# Adds alternative reference field to bank account and payout method resources ## What’s new You can now view and cross-reference [Payout Methods](https://docs.stripe.com/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) coming from [External Accounts](https://docs.stripe.com/api/external_accounts.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) using the new [alternative_reference](https://docs.stripe.com/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview#v2_payout_method_object-alternative_reference) property. This property is available for the following resources: - [GbBankAccount](https://docs.stripe.com/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview#v2_gb_bank_account_object-alternative_reference) - [UsBankAccount](https://docs.stripe.com/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview#v2_us_bank_account_object-alternative_reference) - [PayoutMethod](https://docs.stripe.com/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object.md?api-version=2026-01-28.preview#v2_payout_method_object-alternative_reference) The new `alternative_reference` property follows the format `{type: "external_account", id: "ba_123"}`, where the ID corresponds to the External Account identifier. ## Impact You can use the `alternative_reference` property to trace a Payout Method back to its External Account and update the credential information as needed, without any changes to your existing integration code. This new property is read-only and automatically populates when credentials originate from External Accounts. ## Changes #### REST API | Parameter | Change | Resources or endpoints | | ----------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `alternative_reference` | Added | [V2.Core.Vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.Core.Vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.MoneyManagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### Ruby | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ----------------------- | ------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `alternative_reference` | Added | [V2::Core::Vault::GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2::Core::Vault::UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2::MoneyManagement::PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### Python | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ----------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `alternative_reference` | Added | [V2.Core.Vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.Core.Vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.MoneyManagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### PHP | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ----------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `alternative_reference` | Added | [V2.Core.Vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.Core.Vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.MoneyManagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### Java | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ---------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `alternativeReference` | Added | [v2.core.vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [v2.core.vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [v2.moneymanagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### Node.js | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ----------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `alternative_reference` | Added | [V2.Core.Vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.Core.Vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.MoneyManagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### Go | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ---------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `AlternativeReference` | Added | [V2CoreVaultGbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2CoreVaultUsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2MoneyManagementPayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | #### .NET | Parameter | Change | Resources or methods | | ---------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `AlternativeReference` | Added | [V2.Core.Vault.GbBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/gb-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.Core.Vault.UsBankAccount](/api/v2/core/vault/us-bank-accounts/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview), [V2.MoneyManagement.PayoutMethod](/api/v2/money-management/payout-methods/object?api-version=2026-01-28.preview) | ## Upgrade #### REST API 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. If you use an SDK, upgrade to the corresponding SDK version for this API version. - If you don’t use an SDK, update your [API requests](https://docs.stripe.com/api/versioning.md) to include `Stripe-Version: 2026-01-28.preview` 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Ruby 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Ruby SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Python 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Python SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### PHP 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your PHP SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Java 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Java SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Node.js 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Node SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Go 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Go SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### .NET 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your .NET SDK to the latest version. 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). ## Related changes - [Updates error codes for the Outbound Setup Intents API](https://docs.stripe.com/changelog/clover/2026-01-28/outbound-setup-intents-error-codes.md) - [Adds fingerprint property to card payout methods](https://docs.stripe.com/changelog/clover/2026-01-28/card-payout-methods-fingerprint-property.md) - [Global Payouts adds support for 15 new countries for cross-border payouts](https://docs.stripe.com/changelog/clover/2026-01-28/cross-border-payouts-new-countries.md)