Transaction CSV files

Most banks allow you to download your transactions or statements in CSV format. You can use that file as a source of transactions for your bank feed.

Your first step is to download the CSV file from your bank. These options are usually easy to find when logged in to your online banking, but the method will vary from bank to bank. If you’re unsure how to obtain the CSV file, please contact your bank provider for assistance.

CSV template

Once you have downloaded the CSV file from your bank, ensure that the transactions you want to upload match our required format. Your CSV file should follow these guidelines:

  • Column Requirements

    • 5 columns if you have separate columns for Money in and Money out.

    • 4 columns if you have a single column for Value.

  • Required columns

    • Date

    • Description

    • Value

  • Optional column

    • Reference

The table below details how the columns should be formatted.

Money In This is the amount to be credited to the bank account.
It must be a number to a maximum of two decimal places and not include the currency symbol
e.g. 150.00
Money Out This is the amount to be debited from the bank account.
It must be a number to a maximum of two decimal places and not include the currency symbol
e.g. 150.00
Value Used when transactions are collapsed into a single column by +/- signs.
It must be a number to a maximum of two decimal places and not include the currency symbol.
It will be treaetd as a credit unless it includes a preceding -(minus)
e.g. Credit: 150.00 ; Debit -150.00
Date The date of the transaction in DD/MM/YYYY format
e.g. 15/02/2024
Description The description of the transaction.
Reference Optional A reference from your bank.

IRIS KashFlow will only import data held in columns with these heading names, columns not needed for the import structure will be ignored. Columns can be in any order as long as they have the correct headers.

Example: edit CSV for import

Here is an example of a typical downloaded CSV:

screenshot of a csv file exported form a bank provider, highlighting the header row

These do not match our template and need amending as follows:

screenshot highlighting the column headers changed to match IRIS Kashflow

Save this amended file, ensuring it stays in CSV format, and it will be ready for import.

If you are editing the bank CSV file on a Mac we recommend using the Numbers app .When complete make sure to Export To > CSV...

Troubleshooting upload errors

This error likely results from one of several issues:

  • Incorrect column headers – Edit and amend them according to our template details above.

  • Incorrect date formats – Ensure all dates are in DD/MM/YYYY format. Open in Notepad if necessary for checking.

  • Too many lines – The maximum is 1,000 lines per file.

  • Currency signs within values – Remove any £ signs.

This occurs when date formats aren't correct:

Ensure all dates use DD/MM/YYYY formatting either by validating cell formats or updating system regional settings to UK standards.

Make sure your file is in CSV format (Comma Separated Values/Comma delimited).