How to import a PDF bank statement into Xero
Xero imports bank statements from CSV files, not PDFs. Convert the PDF to a Xero bank statement CSV, choosing the date format your Xero organisation uses, check that the transactions reconcile with the statement's balances, and import the CSV into the bank account in Xero.
1. Convert the statement
- Upload the PDF to Balanced Statement (a scan or phone photo works too). Your first statement is free.
- Check the result: opening balance, closing balance, computed closing balance and every transaction.
- Pick the date format next to the Xero CSV button (dd/mm/yyyy or mm/dd/yyyy, as your Xero organisation shows dates) and download.
The file has the columns Date, Amount, Payee, Description and Reference, with one signed Amount column: money in positive, money out negative.
2. Import it in Xero
- In Xero, open the bank account and choose to import a statement.
- Upload the CSV and match the columns (Date and Amount are required; Payee, Description and Reference are optional).
- Review the imported lines, then reconcile them in Xero.
Xero's own instructions: Import a CSV bank statement (Xero Central).
Check before importing
- Balances: the result is marked Verified (opening balance plus all transactions equals the closing balance, or the running balance matches on every row). If it says Failed or Not verified, review the highlighted rows first.
- Count: the number of transactions matches the statement.
- Signs: money out is negative and money in is positive.
- Dates: all dates fall inside the statement period, in the date format Xero expects.
- Overlaps: none of these transactions are already in Xero from a bank feed or an earlier import, or you'll get duplicates.
Where Balanced Statement fits
It turns the PDF, scan or photo into a Xero-ready CSV and checks it against the statement's balances. Xero does the import and reconciliation. Balanced Statement doesn't connect to Xero directly.
Pricing: pay per statement, no subscription. Also: import into QuickBooks, convert to Excel.