Ledgermerecamt.053 vs MT940
MT940 is the SWIFT end-of-day customer statement in compact text; camt.053 is its ISO 20022 XML successor. Banks have been moving corporate statements from MT to camt, so many finance teams receive both for a while.
Updated 2026-10-26 · 5 min read
Side by side
| MT940 | camt.053 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Text with tags like :61:, :86: | XML (ISO 20022) |
| Remittance information | Limited field lengths; bank-specific structure in :86: | Structured fields for parties, references, purpose codes |
| Batch bookings | Usually one line | Can carry the individual transactions inside a batch |
| Intraday / notifications | MT942 | camt.052 (intraday report), camt.054 (debit/credit notification) |
| Readability | Hard without a parser | Readable in a browser, but verbose |
What the migration means for you
- Accounting software that only reads MT940 needs an update or a conversion step.
- Reports built on :86: parsing need rework – the same information sits in different XML elements.
- Versions matter: camt.053.001.02 is common, newer banks send .08 or later. Good readers are version-agnostic.
How to open either file
Ledgermere reads MT940/MT942 (including German ?20–?29 and Dutch /NAME/ /REMI/ details) and camt.052/053/054 versions 001.02–001.13, shows the transactions with a balance check, and exports Excel, CSV, OFX, QBO, QIF or Xero CSV. Batch entries in camt are split when the detail amounts add up. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for corporate statements.
Try it with your own file. Ledgermere converts PDF/CSV/Excel statements, OFX/QFX/QBO, QIF, MT940, camt.053, BAI2 and Norma 43 to QBO, QFX, IIF, QuickBooks Online CSV, Xero CSV, OFX, QIF, CSV or Excel – in your browser, nothing is uploaded. The free version exports the first 20 transactions so you can test the import first; a 30-day pass is $9, lifetime $29.
Questions and answers
Is MT940 being discontinued?
SWIFT has moved cross-border payments to ISO 20022, and many banks are moving statements to camt.053. Timelines depend on your bank – ask them which formats they will keep offering.
What is the difference between camt.052, camt.053 and camt.054?
camt.052 is an intraday account report, camt.053 the end-of-day statement, and camt.054 a debit/credit notification for individual bookings.
Sources and product names: ISO 20022 message definitions (camt.052/053/054); SWIFT MT940 customer statement message; bank migration guides. QuickBooks and Quicken are trademarks of Intuit Inc. or Quicken Inc.; Xero is a trademark of Xero Limited. Ledgermere is independent and not affiliated with them.