First Direct + QuickBooks: Bridge the Gap
Need to get your First Direct (HSBC) bank statement into QuickBooks? 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 — QuickBooks expects a single amount column where negative values are money out and positive values are money in) for QuickBooks import.
How BankScan AI Converts First Direct for QuickBooks
Export your converted bank statement as CSV and import directly into QuickBooks via Banking > Upload transactions. BankScan AI formats the columns correctly. 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 QuickBooks
Our AI parses First Direct's layout, converts dates to DD/MM/YYYY for UK accounts, MM/DD/YYYY for US accounts, and outputs CSV.
Import into QuickBooks
In QuickBooks Online, go to Banking > select your account > Link account > Upload from file. Select the CSV from BankScan AI, map the columns (Date, Description, Amount), and import.
QuickBooks Import Tip
Date, Description, Amount — QuickBooks expects a single amount column where negative values are money out and positive values are money in
First Direct to QuickBooks 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
- QuickBooks formatted — Output as CSV with Date, Description, Amount — QuickBooks expects a single amount column where negative values are money out and positive values are money in
- Date conversion — Converts DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY for UK accounts, MM/DD/YYYY for US accounts automatically
Import First Direct Data into QuickBooks
After converting your First Direct statement with BankScan AI:
- In QuickBooks Online, go to Banking > select your account > Link account > Upload from file
- Select the CSV from BankScan AI, map the columns (Date, Description, Amount), and import
Common Import Issues
QuickBooks rejects files with more than 350 rows per import — split large statements. Also fails if the Amount column contains currency symbols or commas.
Import First Direct into QuickBooks Today
Automatic date conversion (DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY for UK accounts, MM/DD/YYYY for US accounts), column mapping, and format validation.
Import First Direct to QuickBooks Free