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Format guide

OFX file for bank statements: layout and how to import it

Short answer

OFX is an open format for bank statements. Tableaf writes OFX 1.02, the plain-text version, with one statement per file: a bank statement for bank accounts and a card statement for credit cards. Xero, Quicken, GnuCash, Sage and Moneydance import it, usually through an option called import statement or import OFX.

Updated

What the format is

OFX stands for Open Financial Exchange. Banks and accounting software use it to pass transactions around. Version 1.02 is plain text in an older tag style, and it is the version nearly every importer reads. Version 2 is XML. We write 1.02.

Which software takes it

SoftwareWhere to import
XeroAccounting, Bank accounts, the account’s menu, Import a Statement. Xero recommends OFX over its other file types
QuickenQuicken for Mac: File, Import, Bank or Brokerage File (OFX, QFX). For Windows, see the QFX guide
GnuCashFile, Import, Import OFX/QFX
Sage, Moneydance and othersLook for import bank statement, OFX or Money file

For QuickBooks use QBO. For Quicken on Windows use QFX.

How our file is laid out

An OFX file is the same as our QBO file without the lines that name an Intuit bank: there is no FI block and no INTU.BID. The rest is identical.

PartWhat we write
Statement typeA bank statement for bank accounts, a card statement for credit cards
AccountAccount type is checking, savings or money market. BANKID is 000000000, and ACCTID is the number you enter or 0001
CurrencyThe statement’s currency, or USD if it isn’t known
DatesYYYYMMDD with a fixed time of 12:00:00
TRNAMTMoney out and card charges are negative
FITIDStays the same each time you export the same statement, so software that checks the ID can skip repeats
NAME and MEMONAME is plain ASCII, cut to 32 characters, with the full text in MEMO when longer
Closing balanceIn LEDGERBAL, from the account holder’s side. A card’s amount owed is negative

How to import it

Xero

  1. 01In the Accounting menu, choose Bank accounts.
  2. 02Open the account’s menu and choose Import a Statement.
  3. 03Drag the .ofx file in, or select it, then choose Next.
  4. 04Review the lines, clear the box on any you don’t want, and choose Complete import.

More in the Xero import guide.

GnuCash and others

  1. 01In GnuCash choose File, Import, Import OFX/QFX. In other programs, look for importing a bank statement, OFX or Money file.
  2. 02Pick the .ofx file and the account it belongs to.
  3. 03Review and accept the transactions.

Common errors and fixes

Amounts come in the wrong way round

The file is from the account holder’s side: money out is negative. If a credit card statement is imported into a bank account, charges will look like withdrawals and the totals won’t make sense. Import card files into a credit card account.

The software says it can’t read the file

Don’t open and re-save the file first. Export a fresh copy. If the program wants a particular extension, .ofx is the right one for most; Quicken wants .qfx and QuickBooks wants .qbo.

Duplicate transactions

Most programs use the FITID to skip transactions they already have. Xero says it recognises duplicates already imported in other files. Statements that overlap are therefore safe in the usual case.

Names are cut off

OFX 1.02 allows 32 characters in NAME. The full text is in MEMO, and some programs show only one of the two.

Converter

PDF to OFX / QFX

Converts a text PDF to OFX or QFX in your browser, checked against the statement’s own balances.

Open PDF to OFX / QFXTry a sample statement

Text PDFs are read in your browser and never uploaded. Scanned PDFs are not supported yet; OCR is coming soon.

Questions

OFX, QFX or QBO?
OFX for Xero, Sage, GnuCash, Moneydance and most others. QFX for Quicken. QBO for QuickBooks. All three hold the same transactions.
Why OFX 1.02 and not version 2?
Version 1.02 is the one importers read most widely, so it is the safest choice.
Do I need an account number?
It is optional. Programs use it to remember which account a file belongs to, so adding the last 4 digits helps if you import many files.
How do I know the transactions are right?
Each statement is checked against its printed opening and closing balances before you export. If they don’t match, the review screen shows the difference so you can fix it first.
Is my statement uploaded anywhere?
No. A PDF with real text is read by code running in your browser tab, and the file is built there too. Nothing is sent to our servers. How we handle your data.
Does this work on scanned statements?
Not yet. Tableaf reads PDFs that contain real text, which is what most banks give you when you download a statement. Reading scanned or photographed pages (OCR) is coming soon.
What does it cost?
Five pages a day are free with no account, in every format and with the balance check. Paid plans are on the pricing page.

Sources

Pages used for this guide. Software changes menus often, so if a label differs on your screen, the vendor’s page is the one to follow.

More guides

General information, not accounting or tax advice.