Date
Use the transaction date printed on the statement. Prefer an unambiguous YYYY-MM-DD value and check spreadsheet date interpretation after opening the file.
2026-01-04Free data-format resource
Bank statement CSV format and free template
Use a clear five-column structure for reviewed transaction data. Download the blank header, then follow the field rules below to avoid ambiguous dates, mixed amount directions, and invented balances.
Field definitions
What each CSV column should contain
These five fields match a single-statement RasterLift CSV export. A combined multi-statement export adds a Statement column before Date so rows can be traced to their source file label.
FieldGuidanceFictional example
Description
Keep the reviewed transaction text needed to identify the row. Preserve useful reference text, but remove sensitive identifiers before sharing when they are unnecessary.
Synthetic office supply purchaseMoney Out
Use a plain number for a debit, payment, fee, withdrawal, or other amount leaving the account. Do not include a currency symbol in the cell.
82.40Money In
Use a plain number for a credit, deposit, refund, or other amount entering the account. Leave it blank on rows that only have money out.
2500.00Balance
Record the running balance shown after the transaction. Leave it blank if the source does not provide a row-level balance rather than inventing one.
3967.60Example only
A correctly shaped fictional CSV
Every description and amount below is synthetic. The downloadable template contains the header only.
| Date | Description | Money Out | Money In | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | Synthetic payroll deposit | blank | 2500.00 | 4050.00 |
| 2026-01-04 | Synthetic office supply purchase | 82.40 | blank | 3967.60 |
| 2026-01-05 | Synthetic client payment | blank | 425.00 | 4392.60 |
Validation rules
Check structure before importing the file
- Keep the header names and column order stable when another system expects this schema.
- Use one transaction per row and quote descriptions that contain commas or line breaks.
- Store amounts as plain decimal numbers; do not mix symbols such as $ or £ into amount cells.
- Leave an unavailable balance blank rather than calculating a value that was not present in the source.
- Open the file after export and spot-check dates, decimal places, and non-ASCII description text.
CSV or Excel?
Choose based on the handoff
Use CSV for portability
CSV is a compact table for imports, scripts, and systems that expect rows and columns. It does not preserve multiple sheets, formulas, cell formatting, or a separate review log.
Use Excel for review context
Excel can keep summary metrics, detailed rows, and review flags in one workbook. Download the blank three-sheet template if the recipient needs that context.
View the Excel template →Frequently asked questions
About the CSV format
What columns are in a bank statement CSV?
The single-statement RasterLift CSV uses five columns in this order: Date, Description, Money Out, Money In, and Balance.
Should Money Out and Money In both contain a value?
Use one amount column per row when the source distinguishes debits and credits. Leave the other amount cell blank rather than entering zero unless zero is the actual source value.
Which date format should I use?
YYYY-MM-DD is a practical unambiguous choice. Always verify that your spreadsheet software has not interpreted day and month in the wrong order.
Does the CSV template include real transactions?
The downloadable file contains only the five-column header. The example rows shown on this page are fictional and are not included in the blank template.
Extract reviewed statement rows into CSV
RasterLift separates money out and money in, keeps uncertain rows visible for review, and exports the corrected five-column table.