first direct · United Kingdom
Convert first direct bank statements to Excel, CSV & QBO
Convert first direct bank statements (PDF or scanned) to Excel, CSV, QBO or OFX, reconciled against the balance carried forward. Free for 20 pages a month.
Quick answer
Download your first direct bank statement as a PDF from first direct online banking under Statements, upload it to StatementPilot, and export Excel, CSV, QBO, OFX or QIF. We check that the "Balance brought forward" plus every transaction equals the "Balance carried forward" so you know nothing was missed.
What a first direct bank statement looks like
first direct statements follow the HSBC layout with payment type codes and Paid out / Paid in columns.
UK statements usually start with a 'balance brought forward' line, list Paid out / Paid in / Balance columns and end with 'balance carried forward'. Dates are often printed as '05 Jan 24'.
How to convert a first direct statement
- Sign in to first direct online banking under Statements and download the statement for the period you need as a PDF (not a screenshot).
- If the PDF is password-protected, open it and save an unprotected copy first.
- Upload one or several months to StatementPilot. Scanned or photographed statements are read with OCR.
- Check the reconciliation panel: the "Balance brought forward" plus deposits minus withdrawals should equal the "Balance carried forward".
- Export to Excel or CSV for analysis, or QBO/OFX/QIF to import into Xero, Sage and QuickBooks Online.
Dates, amounts and account numbers in the UK
Amounts use 1,234.56. Many UK statements mark credits with 'CR' or show overdrawn balances with 'OD' or 'D' rather than a minus sign. We read the date order from the statement itself and default to DD/MM/YYYY for United Kingdom, so 03/04 is never silently swapped.
Accounts are identified by a six-digit sort code and an eight-digit account number. Only the masked or last digits are carried into QBO/OFX files, as those importers expect.
Importing first direct transactions into your accounting software
Accountants in the UK most often import into Xero, Sage, QuickBooks Online and FreeAgent. Choose QBO for QuickBooks, the Xero CSV for Xero, OFX for most other packages, or Excel/CSV for anything else.
When your bank feed only goes back a few months, converted first direct statements fill the gap for older periods without manual typing.
Why statements are still needed
Open Banking makes CSV downloads common for recent months, but PDF statements remain the standard for older periods, audits and mortgage applications.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a first direct bank statement to Excel?
Yes. Upload the PDF and download an .xlsx file with date, description, amount and balance columns plus a summary sheet showing the balance brought forward, balance carried forward and reconciliation result.
How do I get my first direct statement as a PDF?
Statements are available in first direct online banking under Statements. Choose the statement period and download or save it as a PDF; a printed copy can also be scanned or photographed and uploaded.
Can I import first direct transactions into Xero?
Yes. Export the converted statement in the format Xero accepts (QBO, OFX or a formatted CSV) and import it as a bank statement file. Dates are written in the format your software expects.
Do I need a first direct template?
No. StatementPilot doesn't rely on bank-specific templates, so redesigned first direct statements and older layouts both work. The reconciliation check confirms nothing was missed.
first direct at a glance
- Institution type
- Bank
- Headquarters
- Leeds, United Kingdom
- Where to download statements
- first direct online banking under Statements
- Balance labels on the statement
- Balance brought forward → Balance carried forward
- Currency
- GBP (pounds sterling)
- Typical date format
- DD/MM/YYYY
Convert your first direct statements now
20 free pages every month. No credit card. Every export format included.