Set up bank accounts for Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop

Learn how to set up a bank account and connect it to Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

In QuickBooks Desktop, you can use Bank Feeds to connect your bank and credit card accounts to online banking. Download bank transactions so you don't have to record them manually.

You can set up bank and credit card accounts for online banking in single-user and multi-user mode. Here's how to connect a bank account to Bank Feeds.

Note: You can connect up to 40 accounts. If you need more than that, separate the accounts you need to connect between two or more company files.

Find out if your financial institution supports online services for QuickBooks. Go to Banking, select Bank Feeds, and then enter the name of your financial institution.

Connect your account to Bank Feeds

There are two ways to set up an account: Direct Connect and Web Connect. The way you connect depends on what's available at your bank.

Download your transactions with Direct Connect

This method requires the use of a bank-provided PIN or password. After you set up the account, you can securely download electronic statements to your Bank Feeds.

Before you start, find out from your bank if there's a fee or if the service is free.

1. From Banking, go to Bank Feeds.
2. Select Set up Bank Feeds for an account.
3. In the Enter your Bank's name field, enter, and select your bank.

If you're enrolling for the first time, select the Enrollment Site link. You may need to apply for Direct Connect. If your bank needs to approve your application, contact them. Ask them whether you need special sign-in credentials.

After enrollment:

1. Select Continue.
2. Enter your Online Banking user ID and Password.
3. Select Connect to connect your QuickBooks to your bank's server.
4. Select the bank account you want to connect to your account in QuickBooks. 
5. Select Finish after the connection finishes.

When you download transactions from your bank for the first time, QuickBooks automatically sets up the account for Bank Feeds. After you set up your account, you can download transactions from your bank.

Import Web Connect (.qbo) files

Web connect (.QBO) files are online banking transactions from your bank's website. The (.QBO) files download to your computer. Then, you import the transactions so they become available in your Bank Feeds. If your bank offers Web Connect:

1. From Banking, select Bank Feeds, then Import Web Connect Files.
2. Select the QBO file you saved, then select Open.
3. When prompted to select your bank account:
   • Use a QuickBooks account that exists if the account you're importing transactions into is already set up in QuickBooks.
   • Create a new QuickBooks account if the account you're importing transactions into isn't in QuickBooks yet. Learn how to create an account.
4. Select Continue. You'll see a dialog box telling you that the data has been successfully read into QuickBooks. Select OK.
5. Go to the Bank Feeds Center to review your transactions.