diff --git a/fava_client.py b/fava_client.py
index 5b23568..0757121 100644
--- a/fava_client.py
+++ b/fava_client.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class FavaClient:
 
     async def get_account_balance(self, account_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """
-        Get balance for a specific account.
+        Get balance for a specific account (excluding pending transactions).
 
         Args:
             account_name: Full account name (e.g., "Assets:Receivable:User-abc123")
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ class FavaClient:
                 - sats: int (balance in satoshis)
                 - positions: dict (currency → amount with cost basis)
 
+        Note:
+            Excludes pending transactions (flag='!') from balance calculation.
+            Only cleared/completed transactions (flag='*') are included.
+
         Example:
             balance = await fava_client.get_account_balance("Assets:Receivable:User-abc")
             # Returns: {
@@ -126,7 +130,7 @@ class FavaClient:
             #     "positions": {"SATS": {"{100.00 EUR}": 200000}}
             # }
         """
-        query = f"SELECT sum(position) WHERE account = '{account_name}'"
+        query = f"SELECT sum(position) WHERE account = '{account_name}' AND flag != '!'"
 
         try:
             async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=self.timeout) as client:
@@ -171,8 +175,8 @@ class FavaClient:
         Get user's total balance (what castle owes user).
 
         Aggregates:
-        - Liabilities:Payable:User-{user_id} (positive = castle owes)
-        - Assets:Receivable:User-{user_id} (positive = user owes, so negate)
+        - Liabilities:Payable:User-{user_id} (negative balance = castle owes)
+        - Assets:Receivable:User-{user_id} (positive balance = user owes)
 
         Args:
             user_id: User ID
@@ -183,11 +187,15 @@ class FavaClient:
                 "fiat_balances": {"EUR": Decimal("100.50")},
                 "accounts": [list of account dicts with balances]
             }
+
+        Note:
+            Excludes pending transactions (flag='!') from balance calculation.
+            Only cleared/completed transactions (flag='*') are included.
         """
-        # Query for all accounts matching user
+        # Query for all accounts matching user (excluding pending)
         query = f"""
         SELECT account, sum(position)
-        WHERE account ~ 'User-{user_id[:8]}'
+        WHERE account ~ 'User-{user_id[:8]}' AND flag != '!'
         GROUP BY account
         """
 
@@ -286,10 +294,14 @@ class FavaClient:
                 },
                 ...
             ]
+
+        Note:
+            Excludes pending transactions (flag='!') from balance calculation.
+            Only cleared/completed transactions (flag='*') are included.
         """
         query = """
         SELECT account, sum(position)
-        WHERE account ~ 'Payable:User-|Receivable:User-'
+        WHERE account ~ 'Payable:User-|Receivable:User-' AND flag != '!'
         GROUP BY account
         """