Bank statements into Wave

Wave is unusually accommodating about formats — it will take CSV, OFX, QFX and QBO. That makes the choice about what you want afterwards rather than what Wave will accept.

Which format to use

Start here

CSV for Wave

Wave’s CSV upload maps columns on screen and shows the parsed rows before anything is created, which makes a converted statement easy to check.

PDF bank statement to CSV

OFX

Self-describing, so there is no mapping step. Use it when the statement is straightforward and you want fewer clicks.

Convert to OFX

Wave keeps uploaded and connected transactions separate

If the same bank account is also connected to Wave directly, an uploaded statement does not merge with what the connection already pulled in — you get both. Wave has a merge tool for this, but it works one transaction at a time. Upload for periods the connection does not cover, rather than periods it does.

How to import it

  1. 1Convert the PDF statement to CSV or OFX.
  2. 2In Wave: Accounting → Transactions → Upload a bank statement.
  3. 3Choose the account, then map the columns if you uploaded CSV.
  4. 4Review the preview Wave shows before confirming.

Questions

Does Wave accept QBO files?
Yes, along with OFX and QFX. Unlike QuickBooks, Wave does not require a valid Intuit bank ID, so plain OFX is the simpler choice.
Is there an upload size limit?
Wave handles ordinary monthly statements without trouble. For a full year, splitting the PDF by month before converting also makes the review step manageable.

Every format we write

Need to split, merge or unlock the PDF before converting it? Gizmoop’s free PDF tools do that in your browser, no account needed.