> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.paygentic.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Accounts

> Fund management and instant settlement

Every organization has at least one account. Accounts hold funds, settle payments instantly, and route money between customers and merchants.

## Architecture

Each account is a separate ledger. Transfers between accounts happen synchronously — the balance is final as soon as the API call returns.

**Key properties:**

* Single currency denomination (USD currently)
* Real-time settlement between parties

## Transaction flow

Every debit has a matching credit (double-entry accounting):

1. **Funding** — external money enters through payment processors into consumer accounts
2. **Consumption** — usage triggers instant transfers from consumer to merchant accounts
3. **Settlement** — merchants withdraw accumulated balances to external banks

Because both sides settle inside Paygentic, there's no counterparty risk and no settlement delay.

## Sub-cent precision

Balances are stored in the smallest possible unit, so you can charge fractions of a cent accurately.

**Practical implications:**

* Charge fractions of pennies for token processing
* No rounding errors in high-volume transactions
* Attribute cost exactly, even for tiny units of usage

For example, billing \$0.0000001 per database query becomes viable at scale.

## Payment methods

Accounts decouple payment sources from consumption. You receive funds regardless of how the customer originally paid — credit card, ACH, crypto, or corporate invoicing.

This gives you:

* Access to payment methods available in each region
* Compliance obligations kept isolated per account
* Reduced PCI scope
* One reconciliation flow for every payment type

## Balance management

Account balances enforce hard spending limits. A customer can't spend more than their account balance, which prevents:

* Debt accumulation
* Invoice disputes
* Collection overhead
* Credit risk exposure

Paygentic rejects any transaction that would push a balance below zero.

## Instant settlements

Card and bank transfers usually take days. Account-to-account transfers settle in milliseconds.

**Benefits:**

* Cash flow acceleration for merchants
* No accounts receivable management
* No chargeback window on services already consumed
* Real-time revenue recognition

## Multi-party transactions

Accounts support complex fund flows beyond simple bilateral transfers:

* **Revenue splits** — automatic distribution to multiple recipients
* **Platform fees** — percentage deductions during transfers
* **Tax withholding** — regulatory compliance deductions
* **Affiliate commissions** — programmatic partner payouts

Each component processes atomically within the same transaction.

## Fund withdrawal

You withdraw accumulated balances through payout operations:

**Prerequisites:**

* Completed KYC verification
* Linked external bank account
* Minimum balance thresholds

**Processing:**

* Batch aggregation for efficiency
* Bank network timing dependencies (1–3 business days)
* Audit trail generation

## Future enhancements

**Multi-currency support** — local currency accounts eliminating FX friction

**Hierarchical accounts** — team budgets and departmental allocations

**Programmable controls** — spending policies and automated rebalancing

**Interest accrual** — yield generation on idle balances

## Technical integration

You don't need to manage account transfers directly. Sending usage events triggers the correct fund movements automatically.

## Next steps

* [Pricing Overview](/platform/pricing/overview) — structure your billing model
* [Usage Events](/platform/billing/usage-events) — trigger account transfers