How to Import Bank CSV Files into a Budgeting App

Most budgeting apps want you to connect your bank account directly. While convenient, this means sharing your banking credentials with a third party. If you're not comfortable with that, there's another option: exporting your transactions as a CSV file and importing them manually.

This guide walks you through the process for major Canadian banks.

What is a CSV file?

CSV stands for "Comma-Separated Values." It's a simple text file format where each line represents a transaction, and the values (date, description, amount) are separated by commas. Almost every bank offers CSV export because it's a universal format that works with spreadsheets like Excel and Google Sheets.

How to export from major Canadian banks

RBC Royal Bank

1. Log into RBC Online Banking
2. Go to your account and click "View Account Activity"
3. Select a date range
4. Click "Download" and choose CSV format

TD Canada Trust

1. Log into EasyWeb
2. Select your account
3. Click "Download Transactions"
4. Choose CSV and your date range

BMO Bank of Montreal

1. Log into BMO Online Banking
2. Go to your account activity
3. Look for "Download" or "Export" option
4. Select CSV format

Scotiabank

1. Log into Scotia OnLine
2. Go to Account Details
3. Select "Download Transactions"
4. Choose CSV and date range

CIBC

1. Log into CIBC Online Banking
2. Go to your account
3. Click "Download transactions"
4. Select CSV format

Tangerine

1. Log into Tangerine online banking
2. Go to your account transactions
3. Click "Download" or "Export"
4. Choose CSV

Importing into Monixio

Once you have your CSV file:

1. Log into Monixio
2. Click "Import CSV" on the transactions page
3. Drop your CSV file into the upload area
4. Monixio automatically detects the format and shows you a preview
5. Confirm the import

Monixio's AI will automatically categorize your transactions. You can correct any miscategorizations, and the system learns from your corrections over time.

Tips for a smooth import

• Export one account at a time: This helps keep things organized
• Check the date range: Make sure you're exporting the period you need
• Don't worry about format: Monixio handles different CSV formats automatically
• Duplicates are handled: If you import overlapping date ranges, Monixio detects duplicates

Why use CSV import instead of bank linking?

• Privacy: You never share your bank login credentials
• Control: You decide exactly what data to import and when
• Security: No third-party aggregator has access to your accounts
• Reliability: No worries about broken connections or sync issues

The trade-off is that you need to export and import manually, typically once a month or whenever you want to update your budget. For many people, this small effort is worth the peace of mind.