Does MemoryBank work with Bright Start?

Yes. Bright Start links to MemoryBank, read-only, through Plaid (it's in Plaid's current list, checked 2026-11-02). Your child's Bright Start account shows in their own view next to their other accounts, updated automatically and plain-English explanations from Penny.

About Bright Start

Bright Start is Illinois's direct-sold 529 college savings program.

529 college savings account

Usually owned by a parent with the child as beneficiary. Growth is tax-free when it's spent on qualified education costs; state tax benefits depend on where you live.

Account details are as described by Bright Start (Illinois's 529 plan) in November 2026 and can change; check there before opening an account. MemoryBank isn't affiliated with Bright Start. Sources: Bright Start.

How to connect Bright Start

  1. 1Create a free MemoryBank account and add your kids.
  2. 2On the Starter or Family plan, choose Connect an institution, then “Brokerage, retirement, or 529”.
  3. 3Search for Bright Start on the Plaid screen and sign in there. MemoryBank never sees your login.
  4. 4Pick your child's Bright Start account, then assign each one to the right kid.

Prefer not to link? Add the account by hand on any plan, including Free. Holdings are priced live; a 529 can be a single balance you update when the statement arrives.

What your child sees

On a paired phone, tablet or wall display, your child sees their Bright Start account next to everything else that's theirs: the total, how it's growing, and how much is set aside for their future. They can ask Penny, the built-in AI money mentor, what anything means at their age, from 5 to 18+. They can't trade, transfer or withdraw; those features don't exist in MemoryBank.

Common questions

Does MemoryBank see the password for Bright Start?
No. You sign in to Bright Start on a secure Plaid screen, and MemoryBank gets read-only access to the accounts you choose. MemoryBank never sees or stores your Bright Start login.
Can my child trade or withdraw from the Bright Start account in MemoryBank?
No. MemoryBank is read-only for kids and parents alike: no trading, transfers or withdrawals. The account stays at Bright Start and you manage it there.
What if my child's Bright Start account doesn't show up when I connect?
When you connect, Plaid shows the accounts available under your Bright Start login and you pick your child's. If one doesn't appear, add it as a manual account: enter the holdings (priced live) or a single balance. Manual accounts work on every plan, including Free.
Do I need a paid plan to link Bright Start?
Linked accounts are on the Starter and Family plans. On the Free plan you can add the same account by hand and update it yourself.

Other 529 plans: my529 · ScholarShare 529 · Invest529 · Texas College Savings Plan · Path2College 529 · PA 529 · CollegeInvest · Minnesota 529 · Indiana529 Direct · NC 529 Plan

Brokerages: Schwab · Fidelity · Vanguard · E*TRADE · Merrill · Robinhood · search every institution

Their money is growing. Let them see it.

Free to start. Connect the accounts you already have and give your kid their own view.

Try MemoryBank freeCheck another institution

MemoryBank is not a brokerage. It cannot receive, keep or transfer securities, and it never holds your money.