Import transactions from a bank CSV.

1. Prepare the export

1. Sign in to your bank using its official website or app.
2. Export the account and date range you want as a CSV file, not a PDF statement.
3. Inspect the CSV file for the headers you need in the budget; Escape the Paper supports importing a Date, Other Party (payee/income source), and Particulars.
4. Keep the original export unchanged until the import has completed successfully.
5. Open the .etpb budget that should receive the transactions. At any point you can duplicate the .etpb file for a snapshot of your current budget.

2. Start the import

Use whichever method is most convenient:

• Select Import CSV on the Home screen.
• Choose File > Import CSV or press ⌘I.
• Drag the CSV from Finder onto the app window.

Follow the importer to confirm how the bank’s columns map to transaction details. Banks use different headings and date formats, so review the result before continuing with categorisation.

3. Review what came in

1. Return to Home to check categorisation progress and recent import activity. The smart categorisation suggestion will run in the background after import.
2. Open Transactions and review uncategorised entries and suggested category matches.
3. Assign or correct categories before relying on weekly totals and reports.
4. Keep the original CSV until you have confirmed the dates, descriptions, and amounts.

New to categorisation? Read Categories, goals, and targets and Tags and suggestions next.

If an import does not look right

• Confirm the file is a true CSV export and opens as rows and columns in a spreadsheet app.
• Check that you exported the intended account, currency, and date range.
• Look for opening-balance, pending, or summary rows that are not transactions.
• Try a smaller date range to isolate an unusual row.
• Keep the original export so you can start again without cumulative edits.

A bank CSV and an Escape The Paper archive are different formats. Use File > Import Archive or ⇧⌘I only for an archive previously exported by Escape The Paper.