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

# How do I get a lender connected by API?

> Ask NextLevel MCA to connect a lender's API so deals go straight into its system, and what changes once it's live.

By default, NextLevel MCA emails each deal package to the lender's submission addresses. Some lenders also accept deals through their own API: the deal goes straight into the lender's system, and its status (and, for some lenders, its offers) comes back to you automatically.

You don't set this up yourself. You send a request from the lender's page, and NextLevel MCA connects it for your workspace. Sending or cancelling a request needs the **Edit Lenders** permission.

## Which lenders offer it

When you add a lender and pick it from the list of known lenders, the line under **Lender name** tells you whether an API connection is available:

* *API integration available on request* followed by what it does, for example **Returns offers automatically**.
* *No API integration known for this lender yet*: deals go out by email. You can still request one and NextLevel MCA will check.

A lender added as a **Custom lender** can also be requested. Not every lender offers an API; NextLevel MCA checks and lets you know.

## Request the connection

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the lender's Submission tab">
    Go to **Lenders**, click the lender, and open **Submission**. The **API integration** card is at the top.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Request API access">
    You can also tick **Request API access after creating this lender** on the last step of **New lender**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Answer the optional questions">
    * **Do you already have API credentials or a partner contact at this lender?** Yes or No.
    * **Lender contact (optional)**: your rep at the lender.
    * **Notes (optional)**: anything that helps, such as a partner ID or who to talk to.

    These are optional but speed things up. Don't paste passwords or API keys here; NextLevel MCA will ask for credentials directly if it needs them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send request">
    The card shows **Requested**, and the lender gets an amber **API requested** badge in the Lenders list.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## While you wait

The card shows where your request stands:

| Status | Meaning |
| - | - |
| **Requested** | NextLevel MCA has your request and will pick it up. |
| **In progress** | NextLevel MCA is setting the connection up. |
| **Connected** | Live. Deals now go through the lender's API. |
| **Declined** | It couldn't be set up. The note on the card says why. **Request again** sends a new request. |

Until the connection is live, deals keep going out by email as normal. **Cancel request** withdraws an open request; you can request again any time.

## Once it's connected

* The **API integration** card shows **Connected**, the integration's name, when it was last verified, and any last error. It's managed by NextLevel MCA; contact support to change it.
* The lender shows an **API** badge in the Lenders list and on deals.
* An amber **Test** badge means the connection points at the lender's test (sandbox) server: deals go there, not to the lender's live queue. NextLevel MCA switches it to production once the lender approves you.
* Some lenders can push status changes the moment they happen. If the card shows an **Instant status updates** address, give it to the lender and click **Copy** to copy it. Until the lender uses it, NextLevel MCA checks for updates every 15 minutes.
* **Submission emails** stay on the tab as a fallback.

## Submitting to an API lender

You submit the usual way: tick the lender on the deal's **Submissions** tab and click **Submit to selected**.

* **API pre-flight** appears under the lender list when you've ticked an API lender. It checks the deal has everything that lender's system requires. *Ready for* means it's good to go. *Missing for* lists what to add, such as an owner's mobile phone or email. **Submit to selected** stays greyed out until every ticked API lender is ready.
* Fix the missing fields on the deal, then click **Re-check** in the pre-flight panel. Or untick the lender and send it by email another time.
* After sending, the submission row shows the lender's status, its reference, when it was last checked, and a **Test** badge if it went to the test server. **Refresh** checks the status (and offers, where the lender supports it) now. **View error** shows what went wrong, **Open in funder** opens the application in the lender's portal where available, and **Retry** sends it again.

See [Submitting to lenders](/help/submitting-to-lenders) for the rest of the submission flow.

## Common problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Submit to selected is greyed out">
    An API lender you ticked isn't ready. Read the **API pre-flight** panel, fill the missing fields on the deal, and click **Re-check**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="“This lender is already connected through its API”">
    The lender is already live on its API, so there's nothing to request.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Deals went to the lender's test server">
    The lender shows a **Test** badge, so its connection is still on the sandbox. Contact NextLevel MCA support to move it to production once the lender has approved you. See [Getting help](/help/getting-help).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I want to change the credentials or switch the lender back to email">
    The connection is managed by NextLevel MCA. Contact support. See [Getting help](/help/getting-help).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>


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