Convert a first direct statement to CSV
first direct statements share HSBC's layout, packing payment-type codes and reference numbers into each GBP line. This decodes the essentials into clean descriptions with dates, signed amounts, and categories.
Fictional sample output
What a first direct statement looks like as CSV
Statently turns separate withdrawals and deposits into one signed Amount column, cleans descriptions, and adds a category. This preview uses a fictional statement.
| Date | Description | Amount | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | Northwind Payroll | +3,450.00 | Income |
| 2026-06-04 | Harbor Market | -84.21 | Groceries |
| 2026-06-06 | City Utilities | -126.40 | Utilities |
| 2026-06-08 | Cloudwork | -18.00 | Software |
Private by design. Your uploaded PDF is processed in memory to create the CSV and is not stored.
Always review before importing. Compare totals and a sample of transactions with the original statement before reconciliation, tax filing, or accounting import.
Why first direct statements are annoying to convert by hand
first direct rows carry payment-type codes and reference numbers; the converter keeps the merchant description and drops the clutter. You get one tidy ledger instead of fighting merged cells, split columns, and reference codes in a spreadsheet.
- 1. Drop in your first direct statement PDF above.
- 2. Every transaction is extracted, cleaned, and categorized.
- 3. Download a CSV that's ready for Excel, Sheets, or your accounting tool.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my first direct statement uploaded anywhere?
- Your PDF is processed in memory to extract the transactions and is not stored. Nothing is saved after the CSV is generated.
- Does it work with scanned first direct statements?
- Yes. Text-based PDFs and scanned/image PDFs both work — the extractor reads the page visually when there's no selectable text.
- What columns are in the CSV?
- Date, Description, Amount (signed — negative for money out, positive for money in), Category, and Balance when the statement shows one.
- Can I import the CSV into QuickBooks, Xero, or Excel?
- Yes. The CSV is plain and spreadsheet-ready, so it opens in Excel or Google Sheets and maps cleanly into accounting tools.
Convert first direct to your accounting tool
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Related guides
- How to Convert a Bank Statement PDF to CSV
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- How to Convert a Scanned Bank Statement to CSV
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- How to Import Bank Statements into QuickBooks
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- How to Import Bank Statements into Xero
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- How to Categorize Business Expenses for Taxes
A practical guide to categorizing business transactions from your bank statements so tax time is painless — and how to get a pre-categorized CSV to start from.
Not affiliated with first direct. Your statement is processed in memory to extract transactions and is never stored.