Import a CSV bank statement into Xero

When a bank feed is missing or starts too late, Xero lets you import statement lines from a CSV (or OFX or QIF) file. The CSV needs one amount column and a consistent date format.

Updated 2026-10-26 · 5 min read

The columns

Column	Required	Notes
Date	Yes	One format for the whole file
Amount	Yes	One column: income positive, expenses negative (-30.00 or (30.00)); no thousands commas
Payee	Recommended	Match existing Xero contact names exactly
Description		Shown as Particulars
Reference		Up to 255 characters
Cheque number

Xero also allows optional Analysis code and Transaction type columns.

Accepted date formats

Xero Central lists DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY, YYYY/MM/DD and several variants (DD/MM/YY, DD/MMM/YYYY, DD-MM-YYYY, DD.MM.YYYY, DDMMYYYY…). Mixing formats in one file is the usual cause of wrong dates.

Remove before importing

Opening/closing balance columns (Xero calculates the balance).
The account number if it appears in the file.
Empty rows and summary lines.
Zero-amount lines.

Steps in Xero

Accounting › Bank accounts › choose the account › Manage Account › Import a Statement.
Select the file and import.
The first time, assign each column to a statement field (Transaction Date and Transaction Amount are mandatory). Xero remembers the mapping.
Check the imported lines in the reconcile tab.

Size limits

Xero Central states a CSV can't have more than 100,000 rows. In practice, bookkeepers report that very large files time out, and several guides recommend importing in chunks of about 1,000 lines. Splitting by month or quarter keeps reconciliation easy.

From PDF, Excel, MT940 or camt to Xero

Ledgermere exports a Xero CSV (Date, Amount, Payee, Description, Reference) from PDF/CSV/Excel statements and bank files such as MT940, camt.053, BAI2 and Norma 43, and can also write OFX or QIF. Duplicates across overlapping files are removed before export.

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.

Open Ledgermere – free

Questions and answers

Xero says “no valid statement data”

Usually blank rows, a header in the wrong row, or a non-numeric amount (currency symbols, thousands separators). Clean those and retry.

Can I import separate debit and credit columns into Xero?

Xero's template uses a single signed Amount column. Combine them (credit − debit) or let a converter do it.

Does Xero import OFX?

Yes. OFX and QIF are also accepted and need no column mapping.

Sources and product names: Xero Central "Import a bank statement in CSV format" (checked 2026-10-26); practitioner guides on Xero import limits. 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.