How to import a bank statement into Xero
Updated October 2026
Xero bank feeds don't cover everything: history from before the feed started, accounts at banks without a feed, or a gap when a feed broke. For those, Xero lets you import statement lines yourself. It accepts OFX, QFX, QuickBooks files, QIF and CSV, and in some regions, including the US, PDF as well. You need the administrator or standard + bank accounts user role.
Which format to use
Xero itself recommends OFX: it imports without any changes or column mapping. Use CSV when you want to edit the data first, for example to remove rows the feed already brought in. If you only have a PDF and Xero doesn't accept PDFs in your region, convert it to OFX or CSV first.
Step by step
- In the Accounting menu, select Bank accounts.
- For the bank account you want to import into, click the menu icon (⋮), then select Import a Statement.
- In File to upload, drag and drop the file or click Select file, then click Next.
- If prompted (CSV files), assign each column to the matching Xero field, then click Next. Xero remembers this for future CSV imports with the same headers.
- If prompted, select the date format your file uses (day/month for UK, Australian and NZ statements), then click Next.
- Review the transactions and clear the checkbox next to any you don't want to import.
- Click Complete import. The lines appear in the account's Reconcile tab.
CSV columns that import cleanly
| Column | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 31/01/2026 or 2026-01-31 | Assigned to Transaction Date; pick the matching format |
| Amount | -45.20 | Money out negative, money in positive |
| Payee or Description | TESCO STORES 2041 | Used by Xero's bank rules when reconciling |
| Reference (optional) | CARD 4421 | Shown when reconciling |
Avoiding duplicates
Check which dates the bank feed already covers and import only the missing period, or delete overlapping lines from a CSV before importing. Step 6 also lets you untick lines you don't want. When a direct feed starts later, Xero suggests checking for missing or duplicate transactions; duplicates can be deleted from the account's statement lines.
Check the closing balance
After importing, compare the statement balance in Xero with the closing balance printed on the PDF. A difference means a row was missed, duplicated or misread. Unclip checks every row against the running balance before you download, so you can find and fix a problem before it reaches Xero.
Steps checked against Xero Central ("About manually importing bank transactions" and "Import a bank statement in CSV format") in October 2026.