MoneyFlowPractical guide
Bank statement as CSV: how to download it and use it
Your bank already has the full list of everything you have spent. Almost all of them let you download it as a file, and that file spares you the most tedious job: copying transactions by hand. Here is what it is, where to find it and how to use it.
What a CSV file is
It is a text file in which each line is one transaction and the values (date, description, amount) are separated by a comma or a semicolon. It has no colours or formulas, which is why every program can read it, from spreadsheets to expense apps. It is different from a PDF statement, which is made to be read or printed and is no good for calculations.
Where to download it
Every bank has its own screens, but the path is nearly always the same:
- Sign in to your bank's website or app and open the transaction list for the account (or card).
- Choose the period: at least three months is a good start.
- Look for a button such as "Export" or "Download", or an icon with a downward arrow.
- Among the formats choose CSV. If only Excel (XLS or XLSX) is offered, take that: open it in a spreadsheet and use "Save as" to save it as CSV.
Export is often available on the website but not in the mobile app. If you cannot find it, search your bank's help pages for "export transactions".
Opening it without a mess
- Everything in a single column? The program expects a different separator. Use the spreadsheet's import function and tell it whether values are separated by commas or semicolons.
- Wrong amounts? Some countries write decimals with a comma (12,50), others with a point (12.50). If you see 1250 instead of 12.50, the sheet read the file with another region's settings.
- Swapped dates? Check whether 03/04 is being read as 3 April or 4 March.
- Strange accented characters? That is the text encoding: reopen the file choosing UTF-8.
What to do with it
With the file open in a spreadsheet you can add a "category" column and total by category: it is the fastest way to see where your money goes without ever having logged an expense. The same file is the starting point for a budget based on real numbers.
💡 The file contains your transactions: treat it as a personal document. Do not email it to services you do not know, and delete it from your downloads folder when you no longer need it.
What is not in the file
The bank's file only sees what passes through the account. Cash is not there: a 100 withdrawal is a single line, even if it later became ten different purchases. And the descriptions are the bank's, often unclear. That is why the file is an excellent starting point but does not fully replace logging your expenses.
How MoneyFlow uses it
In MoneyFlow you upload the CSV file and, before saving, you see what will be imported. Transactions already present are skipped, so you can upload an overlapping period again without creating duplicates. There is no connection to your account: you choose the file and you upload it. Import is included in the free plan.
Bring the transactions you already have into MoneyFlow
Upload your bank's file, check the preview and start with your history already in. Free, no card, no bank credentials.
Try it free →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a PDF statement and a CSV?
A PDF is a document to read or print. A CSV is a list of data, one line per transaction, that spreadsheets and apps can read to total and categorise.
My bank does not offer CSV: what can I do?
It usually offers at least Excel. Download that file, open it in a spreadsheet and save it in CSV format with "Save as".
Why does everything appear in one column when I open the CSV?
Because the program expects a different separator from the one used in the file. Open it with the import function and say whether values are separated by commas or semicolons.