How to import a bank statement
into Google Sheets.
Google Sheets is a free, simple place to track spending or prepare figures for your accountant. Here’s how to get a PDF bank statement into a sheet with dates and amounts that actually work in formulas.
Step 1: Convert the PDF to CSV
Google Sheets can’t read the table inside a PDF. Upload the statement to BankPDFExport, check the transactions in the review table, and download the CSV. Dates come out as YYYY-MM-DD and amounts use a decimal point, which Sheets recognises reliably.
Step 2: Import the CSV
In Google Sheets, open File → Import → Upload and choose the CSV. Pick Insert new sheet(s) or Replace current sheet, keep the separator on Detect automatically, and leave Convert text to numbers, dates and formulas switched on. Then select Import data.
Step 3: Check dates and numbers
Click an amount: if it is right-aligned and a SUM works, Sheets read it as a number. If amounts or dates stay left-aligned as text, check File → Settings → Locale. A locale that uses commas for decimals can misread decimal points; set it to one that matches the file, such as United Kingdom or United States, and import again.
Step 4: Useful formulas
Total money in: =SUMIF(C:C,">0") · Total money out: =SUMIF(C:C,"<0") · Net change: =SUM(C:C). Add a Category column and use a pivot table (Insert → Pivot table) to total spending by category or by month.