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

# Data model

> How parties, accounts, wallets, and virtual bank accounts relate — the object hierarchy behind every Finance API call.

Every Finance API resource hangs off a **party**. Once the hierarchy clicks, the rest of the API is predictable: you create entities top-down, and most operations are scoped to an account.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TD
    Company[Your company] --> Party[Party · individual or organisation]
    Party -->|party role| Account[Account · one chain]
    Account --> Wallet[Wallets · account + escrow]
    Account --> VBA[Virtual bank account · IBAN]
    Account --> Transfer[Transfers]
    Account --> PayReq[Payment requests]
    Wallet --> Permit[Permits and allowances]
```

## The entities

| Entity                                                               | What it is                                                                                                             | Key relationships                                                                      |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **[Party](/api-reference/Finance-API/parties/list-all-parties)**     | The legal identity — an `INDIVIDUAL` or `ORGANISATION`. Carries KYC/KYB status.                                        | Linked to one or more accounts via party roles.                                        |
| **[Account](/api-reference/Finance-API/accounts/list-all-accounts)** | The container for money movement, pinned to one chain (`BASE`, `AVALANCHE`, or `POLYGON`) at creation.                 | Belongs to a party (or parties); holds wallets, VBAs, transfers, and payment requests. |
| **Party role**                                                       | The link between a party and an account (`ACCOUNT_HOLDER`).                                                            | Many parties can share one account (joint accounts).                                   |
| **[Wallet](/guides/finance/wallets)**                                | Custodial crypto wallet (`VENLY_MANAGED` or `SELF_CUSTODY`). Each account has an account wallet plus an escrow wallet. | Belongs to an account; holds per-asset balances.                                       |
| **[Virtual bank account](/guides/finance/virtual-bank-accounts)**    | An IBAN for receiving fiat (EUR SEPA), auto-converted to crypto.                                                       | Belongs to an account.                                                                 |

## How they're created

You build top-down, and verification gates the money-movement steps:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a party">
    The root identity. KYC/KYB starts after creation — see [Account verification](/guides/finance/kyc-verification).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open an account">
    Link the party (`partyId`, or an inline `party`) and choose the chain. Venly provisions the wallets.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get verified">
    A Venly admin moves the account to `VERIFIED`. Until then, money movement is blocked.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add IBANs and move money">
    Assign a [virtual bank account](/guides/finance/virtual-bank-accounts), then [transfer](/guides/finance/transfers) or take [payment requests](/guides/finance/payment-requests).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## IDs and external IDs

Every entity has a Venly UUID `id`. You can also set your own `externalId` on parties and accounts and use it as a shortcut — for example `receiverExternalId` on a transfer, instead of looking up the Venly UUID.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Getting started" icon="rocket" href="/guides/finance/getting-started">
    Build the hierarchy end to end.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Glossary" icon="book-open" href="/guides/finance/glossary">
    Definitions for every entity and status.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>