First Direct + Sage: Bridge the Gap
Need to get your First Direct (HSBC) bank statement into Sage? 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, Details/Reference, Paid in, Paid out — Sage requires separate debit and credit columns rather than a single signed amount) for Sage import.
How BankScan AI Converts First Direct for Sage
BankScan AI's CSV output is compatible with Sage's bank statement import. The date format, transaction descriptions, and amount columns are mapped automatically. 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 Sage
Our AI parses First Direct's layout, converts dates to DD/MM/YYYY, and outputs CSV.
Import into Sage
In Sage Accounting, go to Banking > select your bank account > Import statement. Upload the CSV, confirm column mapping (Date, Details, Paid in, Paid out), and import.
Sage Import Tip
Date, Details/Reference, Paid in, Paid out — Sage requires separate debit and credit columns rather than a single signed amount
First Direct to Sage 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
- Sage formatted — Output as CSV with Date, Details/Reference, Paid in, Paid out — Sage requires separate debit and credit columns rather than a single signed amount
- Date conversion — Converts DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY automatically
Import First Direct Data into Sage
After converting your First Direct statement with BankScan AI:
- In Sage Accounting, go to Banking > select your bank account > Import statement
- Upload the CSV, confirm column mapping (Date, Details, Paid in, Paid out), and import
Common Import Issues
Sage requires separate Paid in/Paid out columns — a single Amount column will fail. Also rejects imports where the date column contains time stamps.
Import First Direct into Sage Today
Automatic date conversion (DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY), column mapping, and format validation.
Import First Direct to Sage Free