How to download transactions from HSBC UK
In HSBC UK online banking, open the account and look for a Download option on the transactions view. You'll be offered a choice of formats — typically a CSV (comma separated values) file plus formats for personal-finance software such as OFX or QIF — and a date range.
Downloads usually cover recent transactions. For older periods that are only available as PDF statements, extract the transactions with our PDF statement converter and choose the Xero output.
If HSBC offers an OFX download for your account, Xero can import it directly. Use the CSV and this converter when OFX isn't available, when you want to review the data first, or when you're combining several downloads.
Menus change. HSBC updates its online banking from time to time, so the exact button names may differ from what's described here. If you can't find the option, search HSBC's help pages for “download transactions”.
What an HSBC UK CSV looks like
The file has no header row. Each line holds three values:
| Column 1 (date) | Column 2 (description) | Column 3 (amount) |
|---|---|---|
| 05/01/2026 | TESCO STORES 3021 | -48.20 |
| 06/01/2026 | ACME LTD SALARY | "1,850.00" |
| 08/01/2026 | OCTOPUS ENERGY DD | -75.00 |
Dates are day-first, money out is negative, and larger amounts can include a thousands separator inside quotes. That's a clean file in principle — the problem is purely that nothing says which column is which.
Why Xero struggles with it
Xero's statement import expects the first line of a CSV to contain headings that it can match to Transaction Date, Transaction Amount, Payee and Description. With HSBC's file, the first transaction is treated as headings, so it vanishes from the import and the matching screen shows a date and an amount where column names should be.
The converter identifies the columns from their contents instead: the column of dates, the column of numbers and the column of text. It then writes Xero's layout with proper headings, keeps every transaction, and removes the thousands separators from amounts.
Other things to check
- Date order. Because there's no header to identify HSBC, the converter reads the dates themselves. When every date is ambiguous (like 05/01/2026), this page assumes UK day-first dates. Confirm a few dates in the preview.
- Credit cards. Card downloads can show purchases as positive numbers. If purchases appear under Money in in the preview, tick Swap money in and money out.
- Overlaps. Start each download the day after the last transaction already in Xero to avoid duplicates.
Import the converted file into Xero
- In Xero, go to Accounting → Bank accounts, find the account and choose Manage account → Import a statement.
- Upload the file. For an OFX file, Xero imports straight away. For a CSV, Xero asks you to match the columns: Date → Transaction Date, Amount → Transaction Amount, Payee → Payee, Description → Description.
- Check the preview Xero shows, complete the import, then reconcile as usual.
Our Xero import guide covers each screen and the messages you might see.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my HSBC CSV have no headings?
HSBC UK’s CSV download contains only the data: date, description and amount. The converter works out which column is which from the values.
Xero skipped my first transaction. Why?
When a CSV has no header row, Xero treats the first transaction as the headings and leaves it out. Converting the file adds proper headings so every transaction is imported.
Should I download OFX from HSBC instead?
If OFX is offered for your account, Xero can import it directly. Use the CSV and this converter when OFX isn’t available or you want to check the data first.
Can I convert older HSBC statements that are only available as PDFs?
Yes. Use the PDF bank statement converter and choose the Xero CSV output.
Is my HSBC data uploaded?
No. The file is processed in your browser and never sent to a server.