GoCardless Bank Account Data vs London & Zurich Direct Debit

GoCardless Bank Account Data is an API for businesses that need account details and transaction data from connected bank accounts. It connects through bank PSD2 APIs and can return account holder names, account identifiers, IBANs, transaction dates, counterparties, descriptions and amounts, plus current and available balances. It can retrieve up to 24 months of transaction history, with continuous access lasting up to 90 days. Data refreshes on demand, and responses use JSON. To connect, an end user chooses a supported financial institution, accepts a GoCardless-hosted consent screen and authenticates through the institution. API requests use an authorization token created with a Bank Account Data portal user secret. GoCardless provides a quickstart guide and instructions for importing the API schema into Postman. Availability is limited to EEA countries subject to PSD2 where GoCardless operates as an authorized AISP. Banks may restrict requests to as few as four calls per account per day. Account verification is available only to paying customers; new accounts are unverified by default. The service is paid, with pricing on request, and is available via API and web.

London & Zurich Direct Debit provides collection services and administration software for businesses. It supports regular, recurring, and one-off payments after customers authorise Direct Debit collection. The DDMS portal handles mandate creation, Bacs submission, compliance, reporting, failed payments, reconciliation, accounting, and scheduling. Businesses can use their own Service User Number or operate under London & Zurich’s; the company says it can obtain one through its sponsor bank for organisations without a SUN. Integration options include a RESTful API, accounting connections, a test environment, developer documentation, and specialist integration support. API access is included within a solution, with costs depending on integration needs and setup. The service can be white labelled so bank statements show the customer business’s name. London & Zurich describes AWS hosting, UK-based servers, multi-factor authentication, 24/7 monitoring, Cyber Essentials Plus, FCA authorisation, and Bacs Approved Bureau status. Pricing is on request, with Business, Foundation, and Enterprise/Reseller options.