Getting the most out of CSV import
Not everyone wants to connect their bank account to a third-party app. We get it. That is exactly why we built CSV import as a core feature, not an afterthought. It is available on the free plan and works with every bank that lets you download your transactions as a spreadsheet.
Here are a few tips we have picked up from watching how people use it.
Download from your bank, not a third party
Almost every bank lets you export your transactions as a CSV file. Look for a "Download" or "Export" button somewhere on the transactions page of your online banking portal. This is always the cleanest data source. Third party aggregators sometimes reformat things in ways that trip up the importer.
Pick a consistent time range
We recommend downloading one month at a time. Most banks default to the current statement period, which is perfect. If you download overlapping date ranges, Steddi will catch duplicates and flag them for you, but it is easier to just avoid the overlap in the first place.
A few minutes of importing saves hours of manual entry
Check the column mapping
When you upload a CSV, Steddi will try to auto-detect which columns contain the date, amount, and description. It gets this right most of the time, but if your bank uses unusual column names, you might need to adjust the mapping manually. It only takes a few seconds and you only have to do it once per bank.
Categorize in bulk after importing
Do not try to categorize every transaction as it comes in. Import the whole file first, then use the bulk actions on the transactions page to assign categories. You can filter by merchant name, select all matching transactions, and categorize them in one click. This is way faster than doing them one at a time.
Set a monthly reminder
The biggest challenge with CSV import is remembering to do it. Unlike bank syncing, it does not happen automatically. We recommend setting a calendar reminder for the first of each month. Log into your bank, download last month's transactions, upload to Steddi. The whole thing takes about two minutes once you have done it a couple of times.
When to consider bank syncing
CSV import works great for people who want full control over their data and do not mind the monthly routine. But if you find yourself forgetting to import or wishing it just happened automatically, that is exactly what the Pro plan's bank syncing is for. Transactions show up on their own, usually within a few hours. No downloads, no uploads, no remembering.
Both approaches give you the same budgeting and insights features. It is just a question of how you prefer to get the data in.
CSV import does not get a lot of attention in the world of fintech, but it is quietly one of the most useful features we offer. No API keys, no third-party connections, no permissions to worry about. Just your data, on your terms.
The Steddi Team