Why Convert First Direct Statements with BankScan AI?
Need to convert your own First Direct (HSBC) business statement to Excel? BankScan AI prepares its DD MMM YYYY dates and minimalist single-column layout with transaction type codes and running balance, similar to HSBC but with simplified headers for review. BankScan is for one UK sole trader or owner-operated small business that keeps GBP sole-trader records.
Understanding First Direct Statement Formats
First Direct statements follow an HSBC-family format with a distinct minimalist layout. BankScan AI is designed to recognise that variant. BankScan AI uses reviewed rules for supported First Direct (HSBC) layouts (PDF) and presents the extracted columns, dates and descriptions for you to verify.
Why First Direct Statements Need Specialist Conversion
First Direct statements use DD MMM YYYY dates with minimalist single-column layout with transaction type codes and running balance, similar to HSBC but with simplified headers. Common parsing challenges include: The minimalist layout omits some metadata present in standard HSBC statements, telephone banking transaction references use abbreviated codes, and the PDF uses a clean sans-serif font that differs from HSBC's standard.
BankScan AI applies reviewed parsing rules for First Direct (HSBC) layouts. Check the extracted dates, descriptions, amounts and balances against the source before using them.
How to Download Your First Direct Statement
Log in to First Direct Online Banking, go to 'Statements', select the account and date range, and download as PDF. First Direct also supports OFX export under 'Download transactions' for direct import into accounting software.
How It Works
Upload a supported First Direct statement
Drag and drop a First Direct statement in a currently reviewed PDF format.
AI prepares transaction rows
The scanner reads the DD MMM YYYY dates and prepares descriptions, amounts and running balances where present.
Review and download
Compare the extracted rows with the source statement, then download the reviewed spreadsheet for your records or a controlled import.
First Direct — Did You Know?
Launched in 1989 as the UK's first telephone-only bank, First Direct is a division of HSBC. Their statements share HSBC's underlying data structure but use a distinctive minimalist design that has remained consistent since their move to online banking.
Reviewing a First Direct conversion
- First Direct format review — Designed for currently reviewed First Direct layouts in PDF files
- Source-led checking — Keep the original statement beside the working file and verify every extracted row before use
- Reviewable columns — Prepares minimalist single-column layout with transaction type codes and running balance, similar to HSBC but with simplified headers as rows you can check and correct
Turn Your Statement into a Spreadsheet
One £3.99 monthly plan for a UK sole trader, landlord or owner-operated small business that keeps sole-trader records. Start with a 7-day trial; a payment card is required and there is no charge for 7 days.
Start 7-day trial