diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 739270b..a1407a8 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -387,7 +387,6 @@
     },
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@@ -402,7 +401,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -416,7 +414,6 @@
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       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -430,7 +427,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-bugfix-safari-rest-destructuring-rhs-array": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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       "dependencies": {
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@@ -445,7 +441,6 @@
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       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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       "dependencies": {
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@@ -461,7 +456,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-bugfix-v8-static-class-fields-redefine-readonly": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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       "dependencies": {
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@@ -593,7 +587,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-proposal-private-property-in-object": {
       "version": "7.21.0-placeholder-for-preset-env.2",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
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@@ -686,7 +679,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-syntax-import-assertions": {
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -700,7 +692,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -851,7 +842,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -879,7 +869,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -910,7 +899,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -937,7 +925,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -952,7 +939,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1013,7 +999,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1028,7 +1013,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1042,7 +1026,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1057,7 +1040,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1071,7 +1053,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1086,7 +1067,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1100,7 +1080,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1128,7 +1107,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1158,7 +1136,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-json-strings": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1185,7 +1162,6 @@
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-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1199,7 +1175,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-member-expression-literals": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1213,7 +1188,6 @@
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       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1242,7 +1216,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-modules-systemjs": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1259,7 +1232,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-modules-umd": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1288,7 +1260,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-new-target": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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@@ -1302,7 +1273,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-nullish-coalescing-operator": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1316,7 +1286,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-numeric-separator": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1330,7 +1299,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-object-rest-spread": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1348,7 +1316,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-object-super": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
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       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1363,7 +1330,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-optional-catch-binding": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1377,7 +1343,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-optional-chaining": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1434,7 +1399,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-property-literals": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1504,7 +1468,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-regenerator": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1518,7 +1481,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-regexp-modifiers": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-create-regexp-features-plugin": "^7.29.7",
@@ -1533,7 +1495,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-reserved-words": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-plugin-utils": "^7.29.7"
@@ -1616,7 +1577,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-template-literals": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-plugin-utils": "^7.29.7"
@@ -1630,7 +1590,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-typeof-symbol": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-plugin-utils": "^7.29.7"
@@ -1661,7 +1620,6 @@
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     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-unicode-escapes": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
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@@ -1675,7 +1633,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-unicode-property-regex": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-create-regexp-features-plugin": "^7.29.7",
@@ -1704,7 +1661,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/plugin-transform-unicode-sets-regex": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-create-regexp-features-plugin": "^7.29.7",
@@ -1719,7 +1675,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/preset-env": {
       "version": "7.29.7",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/compat-data": "^7.29.7",
@@ -1818,7 +1773,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@babel/preset-modules": {
       "version": "0.1.6-no-external-plugins",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-plugin-utils": "^7.0.0",
@@ -3838,12 +3792,12 @@
     },
     "node_modules/@types/prop-types": {
       "version": "15.7.15",
-      "dev": true,
+      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/@types/react": {
       "version": "18.3.30",
-      "dev": true,
+      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@types/prop-types": "*",
@@ -5484,7 +5438,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/babel-plugin-polyfill-corejs3": {
       "version": "0.14.2",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@babel/helper-define-polyfill-provider": "^0.6.8",
@@ -6298,7 +6251,7 @@
     },
     "node_modules/csstype": {
       "version": "3.2.3",
-      "dev": true,
+      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/data-view-buffer": {
