# Approving Settlements Learn how to approve Settlements to payout your sellers. When `Settlements` with day-to-day payments and transactions are approved, a Funding `Transfer` gets created that credits the seller's bank account with their payout. The grouping of Settlements and when they're available for approval depends on the payout schedule you've configured. `Settlements`, Entries, and Funding `Transfers` are available for review and approval via [Finix's API](/api/settlements) and your [Finix Dashboard](https://finix.payments-dashboard.com/Login). - For Finix Flex customers, Finix manages and approves Settlements. - For Finix Core customers, you’ll need to approve and manage your user's Settlements. Your sellers receive funds (or get paid out) when their Settlements are approved. For example, say one of your sellers has a Settlement that only contains refunds. Once the Settlement is approved, the Funding Transfer will debit funds from the user's bank account. ## Settlement approval checklist It's crucial to exercise vigilance and carefully review each Settlement before approving it. Reviewing Settlements ensures funding `Transfers` are created accurately and securely and protects your organization from potential risks and fraudulent activities. Use the following list to understand what key aspects you should keep an eye out for when approving Settlements: - **Inflated Settlements** - Watch out for Settlements that appear abnormally large compared to the usual processing activity of the seller. These inflated Settlements can indicate errors, discrepancies, or even potential attempts to manipulate the system. Take the time to investigate the underlying reasons for such high amounts to ensure they align with the seller's legitimate transactions. - **Large Discrepancies** - Pay close attention to Settlements that exhibit significant discrepancies in comparison to the seller's usual processing activity. Such variances can arise due to unexpected changes in sales volume, sudden spikes in refunds, or other anomalies. By scrutinizing these discrepancies, you can identify potential issues, such as erroneous entries, fraudulent transactions, or operational errors, which may require further investigation. - **Odd Money Movements** - Keep an eye out for any unusual money movements within the Settlements. This includes transactions that seem out of place, such as funds being transferred to unfamiliar accounts or routed through unverified channels. Such irregularities can be indicative of fraudulent activities or unauthorized transfers. Take immediate action to investigate and rectify these instances to safeguard your sellers and maintain compliance. - **Discrepancies in Total Amount and Transaction Count** - Verify the accuracy of the total amount and the number of transactions included in each Settlement. Large discrepancies in either of these areas should raise a red flag, as they could indicate miscalculations, missing transactions, or even intentional manipulations. Thoroughly review the Settlement details, cross-checking them against the corresponding transaction records to ensure all amounts and counts are consistent and accurate. - **Large Negative Settlements** - Negative Settlements can occur when the refund amount exceeds the initial transaction value, resulting in a net negative balance. While negative Settlements are not inherently problematic, they should still be closely examined. Unusually large negative Settlements may warrant further investigation to confirm their legitimacy. This scrutiny helps prevent potential losses, chargebacks, or disputes arising from excessive refunds or unauthorized refunds initiated by bad actors. Additional best practices you can take include: - Monitoring the [Failed Funding Report](/guides/managing-operations/insights-reports/reports#failed-funding-instructions) and reaching out to sellers with closed accounts. - Reaching out to sellers with insufficient funds. Regularly monitoring and investigating Settlements for abnormalities or inconsistencies allows you to take proactive measures, ensuring smooth and secure transactions within your payments experience. ## Creating Settlements On a daily schedule, Finix will automatically create Settlements: - Monday through Friday on our `LITLE_V1` processor. - Every day using the `VANTIV_V1` processor. ### Payment Facilitators (Finix core) timelines If you are a payment facilitator, you will need to approve your user's Settlements by 3:30 PM PST. If a Settlement gets approved after 4:00 PM PST, the Funding Transfer is sent to the merchant the following business day. ### Managed Settlement flow (Finix flex) If you are on Flex, Finix will automatically review all Settlements and approve them. Settlements can get delayed if Entries or transactions get flagged for review. Settlements that require further review get held for risk review. Finix's team will reach out to you via a support ticket if further investigation is needed. ## Settlement schedules Settlements for `Merchants` using the `LITLE_V1` and `VANTIV_V1` processors get completed Monday-Friday with the exception of federal banking holidays. Finix Core customers must approve Settlements before 7:00 PM Eastern Time (4:00 PM Pacific Time) for sellers to receive next day funding. We recommend approving settlements no later than 6:00 PM Eastern Time to allow time for additional adjustments or review. ### Weekly Settlement schedule Weekly `LITLE_V1` Schedule | Day of the Week | Settlement Approval Day | Reconciliation Day | | --- | --- | --- | | Monday | Approve Monday | Monday | | Tuesday | Approve Tuesday | Tuesday | | Wednesday | Approve Wednesday | Wednesday | | Thursday | Approve Thursday | Thursday | | Friday | Approve Friday | Friday | Weekly `VANTIV_V1` Schedule | Day of the Week | Settlement Approval Day | Reconciliation Day | | --- | --- | --- | | Monday | Approve previous Saturday | Saturday, Sunday, Monday | | Tuesday | Approve Sunday - Tuesday | Tuesday | | Wednesday | Approve Wednesday | Wednesday | | Thursday | Approve Thursday | Thursday | | Friday | Approve Friday | Friday | ### Federal banking holidays Settlements don't process on federal banking holidays, so approvals and funding shift to the next business day. For holidays falling on Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks are open the preceding Friday. For holidays falling on Sunday, they're closed the following Monday. For the current schedule of federal banking holidays, see the [Federal Reserve's holiday schedule](https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/k8.htm). ### Holiday Settlement schedules No Settlements are funded or approved on the holiday itself. Transaction activity from the holiday accumulates and gets settled on the following business days: - For `Merchants` using `VANTIV_V1`, the accumulated Settlements get approved on each of the business days following the holiday. - For `Merchants` using `LITLE_V1`, all accumulated Settlements get approved on the first business day after the holiday.