Xero bank statement CSV import format, explained
Based on Xero’s own help article, Import a bank statement in CSV format (read October 2026).
When a client’s bank account has no feed, or you need the months before the feed started, Xero lets you import a statement file instead. CSV is the most common choice. Here is what the file must look like.
The columns
| Column | Required? | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Yes | The transaction date, in one format for the whole file |
| Amount | Yes | One signed number: money in positive, money out negative |
| Payee | Recommended | Who paid or was paid. If it matches an existing contact, spell it exactly the same |
| Description | No | Shown as Particulars on the bank statement line |
| Reference | No | Any reference you want on the line |
Xero also accepts a cheque number, the bank’s analysis code and a transaction type. The header row must be row 1 and each column name must be unique.
Amounts: one column, signed
Income and expenses go in the same Amount column. Show money out with a minus sign or brackets, for example -30.00 or (30.00). Don’t use a comma as the decimal mark, so 1.234,56 must become 1234.56. Many PDF statements print separate Paid out and Paid in (or Debit and Credit) columns, so they have to be merged into one signed column.
Dates
Xero lists DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY and YYYY/MM/DD as the main formats, plus variants such as DD.MM.YYYY and DD-MM-YYYY. Use one format throughout and pick the matching one when Xero asks.
What to delete
- Opening and closing balance lines and balance columns: Xero works out the balance from the transactions.
- The bank account number.
- Empty rows.
A single file can’t have more than 100,000 rows.
Importing it
- In Xero, open Accounting → Bank accounts.
- Open the menu for the account and choose Import a Statement.
- Upload the file, assign the columns the first time, choose the date format, review and Complete import.
Starting from a PDF statement
Xero’s own PDF-to-statement conversion is only available in the US and Canada. Elsewhere you either retype the PDF or convert it. Carrytick reads a text PDF statement in your browser and writes exactly this file: Date, Amount, Payee, Description, Reference, with dd/mm/yyyy dates and one signed amount. The bank’s wording goes into Description; Payee and Reference are left blank so the bank’s raw text doesn’t create near-duplicate contacts. It leaves the balance lines out but uses them first, to check that every row adds up to the balance printed on the statement.
Try it on a real statement. Free, no sign-up, nothing uploaded. Free downloads include the first 15 rows; the Firm plan exports every row.
Convert a statement PDFMore guides
- Convert UK bank statement PDFs to Xero CSV
- Convert Australian and NZ bank statement PDFs to Xero CSV
- Check a run of bank statements for missing pages and months
- Bank statements with 1.234,56 amounts to Xero CSV
Carrytick is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Xero. Xero is a trademark of Xero Limited.