How to import a bank statement into Xero from a PDF
If your bank only gives you a PDF, or a bank feed has gaps, you can still get the transactions into Xero. You need a CSV file first, then Xero's own statement import does the rest.
Last checked October 2026. General information, not tax or accounting advice.
What Xero needs in the file
Xero's statement import reads a CSV with a Date and an Amount for every transaction. Payee, Description and Reference are optional. Money coming in is positive and money going out is negative, all in one Amount column.
Step by step
- Convert the PDF to a CSV with a Xero layout (our converter has a Xero download).
- In Xero, open the Accounting menu and choose Bank accounts.
- Find the account, open its menu and choose Import a statement.
- Select the file and continue. If Xero asks you to match columns, match Date and Amount, and any optional ones you want to keep.
- If asked for a date format, pick the one used in the file. Ours is DD/MM/YYYY.
- Review the preview, then complete the import and reconcile as normal.
Avoiding duplicates
If the account also has a live bank feed, import a period that does not overlap what is already in Xero. Check the preview for lines you have already reconciled before you complete the import.
Need the CSV?
Convert a statement to a Xero file →