Downloading Transaction Details from Online Banking

WillPS

RexLuscus said:

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)?

First off, you asked a question and I answered. I'm not in charge of any banking policy whatsoever.

Secondly, that's nowhere near as trivial as you suggest unless you reside in the UK. Most of this type of fraud will occur overseas.

pochisoldi

Short version

There's little point in selecting a bank just because they do CSV downloads.
Each bank has their own format for CSV files.
Moving to another bank will mean having to hack your system to allow you to import data from another bank.

I would suggest that if you want to keep your existing system, look for a bank that offers QIF downloads then create a script/program/macro which turns the QIF file into a Barclays style CSV file.
Once you have the QIF to CSV conversion sorted, you'll know that in the future you can switch to any bank that uses QIF, with the minimum of hassle.

By way of an example regarding CSV formats, here's a quick comparison between Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, Nationwide, and Natwest.

The only banks with a common format are Halifax and Lloyds because they use identical online banking systems.

By way of an example:

Headers or no headers
Nationwide has three lines of "header" data (the others don't).

Date formats
Nationwide and Natwest use "17 Jun 2024", the others use "17/06/2024".

Transaction amounts - one or two columns?
Barclays has the transaction amount in the 4th column, Debits have a negative value, credits positive.
Natwest is the same as Barclays
Nationwide has all debits in the 4th column and credits in the 5th column, and all values are positive.
Halifax/Lloyds - same as Nationwide but in the 6th and 7th columns.

Transaction description:
Barclays: 6th column
Halifax/Lloyds: 5th column
Nationwide: 3rd column
Natwest: 3rd column

Strange delimiters:
Barclays uses no quotes
Nationwide uses double quotes around each and every field
Natwest only uses double quotes around the description field
Halifax/Lloyds uses a single quote prefix to turn the sort code into text

For the record I use an old version of MS Money, my preferred format is OFX, I use QIF for providers that don't do OFX, and CSV for the odd provider that doesn't do OFX or QIF but provides useful CSV downloads.
All the downloaded files get pushed through a set of scripts which standardise payee names, and implement workarounds for some duff data (Barclays and Nationwide are the worst offenders)

PochiSoldi

Ergates

WillPS said:

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.

Example data provided in .csv format wouldn't be of any use to any fraudster anyway - it's not something you could use to make a fake statement.

Ergates

RexLuscus said:

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.

You could just ask them - create a list of banks that are attractive using whatever set of selection criteria you have then call/email them and say "can customers download statements in .csv format".

Having said that - it's likely that *most* banks will off .csv as it's the most cross-compatible with different pieces of software - it's probably the most common data file type in the world.

RexLuscus

Just to say thanks once again for all your replies, particularly PRAISETHESUN who concisely and precisely directly answered my original query.