Connect your bank or credit card to QuickBooks

1. Go to Transactions and select Bank transactions.
   You’ll follow the same steps in both QuickBooks Online and Sole Trader, with only slight differences in menu labels. (In Sole Trader, use the Transactions menu)
2. Select:
   • Connect account (QuickBooks Online), or
   • Link accounts (Sole Trader)
     If you’ve already connected an account, choose Link account to add another.
3. Choose your bank, then select Let’s go.
4. Review the terms and select Agree.
5. Sign in with your online banking credentials and follow any required security steps.
6. Select the accounts you want to connect (current, savings, or credit card). Note: Select an account type that matches your chart of accounts.

Don’t see the right account type? Select Add new, then follow these steps:

Bank account:

• Account Type: Cash at bank and in hand
• Detail Type: Savings

Credit card:

• Account Type: Credit Card

1. Add a custom account name if needed—you can always rename it later.
2. Select the date you want to start pulling in transactions.
   (Banks may offer 90 days to 24 months of historical data)
3. Select Connect, then Done.

If you’ve already added an account and now want to connect it to your bank, you can do so directly from the chart of accounts.

1. Go to Settings ⚙️, then select Chart of accounts (Take me there).
2. Find the account you want to connect.
3. In the Action column, open the dropdown and select Connect bank.
4. Choose your bank, then select Let’s go.
5. Review the terms and select Agree.
6. Sign in with your online banking credentials and follow any security steps.
7. Choose the account(s) you want to share (e.g. savings, current, or credit card).
8. Make sure the account type matches your chart of accounts.

 If needed, select Add new, then follow the prompts:

Bank account:

• Account Type: Cash at bank and in hand
• Detail Type: Savings
• Enter a name, then select Save and Close

Credit card account

• Account Type: Credit Card
• Enter a name, then select Save and Close

1. Select the start date for importing transactions (typically 90 days, but some banks offer up to 24 months).
2. Select Connect, then Done.

1. Go to Transactions, then Bank transactions.
2. Select Update (QuickBooks Online) or Refresh (Sole Trader).
3. Carefully review, categorise, or match transactions to the correct accounts.

What is Open Banking?

Open Banking is a secure way to share your financial data with trusted software like QuickBooks. It improves speed, security, and automation by letting you control which apps access your account information.

What is PSD2?

The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) is the EU regulation behind Open Banking. It sets the rules for how apps like QuickBooks can access your bank data securely and with your permission.

What is QuickBooks’ role in Open Banking?

QuickBooks is a registered Account Information Service Provider (AISP) and has been involved in shaping Open Banking from the start, helping to create a secure and reliable experience.

Who can use Open Banking with QuickBooks?

All customers using QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Sole Trader can connect supported accounts via Open Banking.

What are the benefits of Open Banking?

For small businesses and sole traders:

• Set up in under a minute
• Real-time transaction imports
• Easier cash flow tracking

For accountants and bookkeepers:

• Up-to-date client data
• Better insights for advisory work
• Less admin chasing for statements

For existing customers:

• More reliable and accurate feeds
• Seamless upgrades from older connections
• Real-time reconciliation of bank data

Do I need to sign in to my bank to connect it?

Yes. You’ll be redirected to your bank’s website to authorise the connection securely.

How long does a bank connection last?

Connections last 90 days. After that, you’ll be prompted to reauthorise in QuickBooks.

What if I change my online banking password?

You don’t need to reauthorise the connection just for a password change.

Can I connect accounts on behalf of someone else?

No. Only the primary account holder can authorise a bank feed connection.

Do I need to be the account holder?

Yes. You’ll need your own credentials to set up or renew the bank connection.

Can I connect more than one bank account?

Yes, you can connect multiple accounts by selecting Link account from the Banking page.

How much historical data can I import?

Up to 24 months, depending on your bank.

How often are transactions updated?

QuickBooks automatically refreshes transactions every 24 hours. You can also select Update to refresh manually.

Why do excluded transactions reappear after I delete them?

When you delete a transaction from the Excluded section, QuickBooks forgets it. The next time your feed updates, it may download again. To avoid this, exclude it but leave it in the list—or assign it to your bank register.

Will I lose transactions if I forget to reconfirm my connection?

Not necessarily. When you reconnect, select the original expiry date to recover missed transactions.

Can I connect Starling Bank Spaces or Monzo Pots?

No. Open Banking doesn’t currently support sub-accounts, such as Starling Spaces or Monzo Pots. Only your main current or savings accounts can be connected.

Why can’t I connect all my accounts?

Only payment accounts—like current accounts, credit cards, and some savings accounts—are supported. Non-payment accounts, such as fixed-term savings or sub-accounts, aren’t eligible under Open Banking.

Can I connect a multicurrency PayPal account?

No. QuickBooks doesn’t convert currencies automatically. You can only connect accounts with the same currency as your QuickBooks company (e.g. GBP to GBP, USD to USD).

Why isn’t my bank available in QuickBooks?

Some banks don’t yet support Open Banking, or their feeds have been discontinued. You may have received an email from QuickBooks about this.

What if my bank doesn’t support Open Banking?

You can still manually upload your transactions while waiting for support.

Will more banks be supported in future?

Yes. QuickBooks works closely with banks and regulators to expand the list of supported accounts. Check the latest supported banks here.

Why can’t I connect all my accounts?

Only payment accounts (e.g. current accounts, credit cards, some savings) are supported. Non-payment accounts like fixed-term savings are not.

Error: “No valid accounts to connect” — what does this mean?

It usually means either:

• You don’t have eligible Open Banking accounts
• You don’t have permission from your bank to share the account

 Contact your bank for more info.

Can I connect accounts from Gibraltar or the Channel Islands?

• Gibraltar: Yes—Open Banking applies.
• Channel Islands: No—these fall outside PSD2 and aren’t supported.