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

# Counterparties

> This guide explains what a counterparty is and how to add one to your account.

## **What is a Counterparty?**

A **counterparty** is the business or individual your customer sends money to or receives money from. A counterparty is normally the other side of a transaction wtih the customer, either the sender when the customer is the reciepient or vice versa. A counterparty requires very light minimal onboarding. A Counterparty normally shares one of the following relationships with the customer:

* **Vendor** - Who the customer pays for goods/services
* **Supplier** - Who provides materials or products to the customer
* **Contractor** - Who performs work for the customer
* **Client** - Who pays the customer for services

### **Key differences: Customer vs. counterparty**

| Aspect              | Customer                                        | Counterparty                     |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Who are they?**   | Your direct client (the business using Conduit) | Your customer's business partner |
| **KYB Required?**   | ✅ Yes - Full KYB verification required          | ❌ No - Basic information only    |
| **Compliance**      | Must pass compliance review                     | Minimal compliance checks        |
| **Payment Methods** | Bank accounts, Crypto wallets, Virtual accounts | Bank accounts, Crypto wallets    |
| **Features**        | Can be recipient and sender of funds            | Typically the recipient of funds |

**Example:**

* **Customer:** TechStart LLC (your client )
* **Counterparty:** Office Supplies Inc. (TechStart's vendor they pay monthly)

### **What details are required to create a counterparty?**

#### Business counterparties

| Field                  | Description            | Example                  | Required |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------ | -------- |
| `type`                 | Must be "business"     | `"business"`             | ✅ Yes    |
| `businessName`         | Legal business name    | `"Office Supplies Inc."` | ✅ Yes    |
| `address`              | Business address       | See below                | ✅ Yes    |
| `email`                | Contact email          | `"[email protected]"`    | ❌ No     |
| `phone`                | Contact phone          | `"+1234567890"`          | ❌ No     |
| `identificationType`   | ID type (e.g., EIN)    | `"EIN"`                  | ❌ No     |
| `identificationNumber` | Tax ID or EIN          | `"12-3456789"`           | ❌ No     |
| `website`              | Company website        | `"https://supplies.com"` | ❌ No     |
| `customerId`           | Associated customer ID | `"cus_xxxxx"`            | ✅ Yes    |
| `paymentMethods`       | Payment method details | See below                | ✅ Yes    |

#### Individual counterparties

| Field                  | Description                | Example               | Required |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------- | --------------------- | -------- |
| `type`                 | Must be "individual"       | `"individual"`        | ✅ Yes    |
| `firstName`            | First name                 | `"John"`              | ✅ Yes    |
| `lastName`             | Last name                  | `"Doe"`               | ✅ Yes    |
| `address`              | Residential address        | See below             | ✅ Yes    |
| `email`                | Contact email              | `"[email protected]"` | ❌ No     |
| `phone`                | Contact phone              | `"+1234567890"`       | ❌ No     |
| `birthDate`            | Date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD) | `"1980-01-15"`        | ❌ No     |
| `nationality`          | Country code               | `"USA"`               | ❌ No     |
| `identificationType`   | ID type (e.g., SSN)        | `"SSN"`               | ❌ No     |
| `identificationNumber` | ID number                  | `"123-45-6789"`       | ❌ No     |
| `customerId`           | Associated customer ID     | `"cus_xxxxx"`         | ✅ Yes    |
| `paymentMethods`       | Payment method details     | See below             | ✅ Yes    |

#### Country-specific requirements for counterparties

These fields are required at the counterparty level to ensure local rails and compliance checks can be completed.

| Country         | Required Fields                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Identification Types                                                                 |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Brazil          | **Business**<br />`businessName` ,`website`, `email` ,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`firstName` ,`lastName`, `email`, `birthDate`,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`                    | **Business**<br />`cnpj`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`cpf`                        |
| Colombia        | **Business**<br />`businessName` ,`website`, `email` , `phone` ,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`firstName` ,`lastName`, `email`,  `phone`,`birthDate`,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country` | **Business**<br />`nit`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`nit`, `cc`, `ce`, `passport` |
| Mexico          | **Business**<br />`businessName` ,`website`, `identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`firstName` ,`lastName`, `birthDate`,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`                                      | **Business**<br />`rfc`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`rfc`, `curp`                 |
| Other Countries | **Business**<br />`businessName` ,`website`, `identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`<br /><br />**Individual**<br />`firstName` ,`lastName`, `birthDate`,`identificationType`, `identificationNumber`, `address.streetLine1` ,`address.city` `address.state`, `address.postalCode`, `address.country`                                      |                                                                                      |

## **What's next?**

Now that you know what a counterparty is and how they’re used in transactions, learn how to create one by following our [Adding a Counterparty](/guides/counterparty/adding-a-counterparty) guide.

For full request details, see the [API Reference](/api-reference/counterparties/list-counterparties).

## Support

Reach out to our [support team](https://support.conduitpay.com/) to get help and share your feedback.