Import bank transactions when your bank feed is not available

If your bank feed has become disconnected or has been temporarily unavailable, this article explains how to import transactions until your bank feed is back up and running.

When to import transactions

If you import transactions regularly from your bank feed, we recommend that you import bank transactions from your bank statement or using a CSV, QIF or OFX files downloaded from your online bank account.

If you only use bank feeds once or twice a month for a small number of transactions you may want to wait and import your bank transactions once your bank feed is available. Alternatively, enter your bank transactions manually:

What you have to do

  1. Download or export transactions from your online bank account as a CSV, QIF or OFX files.

  2. Import the file into Accounting Start.

  3. Process the transactions exactly as you would from your bank feed. Your bank rules will still be applied.

If your bank statement is only available in PDF format, consider using AutoEntry. Upload a PDF version of your bank statement and AutoEntry will convert it to the required CSV format. Read Import a bank statement using AutoEntry

Tips to download the file from the bank

Every bank is different, so we cannot advise on how to find and download the required file. However, where possible, we recommend you follow these tips

  1. Depending on your bank, this might be called download or export. The format should be as CSV, QIF or OFX files.

  2. The date range you use is important. To make sure you don't import duplicate transactions, make a note of the last transaction that was imported from your bank feed.

  3. Where possible, choose a date range. The starting date should be the day after the last transaction was downloaded from your bank feed.

  4. Make a note of your statement end balance. You will need this when reconciling your statement.

  5. If you download a CSV file, amend the downloaded CSV file to make sure it's in the required format.

Prepare the CSV file

If you're importing using a CSV file, the import file must be in the correct format. Download a template file from the import page to help you.

For more details on how to prepare the CSV file, read Import bank statement

Import your statement

  1. Go to Banking.
  2. Select Import on the relevant bank account.
  3. Select the relevant file type and follow the steps to upload your bank statement file.

For detailed steps and troubleshooting advice, read Import bank statement

Process your transactions

Imported transactions appear on the Incoming bank transactions screen, exactly the same as if they are from your bank feed. To help you identify which ones have been imported from a file, they will have a label of Statement Import.

Process your imported transactions exactly as if they had come from your bank feed.

Bank rules will continue to be applied.

When your bank feed becomes available again

Once your bank feed is available again, you'll need to re-authenticate with your bank. Make sure your have your online bank account credentials handy. Some banks may also send a code to your mobile phone or via email for additional authorisation.

  1. Choose Set Up from the banner.
  2. To prevent duplicates, choose the date to start importing transactions via your bank feed.
  3. Complete the authentication steps to get you back up and running.

Which date should I choose?

Importing from a file

Choose the day after the date of the last imported transaction.

Check whether you have transactions in your bank account that have not been imported from a file or from your bank feed. If you find any, enter them manually. This might happen if you imported from a file, before all the transactions for that day appeared in your bank account.

All your bank transactions were imported using a CSV file on 31st January. The bank statement balance was £300 and the last transaction imported was a receipt for £200.

On 1st February, we re-connected the bank feed and started downloading new transactions, but the bank balance was out by £100.

After checking the bank account, you found receipt dated 31st January for £100 which was not included on our last import file.

We entered the receipt manually as an Other Receipt.

Creating transactions manually

Choose the day after the date the last transaction was entered.

Check whether you have transactions in your bank account that have not been entered manually yet. This might happen if you checked your bank account before all transactions for that day appeared in your bank account.

You entered the last transaction you could see on your bank account for 31st January. The bank statement balance was £300 and the last transaction was a receipt for £200.

On 1st February, you re-connected the bank feed and started downloading new transactions, but the bank balance was out by £100.

After checking the bank account, you found receipt dated 31st January for £100 which you had not previously entered. You entered the receipt and now the bank balance is correct

Just waiting for the bank feed to be up and running

Choose the day after the last transactions were downloaded from your bank feed.