Importing bank statements (CSV/OFX)
The first step in reconciliation is getting your bank transactions into CloudFFL OS. The most reliable method is importing a statement file that you download from your bank's website.
Downloading from your bank
Most banks let you export transactions in one or more of these formats:
| Format | Extension | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| OFX / QFX | .ofx, .qfx | Best option — structured data that imports cleanly with dates, amounts, and descriptions |
| CSV | .csv | Widely available — may require column mapping on first import |
| CAMT.053 | .xml | ISO standard — some banks offer this for business accounts |
Log into your bank's online portal, find the transaction export or download option (usually under Statements or Account Activity), select the date range you want to reconcile, and download the file.
Use OFX if your bank offers it. OFX files include structured transaction data that CloudFFL OS can parse automatically — dates, amounts, payee names, and reference numbers all import cleanly. CSV files work too, but you may need to tell the system which column is which on the first import.
Importing into CloudFFL OS
- Go to Accounting and find your Bank journal on the dashboard (it's one of the cards showing your bank name and balance).
- Click the ⋮ (three-dot menu) on the bank journal card.
- Select Import Statement (or Import).
- Upload your file (OFX, CSV, or CAMT).
- If this is a CSV file and your first import, CloudFFL OS may ask you to map the columns:
- Which column is the date
- Which column is the amount (or separate debit/credit columns)
- Which column is the description/label
- Which column is the reference number (optional but helpful)
- Click Import.
CloudFFL OS creates a bank statement with all the transactions from the file. Each line represents one transaction — a deposit, a withdrawal, a card payment, a wire transfer, etc.
After importing
Once the statement is imported, you'll see the transactions listed in the bank journal. Each line needs to be reconciled — matched to an existing invoice, bill, or payment in your records. That's covered in the next section on reconciling transactions.
You can import multiple statements. If you reconcile monthly, import one month at a time. If you're catching up, you can import several months' worth of statements — CloudFFL OS handles overlapping date ranges and won't duplicate transactions that have already been imported (it matches on transaction references).
Manual entry as a fallback
If your bank doesn't offer file exports (rare, but it happens with some smaller credit unions), you can enter transactions manually:
- Go to the bank journal and click New Statement.
- Enter the statement date and ending balance.
- Add each transaction manually — date, description, amount.
- Save and proceed to reconciliation.
This is tedious for more than a handful of transactions. If you're entering more than 10-15 transactions manually each month, it's worth calling your bank to ask about CSV or OFX export options.