To import bank statements into Xero you need a CSV with three columns - Date, Amount, Description - in DD/MM/YYYY format, uploaded under Accounting → Bank Accounts → Import Statement. This guide covers the format Xero actually expects, the step-by-step process, the errors that break imports, and how to automate the whole thing.
Xero lets you bring bank transactions into your ledger by importing a CSV file under Accounting → Bank Accounts → Import Statement. This is how you get transactions from your bank statement into Xero when the bank doesn't offer a direct feed.
You might need manual import when:
Direct bank feeds are great when they work, but they don't cover every bank and every account. The manual import path exists for exactly these gaps - and once you know the format, it takes minutes per statement instead of an hour of typing.
Your bank statement needs to become a CSV with three columns: Date, Amount, Description (or Payee). If your bank only gives you a PDF, convert it first - see below.
Go to Accounting → Bank Accounts, select the account, then click Import Statement.
Choose your CSV file. Xero will map columns automatically if the headers match - but always check.
Match Date, Amount and Description to Xero's fields, then click Import.
Check the imported transactions against your statement, then confirm. Done.
Manual data entry of a typical statement: 30–60 minutes. With a correctly formatted CSV ready: 2–5 minutes. With automation: about 30 seconds.
Xero (AU) expects DD/MM/YYYY. A US-style MM/DD/YYYY file is the most common reason imports fail. Fix: reformat the date column before importing.
Amounts must be a single column, no $ symbols, no thousands separators, credits positive / debits negative. $1,234.56 will break the import.
Xero expects only the mapped columns. Extra columns (balance, reference numbers) that can't be mapped cause failures - remove them or leave them unmapped.
Check you didn't import an overlapping period. Deduplicate rows before import.
| Field | Required | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Yes | DD/MM/YYYY (Australia) | 15/03/2025 |
| Amount | Yes | Single column, no currency symbol, credits positive / debits negative | -100.00 or 2500.00 |
| Description / Payee | Yes | Text, max ~500 chars | Transfer to PayPal |
| Balance | Optional | Not mapped in Xero | — |
Date,Amount,Description 01/03/2025,-100.00,Transfer to PayPal 02/03/2025,2500.00,Salary - ACME Pty Ltd 05/03/2025,-24.99,Direct Debit Netflix 10/03/2025,500.00,Transfer from Savings
Time savings at scale: processing 25 statements a month manually costs about 12–15 hours. With StatementConvert AU, it's under 30 minutes - and the tool handles CommBank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and ING, with DD/MM/YYYY dates and AUD amounts handled automatically, entirely in your browser.
Upload a statement you already have - free, no account, nothing kept afterwards.
Try the converter free →Yes. Xero lets you import a CSV statement under Accounting → Bank Accounts → Import Statement. The file needs Date, Amount and Description columns.
DD/MM/YYYY. A US-style MM/DD/YYYY file is the most common reason imports fail.
Common causes: wrong date format, currency symbols in amounts, extra columns, or a Balance column Xero can't map. Keep it to Date, Amount, Description.
Yes. StatementConvert AU converts CommBank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and ING PDFs into Xero-ready CSV with correct DD/MM/YYYY dates and signed amounts.
With StatementConvert AU, parsing happens entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, and we never see your data.