OFX, CSV or XLSX: which bank statement export to import
Every bank exports at least one of them. Here is what each format keeps, what it drops along the way, and which to pick to import without linking your account.
2 min read
Importing the statement is how you get the bank’s transactions into your tracking without handing your password to anyone. The bank exports a file, you import it, the expenses show up categorised. The only question is the format: OFX, CSV or XLSX. They are not the same.
OFX: the format built for this
OFX was created to exchange financial data between systems. Each transaction carries a date, amount, description and a unique identifier, which is what lets you import the same period twice without duplicating anything. It is the format every finance app prefers.
- Keeps: date, amount, description, type and a unique identifier.
- Drops: nothing that matters; it just has no category, which is your call.
- Where to find it: in online banking, under "export statement" or "save as OFX".
CSV: works, with care
CSV is a table in plain text. It works, but every bank lays out the columns its own way, uses a comma or a dot as the decimal separator and writes dates in different formats. With no unique identifier, importing twice duplicates the transactions.
XLSX: the bank’s spreadsheet
The Excel export is the CSV with formatting: headers, totals, sometimes the bank’s logo at the top. Nice to look at, hardest for a program to read. Use it only if it is the only option.
Which one to pick
- If the bank offers OFX, use OFX. Always.
- If there is only CSV, export one month at a time and check dates and amount signs before importing.
- If there is only XLSX, save it as CSV in your spreadsheet first, removing headers and totals.
How it works in MyMoney
MyMoney imports OFX and CSV, detects repeated transactions and suggests the category based on what you classified before. Nothing is sent to the bank and no password is requested. We explain that choice in why we do not connect to your bank.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I import?
Once a week is the sweet spot: short enough to remember what each expense was, long enough not to become a daily chore.
Does the card statement come as OFX too?
At most banks, yes, in the statement area. Import the closed statement into the matching card so installments land in the right month.
Is importing safe?
The file contains only the transactions, no password or login data. It is safer than linking the account to a third-party service.
