Download the right file
Log in to your bank and look for the export or download option for transactions. Choose CSV, and select the exact date range. Many banks limit how many months or rows you can export at once, so you may need several files. Keep the originals unchanged in a folder, and work on copies.
Prepare columns
Most software wants a date, a description and an amount, either in a single column where negatives are payments, or in two columns for money in and money out. Remove header rows, summary lines and blank rows. Delete columns the importer does not need. Check that the dates are consistent, since a mix of day-month and month-day formats can silently scramble entries.
Watch signs and totals
A common problem is reversed signs, where deposits appear as spending. Check a few lines against the statement. Add up the file and compare the net movement with the statement's starting and ending balances. If the totals do not match, find the missing or doubled rows before importing.
Map and import
Upload the file and map each column to the right field in the import screen. Select the right account. Preview the results if offered. Then import and review in the For review or Reconcile area. If the software warns about possible duplicates, read the list carefully instead of accepting automatically.
Avoid duplicates and gaps
Before importing, find the last date already present in the account. Begin the file the next day, or remove overlapping rows. If the feed later comes online, set its start date after the CSV period so the same transactions do not appear twice. After the import, reconcile through the end date to confirm the balance.
Keep a log of each file, the date range and the person who imported it. That record answers later questions quickly, and it lets you replace a bad import without guessing which rows came from where. For credit cards, remember that payments and refunds also move in opposite directions from purchases, so check the sign convention again.
Credit cards and multiple accounts
Credit card exports often show purchases as positive numbers, the opposite of the bank format. Check the sign rule in the import screen before you proceed. If you have multiple accounts, import each separately into the right account, and keep file names with the account and the date range. Never combine accounts into one file.
Confirm the account and date range. Open the file in a spreadsheet and check headings. Verify that the first and last rows match the statement. Confirm the sign of deposits and payments. Count the rows. Check for text dates, merged cells and trailing blank lines. Save a copy as a plain CSV. Import into the correct account. Spot-check ten lines afterward. This short routine prevents almost every failed import.
Worked example with numbers
The CSV has 95 rows. Opening balance $4,200, deposits $9,850, withdrawals $8,420. Ending balance should be $4,200 + $9,850 - $8,420 = $5,630. After import, the register must show $5,630 on the last date. If it shows $5,300, a $330 row was missed or a sign flipped.
Mistakes that cost money
Reversed signs. Importing twice. Wrong date format turning day and month around. Header rows imported as data.
Check your work
Compare the first and last balances to the statement before reconciling.
Common questions
Can I import a PDF statement?
Not directly. Some tools convert PDFs, but review the output closely or request a CSV from your bank.
Will imported transactions be categorized?
They arrive uncategorized. Bank rules or manual review then assign categories.
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules, fees and due dates change; check with the IRS, the NJ Division of Taxation or a licensed professional for your situation.