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# Import a bank statement and review the rows

Yes, you can bring in a bank statement instead of typing every transaction. Download a statement file from your bank, bring it in with **Import statement**, then use **Bank review** to match, record or exclude each row.

## Before you start

In your online banking, download one account's statement as a CSV file. OFX and QFX files work too. Owners and bookkeepers can import statements.

## Import the statement

1. Open **Finance**, select **Accountant tools**, then select **Import statement**.
2. Choose the **Statement account**, such as **Cash Checking**.
3. Select **Choose or drop a statement** and pick the file. Or paste rows into **Or paste CSV rows**.
4. Select **Preview statement**. Creatures keeps the file with these records but doesn't import any rows yet.

![Upload or paste a statement with Cash Checking chosen and three pasted rows](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/8b8/1d0/4b1/18702.png?width=1600)

5. On **Review import**, check that each column is matched to the right field, such as **Date**, **Description** and **Signed amount**. Choose **Not in this file** for any column your bank doesn't have.
6. Check the **Statement ending date** and **Statement ending balance** against the statement. Type the balance if it's empty.
7. If your file has no currency column, type the statement's currency, such as USD, in **Currency for rows without one**. Tick **Confirm this is the statement currency**. Without a usable currency, Creatures can't match those rows or record money from them.
8. Choose **Signed transaction amounts** and **Ending balance convention**. For a checking or savings account, choose **Money in positive** and **Cash view**. For a card statement that shows charges and the amount you owe as positive numbers, choose **Card charges positive** and **Statement balance**.
9. Look over the rows and totals below, then select **Import for review**.

![Review import with USD as the currency for rows without one, the ending date and balance, both sign choices and the matched columns](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/8fd/112/374/df5f5.png?width=1600)

Importing saves the rows for review but creates no entries yet. OFX and QFX rows that share a bank ID with an earlier import show **Duplicate**. CSV files have no bank IDs, so if you import the same rows twice, abandon the extra import (see below).

## Work through Bank review

Open **Bank review** from the import page. The counts at the top show what's left: **Needs decision**, **Needs details**, **Suggested matches** and **Excluded rows**.

![Finish reconciliation and Import statement above counts of 6 rows needing a decision, 2 needing details, 4 suggested matches and 1 excluded row](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/5d2/8c0/b4f/b3cc6.png?width=1552)

Match money you already recorded before you record anything new:

- **Review bank match** is on every row. Select **Find recorded movements**, tick the entries the row covers and check each amount. Add a **Reason**, select **Review bank match**, then **Match bank evidence**. Your entries' amounts and categories don't change.
- A **Suggested** row already has an entry with the same amount, dated within three days. Select **Review match** to confirm it on the **Match statement** page.
- If a **New** row's money is missing from your records, select **Record new money**. The **Add money** card opens with the row attached. Fill it in and select **Save**. Review the money and bank selection, then select **Save reviewed selection** to record the entry and link it.

Exclude a duplicate row whose money is already handled, or a row that does not belong in these records. A transfer between accounts tracked here still needs a transfer entry: match the existing movement, or record the transfer if it is missing. On a **New** row, select **Exclude**. To exclude several rows with a reason, tick them, pick an **Exclude reason**, then select **Exclude selected from records**. They stay with the statement but never become entries. To undo, set **Status** to **Excluded** and select **Apply filters**. Open the row's **Reason**, then select **Restore to review**.

![Bank review rows with Review bank match on each row, Record new money and Exclude on New rows, and Review match on Suggested rows](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/369/7ed/fc8/b80c4.png?width=1600)

## Let Creatures remember a payee

On the import page, **Record new money** opens the **Add income or expense** form with **Teach Creatures this rule**. Turn it on, and Creatures suggests the same vendor and category when that payee shows up again. Rules never save anything on their own. You can archive them under **Bank rules**.

Have the receipt too? Record it from **Receipts**, and Creatures brings the matching bank row into the expense form. See [Add a receipt from your phone or computer](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/add-a-receipt-from-your-phone-or-computer-4z7vki/).

## What happens next

When every row is handled, select **Finish reconciliation** at the top of **Bank review**. You'll check the statement balance and close the month. See [Match a statement and close a month](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/match-a-statement-and-close-a-month-1xbdo1j/).

## If something looks wrong

- A row dated in a closed month shows **Source needs review**. It can't be matched or recorded until an owner reopens that month.
- Imported the wrong file or account? Open it under **Recent statement imports** on the import page and select **Abandon import**. Its rows are hidden, and you can import the right file. Entries you already saved stay.
- The import stops if a row is dated after the **Statement ending date**. Check the date and try again.
- Left the statement currency blank? New rows can show **Not recorded** for their amounts. Abandon the import and import it again with the original currency filled in and confirmed. If an older import offers **Review statement currency**, enter **Original statement currency**, tick **Confirm this currency and retain the older two decimal places**, then select **Confirm statement currency**. This retains the older scale; currencies with a different number of decimal places still need review.

### Related information

- [Match a statement and close a month](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/match-a-statement-and-close-a-month-1xbdo1j/)
- [Add a receipt from your phone or computer](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/add-a-receipt-from-your-phone-or-computer-4z7vki/)
- [Recording money in and out](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/recording-money-in-and-out-1p10al4/)
- [Setting up your books](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/setting-up-your-books-1rq6z1o/)