Import a Bank Statement PDF into YNAB

Steps for personal budgeting

1. Download last month's statement for your everyday account as a PDF (scanned PDFs aren't supported).
2. Open the PDF in the converter above by dropping or tapping.
3. Delete transfers between your own accounts so they don't count as spending.
4. Set Export layout to Ynab layout (free), choose Download CSV, then load it into your budget.

What the file looks like

Sample rows, Ynab layout setting.

YNAB notes

• YNAB's File-Based Import matches CSV columns to Date, Payee, Memo, Outflow and Inflow. The Ynab layout uses exactly those headers, with spending in Outflow and deposits in Inflow, and the other cell left blank. $0 rows are left out.
• File-Based Import works in the YNAB web app or on an iPad, not on phones. Drag the CSV anywhere into YNAB and the Import Transactions window opens.

Why it fits personal budgeting

YNAB works best when every transaction is in the plan, including the ones from before you started or from an account you don't link. Convert the statement with the Ynab layout and use File-Based Import.

After importing, give every new transaction a category and approve it. If the account was new to YNAB, check that the imported balance matches your bank's balance on the same day, and add a reconciliation adjustment only if you understand the difference.

Tip: If your YNAB account starts on a certain date, YNAB will offer to include or exclude earlier rows. Exclude them unless you mean to adjust past months.