Downloading Transaction Details from Online Banking

RexLuscus

I've been a long-time (>50 years!) customer of Barclays, and use their online system to download transaction details each month in .CSV format, which I can then import to my Excel household budget spreadsheet. I am considering switching bank, but want to ensure that I can continue to download my data in a compatible format. However, it appears impossible to ascertain how any bank's online account management system and whether some or all of them offer this facility. Can anyone shed any light on the capabilities of different banks' online offerings?

As an aside, with so much emphasis on online banking, one would think that it would be possible to view or try a demonstration site before making such an important change.

eskbanker

I imagine that most, if not all, will offer transaction download facilities in one form or another, as importing such data into Excel (other spreadsheet tools are available) is commonplace.  I'd suggest you focus on the primary features of other banks' offerings and then ask on here for more details about any specific bank you're interested in, rather than the open question above....

WillPS

RexLuscus said:

As an aside, with so much emphasis on online banking, one would think that it would be possible to view or try a demonstration site before making such an important change.

I can't help with your main enquiry other than to say 'it varies', which no doubt you already know.

I do know that one reason demos are not provided is that there's a fear they could be abused by fraudsters.

Rob5342

Most banks let you download pdf statements, and excel has an import from pdf option (data->get data->from file). I've got no idea how well it works though.

I wouldn't say there is that much emphasis on online banking, it's becoming quite an old fashioned way of doing things now as the focus is on apps now. You don't need to go straight into switching, you could open an account you like the look of, give it a try to see what you think and then switch your old account to it or give another account a try.

eskbanker

Rob5342 said:

I wouldn't say there is that much emphasis on online banking, it's becoming quite an old fashioned way of doing things now as the focus is on apps now. You don't need to go straight into switching, you could open an account you like the look of, give it a try to see what you think and then switch your old account to it or give another account a try.

I could be wrong but suspect that someone looking to update a household budget Excel spreadsheet is perhaps more likely to be doing so on a computer than a phone or tablet....

RexLuscus

eskbanker said:

I imagine that most, if not all, will offer transaction download facilities in one form or another, as importing such data into Excel (other spreadsheet tools are available) is commonplace.  I'd suggest you focus on the primary features of other banks' offerings and then ask on here for more details about any specific bank you're interested in, rather than the open question above....

For more context, I am an experienced financial database analyst, and I use Excel (soon to switch to Libre Calc) to manage, analyse and forecast my household accounts. My current setup automatically takes .CSV data downloaded from online banking, formats and categorizes the transactions, and presents the data so I can analyze the expenditure and budget for future months/years.

I've decided to move away from Barclays for ethical and environmental reasons. For my purposes, there is very little to differentiate one bank from another, apart from the quality of their online banking interface and customer service. My most likely destination is Nationwide, as it's about the only significant mutual left in the personal banking sector and which has a branch network I could use on the rare occasions I need to do in-person banking.

Rob5342 said:

Most banks let you download pdf statements, and excel has an import from pdf option (data->get data->from file). I've got no idea how well it works though.

I wouldn't say there is that much emphasis on online banking, it's becoming quite an old fashioned way of doing things now as the focus is on apps now. You don't need to go straight into switching, you could open an account you like the look of, give it a try to see what you think and then switch your old account to it or give another account a try.

I'm well aware that it's possible to extract data from .PDF into Excel, but you cannot automate the process because the data is not presented in a uniform table. As you say you have no idea how well it works - take it from me, it doesn't without a lot of manual input!

Sorry to be so 'old fashioned', I've no experience of banking apps other than Barclays' (which I use regularly), but I doubt  that any of them offers the facilities of my 'home-grown' spreadsheet. As for 'try before you buy', I don't want the hassle of having to move my accounts multiple times. If I were to move accounts several times to find the optimal provider, I'd risk affecting my credit score. Also, those banks which offer incentives for switching require you to sign up blind i.e. in order to get the sign-up bonus/interest rate/discounts you have to commit to the switch as part of opening the account.

WillPS said:

I can't help with your main enquiry other than to say 'it varies', which no doubt you already know.

I do know that one reason demos are not provided is that there's a fear they could be abused by fraudsters.

And do you not think that fraudsters are not going to open an account for say £10 if they're so keen to see what the online banking system looks like (as if that would help them anyway)?

Thanks to all who have replied so far, I didn't want to write a treatise, just thought I might get some sensible answers to my direct question. I'm also aware that it's a movable feast; just because a bank offers a facility today, doesn't mean they're not going to withdraw it tomorrow. Barclays has been busy trying to hide the 'download data' button every time they 'improve' their web interface.

Rob5342

Ive just checked my account and Starling let you download transactions as csvs. You have to do it in the web interface rather than the app. 

eskbanker

RexLuscus said:

eskbanker said:

I imagine that most, if not all, will offer transaction download facilities in one form or another, as importing such data into Excel (other spreadsheet tools are available) is commonplace.  I'd suggest you focus on the primary features of other banks' offerings and then ask on here for more details about any specific bank you're interested in, rather than the open question above....

For more context, I am an experienced financial database analyst, and I use Excel (soon to switch to Libre Calc) to manage, analyse and forecast my household accounts. My current setup automatically takes .CSV data downloaded from online banking, formats and categorizes the transactions, and presents the data so I can analyze the expenditure and budget for future months/years.

I've decided to move away from Barclays for ethical and environmental reasons. For my purposes, there is very little to differentiate one bank from another, apart from the quality of their online banking interface and customer service. My most likely destination is Nationwide, as it's about the only significant mutual left in the personal banking sector and which has a branch network I could use on the rare occasions I need to do in-person banking.

Nationwide supports CSV downloads, plus a couple of other formats that may appeal more to an experienced financial database analyst:



As might be expected, the columns generated are:

Date

Transaction type

Description

Paid out

Paid in

Balance

eskbanker

RexLuscus said:

As an aside, with so much emphasis on online banking, one would think that it would be possible to view or try a demonstration site before making such an important change.

Just to pick up on this point, Nationwide do offer a demo site:

https://nationwidedemo.co.uk/en/home

RexLuscus said:
As for 'try before you buy', I don't want the hassle of having to move my accounts multiple times. If I were to move accounts several times to find the optimal provider, I'd risk affecting my credit score.

Just to reiterate the standard response to mention of that term, credit scores are just numbers invented by the credit rating agencies to try to sell you their products and services, so don't pay any attention to those!  However, it is true to say that multiple applications for credit accounts do leave a footprint on your credit files, which can be seen by prospective lenders (unlike the 'scores'), so it would be prudent not to make loads of such applications in a short period of time if you're likely to need significant credit (e.g. mortgage) in the near future....

Rob5342

You dont have to move the account either, you can open a new one and leave the old one running. You can often initiate the switch later if yoy want the switching bonus. Ita hardly any hassle, it takes lots then ten minutes to open a bank account. I'm not suggesting you open loads of accounts simply to try them, but if you have narrowed it down to one you like the look of then opening an account to try it is no big deal as you can just close it again or keep it as a spare. 

PRAISETHESUN

@RexLuscus In my experience, the online banking of most banks seem to offer mostly the same things through either online banking or their respective apps. I just had a quick look at a few banks, and the ones below allow you to download your transaction history in the following formats. Hope it helps

Lloyds (and presumably also Halifax/BoS) - CSV, QIF

NatWest (and presumably also RBS/Ulster): PDF, CSV, OFX

Santander: XLS, QIF, PDF, TXT, CSV

Nationwide: CSV, OFX, midata

Virgin Money: CSV

First Direct (and presumably also HSBC): CSV, QIF, JSON