# Balance Check
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/open-finance-data/documentation/features/balance-check/index.md

### Balance Check {#balance-check}

Balance Check adds a new endpoint to the existing accounts capability that enables a synchronous, on-demand balance check for a specific account. The goal is to provide the most up-to-date balance information with acceptable latency by calling the data provider directly.

### Why it exists {#why-it-exists}

This capability is designed for scenarios where real‑time balance confirmation is required immediately before a money movement decision. Typical examples include payment setup followed by execution (such as direct debit or subscription flows), where confirming sufficient funds at a precise moment is critical. It is intended for targeted, on‑demand checks rather than routine balance updates.

### What it does {#what-it-does}

The new endpoint performs an instant ("live") balance retrieval per account, returning the set of balances available for that account (recognizing that even one account can have multiple balance types). The intent is to keep the call per-account to reduce latency and avoid one account's issues slowing down another, which is especially important in risk- or payment-adjacent flows.

### Endpoints used {#endpoints-used}


API Reference: `POST /accounts/{account_id}/balance-checks`