Plaid Direct is a lightweight integration specification that allows banks and fintech applications to quickly integrate into the Plaid data network, enabling open banking-style connectivity across financial services providers. This enables businesses to deepen engagement with their customers by providing seamless account connectivity, which can be used for personal financial management apps or other services. The integration process is efficient, taking as little as two weeks to complete, and includes robust security controls such as customer authentication and tokenization. By integrating with Plaid Direct, institutions can pursue partnerships with other Plaid-powered apps and institutions, making it easier to expand their reach and offerings.