First Direct + Xero: Bridge the Gap
Need to get your First Direct (HSBC) bank statement into Xero? 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 (single column, negative for debits) — or Date, Description, Debit, Credit as separate columns) for Xero import.
How BankScan AI Converts First Direct for Xero
BankScan AI produces Excel and CSV files formatted for direct import into Xero's bank statement upload feature. Columns match Xero's expected date, description, and amount format. 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 Xero
Our AI parses First Direct's layout, converts dates to DD/MM/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD, and outputs CSV.
Import into Xero
In Xero, go to Accounting > Bank accounts > select your account > Import a Statement. Choose the CSV file from BankScan AI. Xero auto-maps the Date, Description, and Amount columns.
Xero Import Tip
Date, Description, Amount (single column, negative for debits) — or Date, Description, Debit, Credit as separate columns
First Direct to Xero 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
- Xero formatted — Output as CSV with Date, Description, Amount (single column, negative for debits) — or Date, Description, Debit, Credit as separate columns
- Date conversion — Converts DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD automatically
Import First Direct Data into Xero
After converting your First Direct statement with BankScan AI:
- In Xero, go to Accounting > Bank accounts > select your account > Import a Statement
- Choose the CSV file from BankScan AI
- Xero auto-maps the Date, Description, and Amount columns
Common Import Issues
Most common error is date format mismatch — Xero rejects MM/DD/YYYY dates. Also watch for CSV encoding issues with special characters in payee names.
Import First Direct into Xero Today
Automatic date conversion (DD MMM YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD), column mapping, and format validation.
Import First Direct to Xero Free