The rules of that conversation are what RESTful financial APIs define, and they have quietly become the connective tissue of American finance. This article explains what RESTful financial APIs are and what they mean for the consumers and businesses that rely on them. What it means for consumersFor everyday users, RESTful financial APIs are why your financial life can live in one place. What it means for US businessesFor companies, RESTful financial APIs lower the cost of building financial features. This is why a well designed RESTful financial API feels effortless to the user and is anything but careless underneath.