# Create accounts

You can create the following account types:

- **Multi-ledger accounts**: Accounts associated with more than one ledger. Multi-ledger accounts provide a way to centralize your blockchain transactions. This is the default account type.
- **Single-ledger accounts**: An account associated with one ledger.


New account creation can result in the allocation of a specific reserved amount on the account, depending on the ledger. For example, XRPL account creation creates a reserved amount of 2 XRP. This amount is released when the account is deleted.

For more information on the reserve amount, see [Check account balances](/products/custody/v1.26/ui/accounting-entities/account/view#check-account-balances).

## Prerequisites

Before you can create your account, you need the details of the vault in which to store the account, including the supported key derivations, as described in [View vault details](/products/custody/v1.26/ui/environment/vault/view).

For more information about key derivations, see the following sections:

- [Blockchain keys](/products/custody/v1.26/overview/key-management#blockchain-keys)
- [Key derivation](/products/custody/v1.26/overview/blockchain/accounts/key-derivation)


## Create an account

To create a new Ripple Custody account:

1. Navigate to **Accounts**.
2. Select **Create an account**.
3. Enter the account name and description.
4. Select the vault.
5. In **Advanced settings**, select the key derivation strategy.  By default, this is limited to *hard* key derivation. To enable *soft* or *random* key derivation, contact your Ripple laison. For more information, see [Key derivation](/products/custody/v1.26/overview/blockchain/accounts/key-derivation).
6. In **Custom properties**, specify custom information about the account, for example, details of a third-party or internal system to which to link the account.
7. Associate the account with one or all available ledgers:
  - If this is a single-ledger account, select **Single ledger** and select the ledger from the list.
  - If this is a multi-ledger account, select **Multi ledgers**. Ripple Custody associates all compatible ledgers with the account.
8. Select **Submit for Approval** and [sign the operation with the app](/products/custody/v1.26/ui/get-started/key-operations/intent-signature).


The new account is created when the intent is successfully executed.