Case Study: Astra achieves automated “sweep” transfers and smarter consumer savings with Dwolla

Astra Announces Automated “Sweep” Transfers for Consumers

Astra, a financial intelligence mobile app founded by Gil Akos and Sam Morgan, helps consumers optimize cash flow through automated transfers, savings goals and virtual sub-accounts. Astra’s challenge was to bring “sweep” transfers — balance-triggered, variable bank transfers typically reserved for private banking clients — to everyday users, which required on-demand, variable ACH capabilities. To solve this, Astra partnered with Dwolla and its ACH API/on‑ramp to the Automated Clearing House Network.

Using Dwolla’s API to power programmatic “me-to-me” ACH transfers, Astra built middleware that dynamically calculates and executes sweep transfers when a user’s balance crosses predefined thresholds. The integration made Astra the first app to deliver consumer-facing sweep functionality, letting users save automatically without manual transfers while ensuring account balances don’t fall below set limits. The solution leverages Dwolla’s connection to the ACH Network (which moves more than $43 trillion annually) and Dwolla’s payments platform to scale efficient, variable transfers and expand automated saving for everyday consumers.

Astra

Gil Akos

CEO/Co-Founder