Getting Started

Below is a guide to help you:

This doc provides you with the steps to create an account and register as a developer in the Sila Console.

This doc provides instructions on how to register an app using the Developer Console.

To sign in to the Sila Console you will use the username or email and password you created when you signed up for an account (Step 1).

Start your journey with a multi-step process that prioritizes your success. This is a critical undertaking that can take 3 months or more to complete. The exact time line will depend on the specifics of your business case and turn-around times. We designed it to safeguard your investment by minimizing the risk of spending time and effort on projects unlikely to secure approval from key stakeholders along the way.

All business requirements will be communicated to you by your Sila Onboarding Specialist.

  • Phase I: Submitting details for review by one of our Sale Account Executives (you can connect with the sales team via the website or the home page of the Console).
  • Phase IIa: Once an MSA has been signed your Sales AE will work with the Sila Onboarding team to collect documents and perform due diligence in order to learn more about your business and the intended use of the Sila API.
  • Phase IIb: You will also work with the Sila’s Integration team ensure your platform meets the Technical requirements (outlined below).
  • Phase III: Once phase II is complete the Sila Onboarding team will submit your package to our banking partner to request approval and access to the Sila Production Env.
    • Depending on the level of approval received by our banking partner "production access" may be limited until testing and/or other requirements have been met.

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Technical Requirements

Below outlines some of the technical requirements you can access through the docs. Please note that the following requirements will need to fulfilled by all customers, however there may be additional requirements based on your use case:

  • Meeting Sila's Information Management and Security Requirements.
    • Your Onboarding Specialist will provide and ask you to fill out an Information Management and Security questioner. Please note that Demo submissions will not be accepted without a complete and approved Info/Sec.
  • Submitting your sandbox application for a demo requirements review.
    • All demos are reviewed against the markers outlined in the Demo Checklist, the Agreement and Disclosures Requirements and the Endpoint Specific Requirements documentation. Follow these closely as demo that fail to meet these markers will be rejected.

Step 4. Starting your Sandbox Application

BEFORE YOU START TO BUILD please familiarize yourselves with Sila's Information Management and Security Requirements and the Demo Overview for the checklist and requirements. The sooner you think through implementing these requirements the smoother your onboarding process will go.

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Limited Sandbox Access

It is important to note that not all of the Sila products are available for free in the Sandbox environment. Some products require a signed MSA and others require full compliance or legal review, even with a signed MSA, prior to gaining Sandbox access.

To avoid delays it is important that you discuss with your Onboarding Specialist any and all products you are intending to use on your platform.

IMPORTANT: It is recommended that you focus your initial integration on the basic API endpoints (sections outlined below) as those are all required for the demo submission. Once you have a completed and approved demo, you can then begin working on any other product integrations you have been approved to use (such as Instant ACH, Instant Settlement, vAccounts, etc.).

Navigating the Sila API Documentation

The Sila API endpoints and other API information are grouped by sections, such as identity verification, bank account linking, transactions, testing, webhooks, etc.

  • Section Headers - Use the section header to navigate to the Sila API endpoints which are relevant to a specific section of the flow or other API specific information.
  • Primary Endpoint - The Sila Api has several primary endpoints that must be called in a specific order for other primary endpoints and/or secondary endpoints to work.

    For instance:

    • You cannot use a transaction endpoint (ie: /issue_sila) until all of the required primary endpoints in the previous section (auth, identify verification and bank account linking) have been successfully called for an entity (individual or business end user).
    • You cannot call the secondary endpoint /get_entity until the /register endpoint has been successfully called.
  • Secondary Endpoint - The Sila API provides several useful endpoints that are dependent on primary endpoints, but are not required. These endpoints often send or return secondary data pertaining to the entity (end user) or application. The secondary endpoints can be found in a drop down tab under their primary endpoint.
  • Other Information - Located throughout a section and/or in a drop down tab you will find documentation that provides endpoint specific details or other information that will be useful to understanding or troubleshooting the Sila API.

  • CODE SAMPLES - Code samples for SDKs are provided for most endpoints at the bottom of the applicable docs.

    Keep in mind that these are not "cut and paste" code solutions, but rather a visual guide for how the request or response should look.
    RECIPES: if the code samples aren't helping, checkout these recipes for a more step by step approach to the various flows.

  • WEBHOOKS - Sila implements webhooks so that your application can be notified when certain events occur asynchronously, eliminating the need for your app to continuously poll the Sila API to get an up-to-date status.

    Webhooks are managed in the Console.

  • SILA CONSOLE & USER GUIDES - Sila has provided a UI friendly environment for many of the Sila API endpoint via the Customer Console. The Sila Console User Guide help you navigate the Console and provide guidance for managing Applications, Teams, Webhooks, and more.

Understanding the basic API order of operations:

There are many different use cases for the Sila API that will allow you to use many different endpoints. However, below we have outlined the a basic endpoint flows that all applications must start with:

  • AUTH - Sila uses the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) for authentication of API requests.

    Sila does not use API keys or OAuth routines as is common. ECDSA provides an additional layer of security not possible with other methods.
    Learn more about that here.
    You can build your own Auth, however we highly suggest using a provided SDK in your preferred language - doing so will make the Auth integration much easier.

  • IDENTITY VERIFICATION FLOW - All flows start with registering an entity (aka: an individual or business end user). Required IDV endpoints: /register, update<registration-data>, /request_kyc, /check_kyc, /documents and /document_types.

    Generating a specified blockchain address (wallet) is part of this flow and happens before the /register endpoint call. If you are using Sila Native SDK you can use the Wallet Generation code provided in the applicable SDK documentation.

  • ACCOUNT LINKING - The /linkaccount endpoint requires that you pass either a Plaid processor token or a MX auth code. _Required endpoint: /link_account

    To do that, you will need follow the steps in the Plaid + Sila Integration docs or the MX + Sila Integration docs.

  • TRANSACTION FLOW - Requests to transaction endpoints will not work until you have successfully completed the steps above. Required endpoints: /issue_sila, /transfer_sila, /redeem_sila

    You will be required to successfully transact with Standard or Same-Day ACH before you will be able to use Sila's other payment instruments (such as Instant ACH).

Still struggling?

Watch the Sila Demo or check out the Sila API Explorer to gain a better understanding of the main features of the Sila API.

You will use the App information you generated in Step 2 with the Sila API Explorer.
NOTE: the API Explorer is a demonstration tool ONLY, is independent of your Sandbox environment and requires an ECDSA private key pair.

  • If you are struggling to understand the order of operations and how the endpoints work together, the Sila API Explorer provides an interface that allows you to interact with the Sila API in a way that breaks down the flow. Understanding these steps will make the docs easier to read and ease your integration experience.
  • Keep in mind the API Explorer demonstrates the function of many of the Sila API endpoints. However, you may not need all of the endpoints being demonstrated for your use case. See the Basic API Order of Operations to understand which endpoints are required.
  • The Sila API Explorer does NOT accept the Auth token. You will need to create a separate testing App with an ECDSA private key pair to use the Sila API Explorer.