Why bank CSVs fail in Xero
Xero's statement import is strict. It expects one row per transaction, a single signed amount, and dates in the format that matches your organisation's region. Bank exports often break these rules: separate Paid out and Paid in columns, a balance row at the top, text like "05 Jan 2026", or amounts with £ signs and commas. The converter cleans all of this up and produces a file Xero can read straight away.
How to import the converted file into Xero
- Download transactions from your bank as CSV or Excel and drop the file on the converter above.
- Check the preview. Money paid out should appear in red under Money out, and the totals should match your statement.
- Choose Xero bank statement CSV (or OFX) and the date format for your Xero region, then download.
- In Xero, go to Accounting → Bank accounts, find the account and choose Manage account → Import a statement.
- Upload the file. For a CSV, confirm the column assignments (Date → Transaction Date, Amount → Transaction Amount, and so on), then import and reconcile.
Our Xero import guide covers each screen and the error messages you might see.
The Xero CSV layout
| Column | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Yes | DD/MM/YYYY for UK, Australia and New Zealand organisations; MM/DD/YYYY for US organisations |
| Amount | Yes | Negative for money paid out, positive for money received |
| Payee | One of these three | Filled from your bank's payee, name or counterparty column when it has one |
| Description | One of these three | The transaction description from your bank |
| Reference | One of these three | Your bank's reference column, if present |
| Cheque Number | No | Filled when your bank includes a cheque or check number |
CSV or OFX for Xero?
Both work. Choose OFX if you want the quickest import — there is no column matching, and each transaction carries a unique ID that helps Xero avoid importing the same line twice. Choose CSV if you want to see and control exactly what goes into Payee, Description and Reference, which can make bank rules in Xero match more reliably.
UK bank exports it understands
The converter has been tested with export layouts from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Monzo and Starling, including separate money in/out columns, text dates like "05 Jan 2026", files saved in older Windows encodings with £ signs, and exports that put a summary above the transactions. For a bank we haven't seen, you can choose the columns yourself.
Australian and New Zealand bank exports
Exports from CommBank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Kiwibank use day-first dates (DD/MM/YYYY), the same as the UK. Choose Day first in step 2 if it isn't picked automatically, then pick the DD/MM/YYYY date format in step 3 (and AUD or NZD as the currency if you download OFX) so the file matches your Xero organisation.
Frequently asked questions
What CSV format does Xero need for bank statements?
Xero needs a Date and an Amount for every line, where money paid out is negative, plus at least one of Payee, Description or Reference. This tool produces exactly those columns, plus Cheque Number.
How do I import the file into Xero?
In Xero, go to Accounting → Bank accounts, find the account, choose Manage account → Import a statement, and upload the CSV or OFX file. For a CSV, Xero asks you to confirm which column is which. See our step-by-step Xero guide.
Which date format should I use for Xero?
Use the format that matches your Xero organisation's region: DD/MM/YYYY for the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and MM/DD/YYYY for the US. You can change the date format in step 3 before downloading.
Should I use CSV or OFX for Xero?
OFX imports without column mapping and keeps a unique ID for each transaction, which helps Xero avoid duplicates. CSV gives you more control over Payee, Description and Reference. Both work.
Is my data private?
Yes. The file is processed in your browser and is never uploaded to our servers.
Does it work with Monzo, Starling, Barclays and other UK banks?
Yes. Common UK layouts are recognised automatically, including Monzo, Starling, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest exports. Other banks work too — you can choose the columns yourself if needed.