@@ -7181,7 +7134,6 @@
     },
     "node_modules/esutils": {
       "version": "2.0.3",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=0.10.0"
diff --git a/src/__tests__/WalletScreen.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/WalletScreen.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03db9fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/WalletScreen.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+/**
+ * WalletScreen.test.tsx
+ *
+ * Tests:
+ *  1. empty state when no wallet is connected
+ *  2. last-known balances render after a successful refresh
+ *  3. a failed refresh surfaces "Failed to refresh balance" and a stale
+ *     indicator without replacing the last known balance with zero
+ *  4. Retry (button and pull-to-refresh) re-runs the balance fetch and
+ *     clears the error when it succeeds
+ */
+
+import './__mocks__/setup';
+import React from 'react';
+import renderer, { act } from 'react-test-renderer';
+import { RefreshControl, Text, TouchableOpacity } from 'react-native';
+import WalletScreen from '../screens/WalletScreen';
+import { useWalletStore } from '../store/walletStore';
+
+const mockNavigate = jest.fn();
+const mockRefreshBalance = jest.fn();
+const mockDisconnectWallet = jest.fn();
+
+jest.mock('@react-navigation/native', () => ({
+  useNavigation: () => ({ navigate: mockNavigate }),
+}));
+
+jest.mock('../hooks/useStellarWallet', () => ({
+  useStellarWallet: () => ({
+    disconnectWallet: mockDisconnectWallet,
+    refreshBalance: mockRefreshBalance,
+  }),
+}));
+
+jest.mock('../components/TransactionHistory', () => ({
+  __esModule: true,
+  default: () => null,
+}));
+
+jest.mock('../components/PublicKeyDisplay', () => ({
+  __esModule: true,
+  default: () => null,
+}));
+
+function textValues(tree: renderer.ReactTestRenderer): string[] {
+  return tree.root
+    .findAllByType(Text)
+    .flatMap(node =>
+      (Array.isArray(node.props.children)
+        ? node.props.children
+        : [node.props.children]
+      ).filter((child: unknown): child is string => typeof child === 'string'),
+    );
+}
+
+function buttonWithText(
+  tree: renderer.ReactTestRenderer,
+  label: string,
+): renderer.ReactTestInstance {
+  const button = tree.root
+    .findAllByType(TouchableOpacity)
+    .find(node =>
+      node.findAllByType(Text).some(text => text.props.children === label),
+    );
+  if (!button) {
+    throw new Error(`Could not find a button labelled "${label}"`);
+  }
+  return button;
+}
+
+function resetWalletStore(connected: boolean) {
+  useWalletStore.setState({
+    isConnected: connected,
+    status: connected ? 'connected' : 'disconnected',
+    connectError: null,
+    publicKey: connected ? 'GCWALLETTESTKEY' : null,
+    balance: connected ? '42.5' : null,
+    ecoBalance: connected ? '10' : null,
+    usdcBalance: connected ? '5' : null,
+    walletType: connected ? 'inapp' : null,
+  });
+}
+
+async function renderScreen() {
+  const tree = renderer.create(<WalletScreen />);
+  await act(async () => {
+    await Promise.resolve();
+  });
+  return tree;
+}
+
+describe('WalletScreen', () => {
+  let tree: renderer.ReactTestRenderer | null = null;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockNavigate.mockClear();
+    mockDisconnectWallet.mockClear();
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockReset();
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    resetWalletStore(true);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await act(async () => {
+      tree?.unmount();
+    });
+    tree = null;
+  });
+
+  it('shows the empty state when no wallet is connected', async () => {
+    resetWalletStore(false);
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+
+    const texts = textValues(tree);
+    expect(texts).toContain('No wallet connected');
+    expect(mockRefreshBalance).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('renders last-known balances after a successful refresh', async () => {
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+
+    expect(mockRefreshBalance).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const texts = textValues(tree);
+    expect(texts).toContain('Wallet');
+    expect(texts).toContain('42.5');
+    expect(texts).toContain('10');
+    expect(texts).toContain('5');
+    expect(texts).not.toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+    expect(texts).not.toContain('May be out of date');
+  });
+
+  it('shows the error, stale indicator, and last known balance when refresh fails', async () => {
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValue(false);
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+
+    const texts = textValues(tree);
+    expect(texts).toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+    expect(texts).toContain('May be out of date');
+    expect(texts).toContain('42.5');
+    expect(texts).not.toContain('No wallet connected');
+  });
+
+  it('retries the balance refresh and clears the error when it succeeds', async () => {
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValueOnce(false);
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+    expect(textValues(tree)).toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValueOnce(true);
+    await act(async () => {
+      buttonWithText(tree!, 'Retry').props.onPress();
+    });
+
+    expect(mockRefreshBalance).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    const texts = textValues(tree);
+    expect(texts).not.toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+    expect(texts).not.toContain('May be out of date');
+    expect(texts).toContain('42.5');
+  });
+
+  it('retries via pull-to-refresh', async () => {
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValueOnce(false);
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockResolvedValueOnce(true);
+    const control = tree.root.findByType(RefreshControl);
+    await act(async () => {
+      control.props.onRefresh();
+    });
+
+    expect(mockRefreshBalance).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(textValues(tree)).not.toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+  });
+
+  it('treats a thrown refresh as a failed refresh', async () => {
+    mockRefreshBalance.mockRejectedValue(new Error('Horizon timeout'));
+    tree = await renderScreen();
+
+    const texts = textValues(tree);
+    expect(texts).toContain('Failed to refresh balance');
+    expect(texts).toContain('May be out of date');
+    expect(texts).toContain('42.5');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/__tests__/useStellarWallet.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/useStellarWallet.test.tsx
index 137cd3b..9b5085b 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/useStellarWallet.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/useStellarWallet.test.tsx
@@ -516,10 +516,12 @@ describe('useStellarWallet connect flow', () => {
       // A later network blip during refresh must not reject into the
       // fire-and-forget call sites nor wipe the verified balance.
       getBalance.mockRejectedValue(new Error('offline blip'));
+      let refreshOk: boolean | undefined;
       await act(async () => {
-        await hook.refreshBalance();
+        refreshOk = await hook.refreshBalance();
       });
 
