diff --git a/node/client.go b/node/client.go
index 3e8f0bc..990a8aa 100644
--- a/node/client.go
+++ b/node/client.go
@@ -540,3 +540,28 @@ func (c *client) GetAccounts(ctx context.Context) ([]eth.Address, error) {
 
 	return accountList, nil
 }
+
+func (c *client) GetBalance(ctx context.Context, addr eth.Address, numberOrTag eth.BlockNumberOrTag) (uint64, error) {
+	request := jsonrpc.Request{
+		ID:     jsonrpc.ID{Num: 1},
+		Method: "eth_getBalance",
+		Params: jsonrpc.MustParams(addr, &numberOrTag),
+	}
+
+	applyContext(ctx, &request)
+	response, err := c.Request(ctx, &request)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, errors.Wrap(err, "could not make request")
+	}
+	if response.Error != nil {
+		return 0, errors.New(string(*response.Error))
+	}
+
+	q := eth.Quantity{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal(response.Result, &q)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, errors.Wrap(err, "could not decode result")
+	}
+
+	return q.UInt64(), nil
+}
diff --git a/node/interfaces.go b/node/interfaces.go
index 11d1c65..d30e0fe 100644
--- a/node/interfaces.go
+++ b/node/interfaces.go
@@ -38,9 +38,12 @@ type Client interface {
 	// is used to call read-only functions of a smart contract
 	Call(ctx context.Context, msg eth.Transaction, numberOrTag eth.BlockNumberOrTag) (string, error)
 
-    // executes get_accounts and retrieves address array
+	// executes get_accounts and retrieves address array
 	GetAccounts(ctx context.Context) ([]eth.Address, error)
 
+	// GetBalance returns available balance
+	GetBalance(ctx context.Context, addr eth.Address, numberOrTag eth.BlockNumberOrTag) (uint64, error)
+
 	// ChainId returns the chain id
 	ChainId(ctx context.Context) (string, error)
 
diff --git a/node/mocks/node.go b/node/mocks/node.go
index fa717d6..70d7dc0 100644
--- a/node/mocks/node.go
+++ b/node/mocks/node.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func (m *MockClient) Call(ctx context.Context, msg eth.Transaction) (string, err
 // Call indicates an expected call of Call.
 func (mr *MockClientMockRecorder) Call(ctx, msg interface{}) *gomock.Call {
 	mr.mock.ctrl.T.Helper()
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "Call", reflect.TypeOf((*MockClient)(nil).EstimateGas), ctx, msg)
+	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "Call", reflect.TypeOf((*MockClient)(nil).Call), ctx, msg)
 }
 
 // GetAccounts mocks base method.
@@ -200,7 +200,22 @@ func (m *MockClient) GetAccounts(ctx context.Context) ([]eth.Address, error) {
 // Call indicates an expected call of GetAccounts.
 func (mr *MockClientMockRecorder) GetAccounts(ctx, msg interface{}) *gomock.Call {
 	mr.mock.ctrl.T.Helper()
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "GetAccounts", reflect.TypeOf((*MockClient)(nil).EstimateGas), ctx, msg)
+	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "GetAccounts", reflect.TypeOf((*MockClient)(nil).GetAccounts), ctx, msg)
+}
+
+// GetBalance mocks base method.
+func (m *MockClient) GetBalance(ctx context.Context) (uint64, error) {
+	m.ctrl.T.Helper()
+	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "GetBalance", ctx)
+	ret0, _ := ret[0].(uint64)
+	ret1, _ := ret[1].(error)
+	return ret0, ret1
+}
+
+// Call indicates an expected call of GetBalance.
+func (mr *MockClientMockRecorder) GetBalance(ctx, msg interface{}) *gomock.Call {
+	mr.mock.ctrl.T.Helper()
+	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "GetBalance", reflect.TypeOf((*MockClient)(nil).GetBalance), ctx, msg)
 }
 
 // ChainId mocks base method.
diff --git a/node/rpc_test.go b/node/rpc_test.go
index 36dcd2f..1c24cb4 100644
--- a/node/rpc_test.go
+++ b/node/rpc_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 func getClient(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context) node.Client {
 	base_url := os.Getenv("ETHLIBS_TEST_URL")
 	if base_url == "" {
-		t.Skip("ETHLIBS_TEST_URL not set, skipping test.  Set to a valid websocket URL to execute this test.")
+		t.Skip("ETHLIBS_TEST_URL not set, skipping test. Set to a valid http/ws URL to execute this test.")
 	}
 	auth_id := os.Getenv("AUTH_ID")
 	if auth_id == "" {
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ func TestConnection_Get_Accounts(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Empty(t, accountList)
 }
 
+func TestConnection_Get_Balance(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	conn := getClient(t, ctx)
+
+	bal, err := conn.GetBalance(ctx, *eth.MustAddress("0x148772F29058DcC772613260b078dCa8C14afF6c"), *eth.MustBlockNumberOrTag("latest"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, bal)
+}
+
 func TestConnection_GetTransactionCount(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	conn := getClient(t, ctx)