Bank Statement Columns Explained

Whether in PDF, CSV, or Excel format, bank statements organize financial activity into predictable columns. Understanding these fields is essential for accurate reconciliation and accounting imports.

• Date — when the transaction posted
• Value Date — when funds cleared (common in international statements)
• Description — payee, reference, or narrative
• Debit — withdrawals and payments
• Credit — deposits and incoming transfers
• Balance — running total after each transaction
• Reference — check number, transaction ID, or bank reference

Different banks use different column orders, date formats, and amount presentations. Indian banks may show Dr/Cr columns. US banks often combine debits and credits into a single Amount column with signs.