---
title: "How to give the Pi coding agent access to your bank account"
description: "Pi's bash tool can run the bankbridge command, with a short skill it loads on demand. Or connect over MCP. Read-only, about two minutes."
slug: "how-to-give-pi-access-to-your-bank-account"
url: "https://bankbridge.money/guides/how-to-give-pi-access-to-your-bank-account"
category: "how-to"
published: "2026-11-06"
updated: "2026-11-06"
---
# How to give the Pi coding agent access to your bank account

> Pi the coding agent has a bash tool by default, so it can run the bankbridge command. Install it, run bankbridge login with an API key ($5/month per connected bank), and add a short skill so Pi knows the command exists. Since version 0.99.0 Pi also connects to MCP servers, so pi mcp add works too. Either way it's read-only, and BankBridge keeps no copy of your balances or transactions.

## 1\. Try it with fictional data

Install the [bankbridge command](https://bankbridge.money/cli). It puts one binary in `~/.local/bin` and doesn’t change any agent’s settings.

terminal

```
curl -fsSL https://bankbridge.money/install.sh | sh
bankbridge accounts --demo
```

## 2\. Connect your bank

Sign up at [bankbridge.money/login](https://bankbridge.money/login). Pricing is $5/month per connected bank, and checkout is Stripe. Then click **Connect a bank**, find your bank and sign in, in a window hosted by our bank-data provider. Most banks take about 30 seconds.

Copy an API key from [settings](https://bankbridge.money/dashboard/settings) and save it:

terminal

```
bankbridge login
```

## 3\. Use it from the Pi coding agent

Pi’s default tools are `read`, `bash`, `edit` and `write`, so the command is already within reach. A skill tells Pi it exists. Pi lists skills by name and description and reads the file only when a task calls for it. Save this at `~/.agents/skills/bankbridge/SKILL.md`:

SKILL.md

```
---
name: bankbridge
description: Read the user's bank accounts, transactions, bills and investments. Use for questions about their money, spending, subscriptions or balances.
---

Run `bankbridge --help` to see the commands. Add --json and filter with jq when a result
is long. Read-only. Positive amounts are money out. A warning on stderr means a bank may be
missing from the result: tell the user.
```

Prefer MCP? With Pi 0.99.0 or later, set `BANKBRIDGE_API_KEY`, then:

terminal

```
pi mcp add bankbridge --url https://bankbridge.money/api/mcp --bearer-token-env-var BANKBRIDGE_API_KEY
```

[The full setup doc](https://bankbridge.money/docs/pi) has every step.

## 4\. Check it works

try this

```
!bankbridge accounts
```

If your balances come back, every other command will work too. `bankbridge --help` lists them: transactions, spending, recurring, cashflow, holdings and more.

## Where your data goes

-   **Read-only.** No command can move money, send a payment or change an account.
-   **No copy on our side.** BankBridge keeps no balances or transactions. We store your account, your API key hash and an encrypted bank token.
-   **Your disk, your file.** Exports are written to your machine, readable by your user only.
-   **The model sees what you add.** Output you put in the conversation goes to the model provider you set up in Pi.

## FAQ

### Which Pi is this?

Pi the terminal coding agent from pi.dev, the one you install with its own script and run as pi in a project folder.

### Should I use the command line tool or MCP with Pi?

Both read the same banks. MCP needs Pi 0.99.0 or later and one pi mcp add command. The command line tool also gives you exports to your own disk, cron jobs, and jq filtering before output reaches the model.

### What does it cost to use BankBridge with the Pi coding agent?

$5 per month per connected bank, or $50 per year per bank. The command line tool comes with the subscription and reads the same banks as every other app you connect. You can try it on fictional data with bankbridge accounts --demo before signing up.

### Can the Pi coding agent move money through BankBridge?

No. Every command only reads. Nothing in BankBridge can send a payment, move money or change an account, whatever the model asks for.