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Importing a Bank Statement

Step-by-step guide for selecting a bank account, loading CSV or OFX/QFX content, and importing statement transactions into Beam Machine.

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Importing a Bank Statement

This page shows you how to import a bank statement file or pasted statement content into Beam Machine so that the transactions are available for reconciliation.

Product: Beam Machine
Module: Banking
Role: Bookkeeper, Accountant, Finance Lead
Difficulty: Beginner
Time: 6 minutes first time, 2 minutes repeat
Last Updated: 2026-03-10
Version: Current Beam Machine app build in this repo

Before You Start

  • You need access to the Banking module.
  • The bank account must already exist in Beam Machine.
  • You need the statement file or the statement text.
  • Read ../modules/04-working-in-banking.md if you need the wider banking context first.

What is statement import?

Statement import takes transaction data from your bank and loads it into Beam Machine. It does not reconcile the transactions by itself. It prepares them for reconciliation.

When do you use this?

Use this page whenever a new bank statement period needs to be loaded into the system. If you skip statement import, reconciliation history, bank review, and some downstream reporting will stay incomplete.

Where to find it

Primary path: Finance -> Banking -> Import Statement
Route: /dashboard/banking/import

How to import a statement

  1. Open Banking from the left sidebar.
  2. Click Import Statement.
  3. In Bank Account, select the correct account.
  4. In File Format, choose CSV or OFX / QFX.
  5. If you have a file, upload it using the Statement File upload control.
  6. If you do not have a file, paste the statement data into Or paste CSV content.
  7. Review that the content matches the correct bank account.
  8. Click Import Statement.

āœ… Checkpoint: You should see a success message if the import completes correctly. The transactions should now be available for reconciliation review.

Common Questions & Issues

"I cannot import the statement"

Why this happens: The most common causes are a missing bank account selection or empty statement content.

Fix: Select the bank account first, then either upload a file or paste the CSV content before clicking Import Statement.

"I imported the file, but nothing is reconciled"

Why this happens: Import and reconciliation are two different steps.

Fix: After import, go to 04-reconciling-bank-transactions.md and start the reconciliation workflow.

"I do not know which format to use"

Why this happens: Different banks export statements in different formats.

Fix: Use CSV when your bank gives you a spreadsheet-style export. Use OFX / QFX when the bank gives you a finance-software export.

What's Next

Related Pages

SA Compliance Reference

  • Bank-statement evidence supports accurate books, reconciliations, and defensible tax reporting. This page covers the import task, not your signoff policy.

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