+      expect(refreshOk).toBe(false);
       expect(useWalletStore.getState().balance).toBe('123.45');
       expect(useWalletStore.getState().isConnected).toBe(true);
       expect(hook.error).toBe('offline blip');
diff --git a/src/hooks/useStellarWallet.ts b/src/hooks/useStellarWallet.ts
index 21e7ba5..5173fb4 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useStellarWallet.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useStellarWallet.ts
@@ -298,16 +298,26 @@ export function useStellarWallet() {
     disconnect();
   }, [publicKey, disconnect]);
 
-  const refreshBalance = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (publicKey) {
-      try {
-        const balance = await stellar.getBalance(publicKey);
-        setBalance(balance);
-      } catch (err) {
-        // Keep the last known balance on refresh failure instead of
-        // rejecting into fire-and-forget call sites.
-        setError(toErrorMessage(err, 'Could not refresh balance'));
-      }
+  /**
+   * Refresh the native XLM balance.
+   *
+   * Resolves `true` on success and `false` on network/Horizon failure so
+   * screens can surface an error without this function ever rejecting —
+   * several call sites fire-and-forget (`void refreshBalance()`).
+   * A failed refresh keeps the last known balance in the store.
+   */
+  const refreshBalance = useCallback(async (): Promise<boolean> => {
+    if (!publicKey) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    try {
+      const balance = await stellar.getBalance(publicKey);
+      setBalance(balance);
+      setError(null);
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      setError(toErrorMessage(err, 'Could not refresh balance'));
+      return false;
     }
   }, [publicKey, setBalance]);
 
diff --git a/src/screens/WalletScreen.tsx b/src/screens/WalletScreen.tsx
index 722eb1e..5bc851d 100644
--- a/src/screens/WalletScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/WalletScreen.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
-import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
-import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity, ScrollView } from 'react-native';
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import {
+  View,
+  Text,
+  TouchableOpacity,
+  ScrollView,
+  RefreshControl,
+} from 'react-native';
 import { useWalletStore } from '../store/walletStore';
 import { useStellarWallet } from '../hooks/useStellarWallet';
 import { colors, spacing } from '../utils/theme';
@@ -9,16 +15,60 @@ import TransactionHistory from '../components/TransactionHistory';
 import PublicKeyDisplay from '../components/PublicKeyDisplay';
 import { useTabNavigation } from '../navigation/useAppNavigation';
 
