Import a Bank Statement Into AccountEdge Pro

Why AccountEdge won't read your PDF

AccountEdge imports bank statements as structured files, OFX, QFX, QIF, OFC, and QBO, but it has no way to read a PDF. A PDF is a printed page, not a list of dated transactions, so there is no column of amounts for AccountEdge to pull into your company file. That leaves the statement your bank emailed you unusable until it is in one of the formats AccountEdge accepts. Converting the PDF to an OFX or similar file turns those pages into transactions AccountEdge can read directly, so the data lands in the bank register ready to match and reconcile rather than being typed in line by line.

Get Statement: the import button in AccountEdge

AccountEdge puts the import behind a single button. Open the Bank Register, or the Reconcile Accounts window, and click Get Statement, then choose the file you converted. AccountEdge reads the transactions into the company file for that account. Normally you would download this file from your bank's website, but when the bank only provides a PDF, or a Mac browser saves the download as the wrong file type, a converted OFX or QBO gives you a clean file the button accepts. Once the statement is in, the transactions appear in the register, ready for you to match against what you have already entered.

Which format to convert to for AccountEdge

AccountEdge reads several formats, and the difference is whether they carry transaction identifiers. OFX and its variants OFC, QFX, and QBO each include a unique ID per transaction, which helps AccountEdge match cleanly and avoid pulling in a line twice when statements overlap. QIF works too, but as an older format it carries no unique IDs, so it is the weaker choice when you have an alternative. For most imports an OFX file is the safe pick; convert to QFX or QBO only if you are matching a workflow that specifically expects the Quicken or QuickBooks flavor.

Reconciling in the Banking Command Center

Importing is the setup; reconciliation is the payoff. From the Banking Command Center, click Reconcile Accounts, and AccountEdge marks the transactions it matches against your register as reconciled, which is where the imported statement saves you time. If you use the advanced bank reconciliation feature, you can set rules so AccountEdge matches statement lines to register transactions automatically, turning a repetitive monthly match into a quick review. Getting the converted data accurate up front matters here, since every transaction is reviewable before export and a clean import means fewer unmatched lines to chase at reconciliation.

Bank Feeds, Mac downloads, and privacy

AccountEdge offers Bank Feeds as a paid subscription that connects to your bank automatically, but without it you import statement files by hand, which is exactly where conversion fits. It also runs on the Mac, where browsers sometimes save a bank download as the wrong file type; a converted file sidesteps that by producing the correct format directly. Because bank statements are sensitive, files are processed to build the OFX or QBO and then deleted automatically, with nothing retained on a server afterward. For a bookkeeper importing for several AccountEdge company files, that automatic deletion keeps client data out of a third-party tool.

Frequently Asked Questions