First Direct + Bench: Bridge the Gap
Need to get your First Direct (HSBC) bank statement into Bench? First Direct uses DD MMM YYYY and minimalist single-column layout with transaction type codes and running balance, similar to HSBC but with simplified headers — which needs converting to CSV (Date, Description, Amount — Bench bookkeepers handle column mapping during their review process) for Bench import.
How BankScan AI Converts First Direct for Bench
Convert bank statements to CSV with BankScan AI for Bench-compatible import. Useful when bank feeds are unavailable or historical statements need processing. First Direct statements follow an HSBC-family format but with a distinct minimalist layout. BankScan AI detects the variant automatically.
How It Works
Upload your First Direct PDF
Drag and drop your First Direct statement. Supports PDF with DD MMM YYYY handling.
AI converts for Bench
Our AI parses First Direct's layout, converts dates to MM/DD/YYYY, and outputs CSV.
Import into Bench
Share BankScan AI's converted CSV files with your Bench bookkeeper via the Bench portal. They import the data into your Bench account for categorisation and reconciliation.
Bench Import Tip
Date, Description, Amount — Bench bookkeepers handle column mapping during their review process
First Direct to Bench Features
- First Direct optimised — Trained on First Direct's minimalist single-column layout with transaction type codes and running balance, similar to HSBC but with simplified headers with DD MMM YYYY parsing
- Bench formatted — Output as CSV with Date, Description, Amount — Bench bookkeepers handle column mapping during their review process
- Date conversion — Converts DD MMM YYYY to MM/DD/YYYY automatically
Import First Direct Data into Bench
After converting your First Direct statement with BankScan AI:
- Share BankScan AI's converted CSV files with your Bench bookkeeper via the Bench portal
- They import the data into your Bench account for categorisation and reconciliation
Common Import Issues
Bench's human bookkeepers handle most import issues. Main challenge is when bank feeds disconnect — BankScan AI serves as the backup data source for gap periods.
Import First Direct into Bench Today
Automatic date conversion (DD MMM YYYY to MM/DD/YYYY), column mapping, and format validation.
Import First Direct to Bench Free