# import-transactions

Imports bank export files in CSV, OFX, or QIF formats and deduplicates entries before writing to the database. Identifies major bank header patterns automatically.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 453 installs · ★ 101
- Author: openaccountant
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/openaccountant/skills/tree/HEAD/shared/import-transactions/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-04-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/import-transactions

## What it does

The skill processes bank statement files using `.csv`, `.ofx`, `.qfx`, and `.qif` formats. For CSV files, it inspects header rows to recognize export layouts from Chase, American Express, and Bank of America, falling back to a generic parser when standard date, description, and amount columns exist. It normalizes transaction signs on the fly, setting expenses as negative amounts and income as positive numbers.

Before committing data, the workflow displays a 5-row preview for confirmation. Deduplication matches date, exact amount, and description against stored records via the `transaction_search` tool. Files containing over 1000 transactions run in batches of 500 rows to maintain agent performance. Once records are written, the skill invokes `categorize` to tag the new expenses.

Editing a transaction memo in your banking app before exporting causes the deduplicator to treat that row as a new entry.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openaccountant/skills --skill import-transactions -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/import-transactions/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/import-transactions/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openaccountant/skills --skill import-transactions -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/import-transactions/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openaccountant/skills --skill import-transactions -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/import-transactions/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install openaccountant/skills import-transactions
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/import-transactions/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openaccountant/skills --skill import-transactions -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/openaccountant/skills --path shared/import-transactions
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/import-transactions/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add openaccountant/skills --skill import-transactions -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/openaccountant/skills/tree/HEAD/shared/import-transactions/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- parse bank statements exported as CSV, OFX, or QIF files
- deduplicate transactions by matching date, amount, and description
- normalize debit and credit sign conventions across different banks
- batch large bank export imports into 500-record chunks

## Example prompts
- Import transactions from `~/Downloads/checking_export.csv`
- Check `january_statement.ofx` for duplicate records and save new ones
- Parse `amex_activity.qfx` and run categorization on the imported rows

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 904545481d6d4216.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 904545481d6d4216
```text
---
name: import-transactions
description: >
  Import transactions from CSV, OFX, or QIF bank exports and deduplicate.
---

# Import Transactions

## Overview
Import financial transactions from bank export files. Automatically detects file format by extension (.csv, .ofx, .qif) and identifies the bank (Chase, Amex, BofA, or generic) by inspecting column headers. Previews parsed transactions, deduplicates against existing data, and inserts new records.

## Wilson Tools Used
- `transaction_search` — check for existing transactions to prevent duplicates
- `categorize` — apply categorization rules to newly imported transactions

## Workflow
1. Ask the user for the file path to their bank export.
2. Detect the file format by extension:
   - `.csv` — parse as CSV, inspect headers to identify bank
   - `.ofx` / `.qfx` — parse as OFX (Open Financial Exchange)
   - `.qif` — parse as QIF (Quicken Interchange Format)
3. For CSV files, identify the bank by header patterns:
   - **Chase**: `Transaction Date,Post Date,Description,Category,Type,Amount,Memo`
   - **Amex**: `Date,Description,Amount` (or `Reference,Date,Description,Card Member,Amount`)
   - **Bank of America**: `Date,Description,Amount,Running Bal.`
   - **Generic**: any CSV with recognizable date, description, and amount columns
4. Preview the first 5 parsed transactions for the user to confirm.
5. Deduplicate by matching date + amount + description against existing transactions.
6. Report how many new vs. duplicate transactions were found.
7. Insert new transactions into the database.
8. Offer to run `categorize` on the newly imported transactions.

## Without Wilson
You can import transactions manually into any spreadsheet or accounting tool:

### Downloading Exports

**Chase:**
1. Log in at chase.com
2. Go to the account > **Statements & Documents**
3. Click **Download account activity** (top right of transaction list)
4. Select date range and format: **CSV**, **OFX/QFX**, or **QIF**
5. File downloads to your computer

**American Express:**
1. Log in at americanexpress.com
2. Go to **Statements & Activity**
3. Click **Download your Transactions** (right side or under the kebab menu)
4. Select date range, choose **CSV** or **OFX/QFX**
5. Download

**Bank of America:**
1. Log in at bankofamerica.com
2. Go to the account > **Information & Services** tab
3. Click **Download transactions**
4. Select date range and format: **Microsoft Excel (.csv)**, **Quicken (.qfx)**, or **QuickBooks (.qbo)**
5. Download

**Generic / Other Banks:**
Most banks offer CSV or OFX export from their transaction history page. Look for "Download," "Export," or a download icon near the date range selector.

### Manual Import into a Spreadsheet
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 904545481d6d4216

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