Start with a supported statement
The Zoho Books CSV Formatter for bank transactions accepts CSV, TSV, TXT and text-based PDF bank statements. A scanned or photographed PDF is not supported because it lacks the selectable text layer required for extraction.
The selected file is read and processed locally in your browser. It is not uploaded to the Bank File Flow application server for conversion.
Choose the Zoho Books CSV layout and date format
Select the layout and output date format that match the current Zoho Books import screen:
- Double Column separates money received into Deposits and money spent into Withdrawals.
- Amount and Type uses one Amount column with an explicit Debit or Credit value.
- Signed Amount uses one Amount column, with deposits positive and withdrawals negative.
Review dates and direction
Check the output date format and compare several known transactions with the source. Confirm that money received and money spent appear in the expected direction for the selected layout.
When a statement has separate Debit and Credit columns, a normal transaction should populate one direction, not both. Any unresolved direction should be reviewed before export.
Check descriptions and references
Compare the Description and Reference fields with the source statement. Payee remains blank when the source does not provide one; the formatter does not invent a payee. Balance markers and printed totals are excluded from transaction layouts.
Resolve warnings before export
Rows that cannot be resolved confidently remain visible and are marked for checking rather than being dropped or guessed. If usable balance information is present, review the reconciliation result and investigate any mismatch.
Import a reviewed sample
Download the layout requested by the current Zoho Books import screen. When possible, import a small sample first and confirm that dates, descriptions, deposits and withdrawals land in the intended fields.
Keep the source and audit export
Preserve the original bank statement and the formatter's All Data or Audit CSV alongside the imported layout. This keeps excluded rows and review decisions traceable if the import needs to be corrected later.