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How to import a bank statement into Xero
In Xero, go to Accounting → Bank accounts → the account's menu → Import a Statement and upload a CSV, OFX or QIF file. In a CSV only Date and Amount are required, with income positive and expenses negative in one column, and balance columns removed. A PDF statement must be converted to such a CSV first.
Updated October 29, 2026
Xero imports statement lines from CSV, OFX and QIF files. If your bank only gives you PDFs, convert to Xero CSV first. These steps follow Xero Central.
1. Convert the statement
Open the Xero converter, drop the PDF, check the reconciliation badge, choose the date format that matches your Xero region, and download Xero CSV.
2. Import into Xero
- From the Accounting menu, select Bank accounts.
- For the right account, click the menu icon and select Import a Statement.
- Drag and drop the CSV (or click Select file), then Next.
- If asked, assign the columns: *Date → Transaction Date, *Amount → Transaction Amount, plus Payee, Description, Reference and Cheque Number. Then Next.
- If asked, select the date format used in the file.
- Review the lines, untick any you do not want, and click Complete import.
Source: Xero Central, Import a bank statement in CSV format, checked October 29, 2026.
Common errors and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| All amounts imported as income | The file used separate debit/credit columns. Use the Xero CSV export, which has one signed Amount column. |
| Dates out by months, or rejected | Re-export with the other date format and choose the same format in step 5. |
| Duplicate statement lines | Check the bank account's statement lines for the period before importing; delete an import from the Bank statements tab if needed. |
| Payee does not match a contact | Xero matches payees to contacts by exact name; edit the payee in the table before export or create a bank rule. |
Bank-specific download formats
Before converting, check whether your bank already offers the file you need and how far back: US bank statement format guide (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, U.S. Bank, PNC, Truist, TD Bank (US), American Express, Discover, Chime, Ally Bank, SoFi).
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the QBO/OFX file with Xero instead?
Xero also accepts OFX files, and the QBO export is OFX data. The CSV route is recommended here because you can see and edit every field before import.
Does Xero need the running balance?
No. Xero calculates the balance from the imported lines and asks you to remove balance columns.
Will this work for a credit card account in Xero?
Yes. Purchases are negative and payments positive in the export, which is what Xero expects for card accounts.
Is my bank statement uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is opened and converted by JavaScript running in your browser tab (using Mozilla's open-source pdf.js library). The file is not sent to CSVLedger or anyone else. You can confirm this in your browser's developer tools: the Network tab shows no request containing your file.