Updated: July 2026
Start with an untouched export
Download a fresh statement directly from the bank and keep one original copy unchanged. Editing the only copy makes it difficult to trace an import problem later. Use a working copy for cleaning and give it a clear name that includes the account and statement period.
Confirm the header row
The first data row should contain clear column names. Remove title lines, account summaries and blank rows above the header. Typical fields are date, description, amount, debit, credit and reference. Avoid duplicate column names because import tools may map the wrong field.
Standardize dates and amounts
Use one date style throughout the file. ISO dates such as YYYY-MM-DD are easy to read and sort. Amounts should contain plain numbers rather than currency symbols. If the file has one amount column, use a consistent sign convention. If it has separate debit and credit columns, keep only one value per transaction row.
Review duplicates and balances
Duplicate imports are common when statement periods overlap. Compare date, amount, description and reference together rather than deleting rows based on one field alone. After cleaning, total the debits and credits and compare them with the source statement.
Import a small sample first
When possible, test a short date range or a small number of rows before importing the entire statement. Confirm that debits and credits appear in the correct direction, then import the remaining transactions. Keep the cleaned CSV as an audit record.
Useful tools
Bank Statement Converter · QuickBooks CSV Formatter · Xero CSV Formatter