Supported file formats for bank statement imports

Summary

How to ensure your bank statement file is compatible and formatted correctly before importing into Sage Accounting.

Description

Select the file type you want to import from the list below to learn more.

Resolution

Supported file formats

OFX/ASO file >

OFX or ASO files are an industry-standard format. This means you can upload your OFX file without needing to edit it.

The maximum file size you can upload is 250 MB.

We can only import transactions from one bank account at a time. We’ll import transactions from the first bank account within a file, and ignore the rest.

QIF file >

We need to know what format the dates are in so we can process the file correctly. We'll prompt you to confirm this before uploading.

To find out what format the dates are in:

Open your QIF file in a text editor. If you’re a Windows user, you can use Notepad, or use TextEdit if you use a Mac
Find a date linked to a transaction and take note of their order. We need to know the order of day, month and year
Select the correct date order when you upload your file

The maximum file size you can upload is 250 MB.

CSV file >

Tips to create your CSV file

There are two ways to create the CSV file to import:

Adjust the CSV file from your bank to match one of our CSV file templates
Download a template file. Then copy and paste information from your bank into our template

CSV file with three columns

Download a three-column CSV template

The file must contain columns labelled Date, Description and Amount and be in that order.
Separate dates in the Date column by a slash, such as 04/01/2021.
The Description column must contain text. It can't be blank.
The text in the Description column must all be on one line.
The Amount column must only contain numbers.
Payments in and payments out must both be in the Amount column.
Payments out must have a negative value.

CSV file with four columns

Download a four-column CSV template

The file must contain columns labelled Date, Description, Money in, Money out and be in that order.
Separate dates in the Date column by a slash, such as 04/01/2021.
The Description column must contain text. It can't be blank.
The text in the Description column must all be on one line.
The Money in and Money out columns must only contain numbers.
Payments in must be in the Money in column.
Payments out must be in the Money out column.

Add more details with columns

If you want to upload more detailed transaction information, you can add more columns in your file. You can include information like:

Transaction reference
Payee name
Address

Extra Column Headings

Any new column headings must match one of the column headings below:

Header options	Information in your column
Cheque number	For example, 650240
Cheque
Cheque ref
Document number

Reference	For example, a 20-inch lemon drizzle cake
Reference number
Transaction reference
Transaction ref

Payee name	For example, Jane Doe
Payee
Payee description
Customer reference
Customer
Cust ref

Address Line 1	For example, Newcastle upon Tyne
Address
Street
House/street
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
City
Town/city
Town

Postcode	For example, NE13 9AA
Post code
Post-code

Phone number	For example, 07700 900 982
Phone
Phone #

Payee bank ID	For example, HSBC
Payee BankID
BankID
Bank ID

Payee account	For example, 12345678
Payee account number
Payee account ref

XLS file >

If you’re uploading an XLS or XLSX file, we only process the first tab in your file.

If you want to import data from other tabs in your file, you can:

Copy all the data into the first tab
Upload the data from each tab as a separate file
Upload each tab individually, using the same file. You'll need to move each tab to the first tab position before starting a new import

What's next?

Once your file is ready, continue to Import bank statement.