money](mailto:hello@bankbridge.money).