How to use the Expensible standardiser
Transform your transaction files into a standardised CSV format in 3 simple steps
📁 Upload Your File
Choose your bank transaction file (CSV, XLS, or XLSX) to get started.
🔗 Match File to Template
Tell us which columns contain dates, amounts, and descriptions so we can match your transaction file to your template format.
⬇️ Save or Download Results
Save your clean, standardized transactions in this app for categorisation, or download as a .csv file.
Step 1: Upload File
Choose your transactions file (CSV/XLS/XLSX). You can drag and drop or click to browse. After upload, review the preview to understand column positions.
Click to select a file or drag and drop
Supported: CSV, XLS, XLSX
New to Expensible? Try it with sample data first
Selected file:
File type:
File Preview
| Row |
|---|
Showing first 10 rows and all columns with preserved structure. Row and column numbers match your file exactly. Use this preview to help set up your template mapping.
Step 2: Match File to Template
Click "New Template" to tell us how your transaction file is structured (which columns contain dates, amounts, descriptions, etc.) so we can match it to the correct template format. You can also select a previously saved Template if you've used this file format before. Once done, process the file to generate standardized transaction data.
No File Uploaded
Upload a CSV, XLS, or XLSX file to start configuring and processing your transaction data.
You can still manage your Templates using the settings button above.
Template Options:
- Choose an existing setup if you've previously used this template or bank's file format
- Create a new setup if this is your first time using this template or it has a different file format
Use the search box to quickly find setups by template name, or click "New Template" to configure how this file matches your template.
Templates save your file format settings so you can reuse them for similar files from the same bank. Once you create a template, you can select it from the dropdown to automatically map columns for future files with the same format.
How to Use Expensible
What This Page Does
The Expensible standardiser converts various financial file formats (CSV, XLS, XLSX) into a standardized format that's consistent across different banks and financial institutions. You can:
- Upload transaction files from any bank or financial institution
- Create and save templates to match your file formats
- Process and standardize your transaction data
- Save transactions to the app for categorization and analysis
- Download standardized CSV files for use in other applications
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload Your File
Click the upload area or drag & drop your CSV, XLS, or XLSX file. The app will automatically detect the file type and parse the data.
Select or Create Template
Choose an existing Template from the dropdown, or click "New Template" to create one. Templates define how to match your transaction file's columns to your specific file format.
Set Up Template Column Matching
When creating a new template, tell us which columns in your file correspond to standard transaction fields:
- Transaction Date: When the transaction occurred
- Payee: Who you paid or received money from
- Memo: Additional transaction details or description
- Amount: Transaction amount (single column) or separate Inbound/Outbound columns
Also configure:
- Date Format: The format used in your file (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY)
- Start Row: The row where transaction data begins (usually row 1 if headers are present)
- Amount Type: Single column (with positive/negative) or dual columns (separate inbound/outbound)
Configure Amount Handling
Depending on your file format, configure how amounts are handled:
- Single Amount Column: Use when your file has one amount column with positive/negative values, brackets, or custom prefixes (e.g., DR, CR)
- Dual Amount Columns: Use when your file has separate columns for money coming in (inbound) and going out (outbound)
- Transaction Sign Convention: Some files use negative amounts for inbound transactions - choose "Inverted" if this applies to your file
Process Your File
Click "Process File with Selected Template" to convert your data. The app will:
- Validate the data against your template
- Parse and standardize the transactions
- Show you a preview of the results
- Display any errors or warnings
Save or Download Results
After processing, you have two options:
- Save to App: Click "Save Transactions" to store the data in the app for categorization, analysis, and future reference
- Download CSV: Click "Download CSV" to download your standardized file for use in accounting software or other applications
You can do both - save to the app for ongoing management and download for external use.
Best Practices
- Save templates with descriptive names: Use names like "Chase Bank Checking" or "Amex Credit Card" to easily identify templates
- Export templates for backup: Use the template management features to export and backup your templates
- Check the preview: Always review the processed data preview before saving or downloading to ensure accuracy
- Verify date formats: Make sure the date format in your template matches the format in your file
- Check sign conventions: Verify that the transaction sign convention (normal vs inverted) matches your file format
- Start with row 1: If your file has headers, typically start with row 1. Adjust if your file format is different
- Save transactions to app: Save processed transactions to the app to take advantage of categorization, rules, and analytics features
Template Management
Manage Templates
Danger Zone
Template Column Matching
Processing
We're standardizing your data. You can watch the progress bar; this usually takes a few seconds for typical files.
Processing file...
Results
Review totals and any errors. If everything looks good, download the standardized CSV. Fix any flagged rows and re-process if needed.
Total transactions: 0
Valid transactions: 0
Errors: 0
Errors Found
Data Preview
| Transaction Date | Payee | Memo | Outbound Amount | Inbound Amount | Source |
|---|
Choose Your Next Step
Download CSV
Get your standardized transaction file for use in Excel, accounting software, or other applications
Store in Browser
Save transactions locally for quick access and category management features
Process Another File
Upload and standardize a new transaction file using the same workflow
Template Management
Transactions Stored Successfully!
Your 0 transactions are now saved in the app
What would you like to do next?
Review & Categorize
View your stored transactions and assign categories for better insights
Process More Files
Upload and standardize additional transaction files