+const REFRESH_CONTROL_COLORS = [colors.primary];
+
 export default function WalletScreen() {
   const navigation = useTabNavigation();
   const { balance, ecoBalance, usdcBalance, publicKey, isConnected } =
     useWalletStore();
   const { disconnectWallet, refreshBalance } = useStellarWallet();
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [refreshing, setRefreshing] = useState(false);
+  const [refreshError, setRefreshError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [isBalanceStale, setIsBalanceStale] = useState(false);
+
+  const loadBalance = useCallback(
+    async (mode: 'initial' | 'retry') => {
+      if (mode === 'retry') {
+        setRefreshing(true);
+      } else {
+        setLoading(true);
+      }
+      try {
+        const ok = await refreshBalance();
+        if (ok === false) {
+          setRefreshError('Failed to refresh balance');
+          setIsBalanceStale(true);
+        } else {
+          setRefreshError(null);
+          setIsBalanceStale(false);
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // refreshBalance is fail-safe and should not throw; still treat a
+        // rejection as a failed refresh so the UI never swallows it.
+        setRefreshError('Failed to refresh balance');
+        setIsBalanceStale(true);
+      } finally {
+        setLoading(false);
+        setRefreshing(false);
+      }
+    },
+    [refreshBalance],
+  );
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    void refreshBalance().finally(() => setLoading(false));
-  }, [refreshBalance]);
+    if (!isConnected) {
+      setLoading(false);
+      setRefreshError(null);
+      setIsBalanceStale(false);
+      return;
+    }
+    void loadBalance('initial');
+  }, [isConnected, loadBalance]);
+
+  const handleRetry = useCallback(() => {
+    void loadBalance('retry');
+  }, [loadBalance]);
 
   if (!isConnected) {
     return (
@@ -62,11 +112,53 @@ export default function WalletScreen() {
         backgroundColor: colors.background,
         padding: spacing.lg,
       }}
+      refreshControl={
+        <RefreshControl
+          refreshing={refreshing}
+          onRefresh={handleRetry}
+          tintColor={colors.primary}
+          colors={REFRESH_CONTROL_COLORS}
+        />
+      }
     >
       <Text style={{ color: colors.text, fontSize: 24, fontWeight: 'bold' }}>
         Wallet
       </Text>
 
+      {refreshError && (
+        <View
+          accessibilityRole="alert"
+          style={{
+            marginTop: spacing.md,
+            padding: spacing.md,
+            backgroundColor: colors.surface,
+            borderRadius: 12,
+            borderWidth: 1,
+            borderColor: colors.error,
+          }}
+        >
+          <Text style={{ color: colors.error, fontSize: 14 }}>
+            {refreshError}
+          </Text>
+          <TouchableOpacity
+            onPress={handleRetry}
+            accessibilityRole="button"
+            accessibilityLabel="Retry balance refresh"
+            disabled={refreshing}
+            style={{
+              marginTop: spacing.sm,
+              paddingVertical: spacing.sm,
+              minHeight: 44,
+              justifyContent: 'center',
+            }}
+          >
+            <Text style={{ color: colors.primary, fontWeight: '600' }}>
+              Retry
+            </Text>
+          </TouchableOpacity>
+        </View>
+      )}
+
       <View
         style={{
           marginTop: spacing.xl,
@@ -84,11 +176,24 @@ export default function WalletScreen() {
             fontSize: 36,
             fontWeight: 'bold',
             marginTop: spacing.xs,
+            opacity: isBalanceStale ? 0.7 : 1,
           }}
         >
           {balance ?? '0'}{' '}
           <Text style={{ fontSize: 18, color: colors.primary }}>XLM</Text>
         </Text>
+        {isBalanceStale && (
+          <Text
+            accessibilityLabel="Balance may be out of date"
+            style={{
+              color: colors.warning,
+              fontSize: 13,
+              marginTop: spacing.xs,
+            }}
+          >
+            May be out of date
+          </Text>
+        )}
 
         <View
           style={{