PRACTICAL GUIDE

Catch-up bookkeeping when the bank only gave you PDFs

You have months of statements to work through, but no usable transaction export. The fastest first step is to ask the bank for a CSV or other downloadable transaction file. If the history is only available as PDFs, scans, or photos, use the statements as your source and check the results month by month.

1. 1. Gather a complete set of statements

   List every month and account in the catch-up period. Check that you have each statement's beginning and ending balances. Missing months or pages cannot be repaired by a converter.

2. 2. Turn scanned rows into a spreadsheet

   If the bank cannot provide transaction data, convert one authorized statement at a time. ScannedStatement accepts PDF, PNG, and JPG files up to 10 MB and creates an Excel workbook with transaction amounts, running balances, source page numbers, and source text for review. A service email receives the download link; no account or subscription is required.

3. 3. Review before you reconcile

   Compare dates, descriptions, debits, and credits with the original statements. Our automated check recalculates each extracted running balance and compares the closing balance, but a passing check does not prove that every field is correct. Fix any discrepancy before using the file in your bookkeeping workflow.

4. 4. Reconcile in your accounting system

   The converted Excel file is a starting point for review and preparation. You still need to categorize transactions, handle duplicates and transfers, and reconcile the account in your accounting software. ScannedStatement does not perform the reconciliation or directly connect to QuickBooks or Xero.