specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Sila
providerId: sila-money
created: '2026-07-12'
modified: '2026-07-12'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Embedded Finance
- Banking as a Service
- Payments
- ACH
- Fintech
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Sila spend. Unlike a flat SaaS API, Sila's cost is dominated by
  per-transaction and per-verification fees inherent to regulated money movement:
  each ACH debit / credit (issue_sila, redeem_sila), each identity verification
  (request_kyc / KYB), and virtual-account provisioning carry unit costs under a
  negotiated production agreement. The sandbox is free. Because rates are contracted
  and not published, the meters below are MODELED cost drivers, not reconciled unit
  prices.
notes: >-
  reconciled:false. Per-transaction, per-KYC, and virtual-account unit prices are set
  in the Sila commercial agreement and were not published on the pages reviewed.
  Reconcile actual rates, minimums, and any monthly platform fee with Sila. Note
  also downstream network costs (ACH returns / NSF, dispute handling) that flow
  through money movement.
sources:
- https://www.silamoney.com/
- https://docs.silamoney.com/docs/get-started
- https://www.silamoney.com/virtual-accounts
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Sila
serviceCategory: Embedded Finance and Payments
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Sila Money API
  ServiceCategory: Embedded Finance and Payments
  ProviderName: Sila
  PublisherName: Sila
  InvoiceIssuerName: Sila
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: ach_transactions
  description: Per ACH money-movement transaction (issue_sila debit, redeem_sila credit). MODELED cost driver.
  unit: transactions
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - app_handle
  - user_handle
- name: kyc_verifications
  description: Per identity verification (request_kyc) and KYB verification. MODELED cost driver.
  unit: verifications
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - app_handle
  - user_handle
- name: virtual_accounts
  description: Virtual-account provisioning / maintenance (dedicated account and routing number). MODELED cost driver.
  unit: accounts
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - app_handle
- name: ach_returns
  description: ACH returns / NSF and dispute-handling adjustments flowing through money movement. MODELED cost driver.
  unit: events
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - app_handle
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track ACH transaction counts, KYC/KYB verification counts, and virtual-account provisioning per app_handle and user_handle to attribute spend.
- name: Allocation
  description: Use app_handle / user_handle and per-request reference to map money-movement and verification costs to internal cost centers or end customers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Batch or gate verifications to avoid re-running KYC unnecessarily; check_bank_account_capabilities before initiating transfers to reduce ACH returns; right-size virtual-account provisioning.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per program; review monthly transaction / verification volume against the contracted rate card and any minimums.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com