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Set up bank accounts for Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop

SOLVED•by QuickBooks•QuickBooks Enterprise Suite•64•Updated January 20, 2022

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.

Here's what to do if you get a message that says your browser in QuickBooks is out of date or unsupported.

Currently, QuickBooks Desktop works with Internet Explorer (IE) as its browser for Direct Connect in online banking. The option to change this is currently unavailable.

If your bank no longer supports IE 11 or older, you may be able to use Web Connect. Check with your bank for availability.

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.

While there are no fees associated with using Bank Feeds in QuickBooks, there may be charges related to:

  • The use of a bank's service: Some banks charge connection fees (particularly for Direct Connect). Intuit does not have control over these charges and we recommend that you get in touch with your FI for more information.
  • QuickBooks Technical Support: If you need expert assistance when using and setting up Bank Feeds.

Your bank provides your Customer ID and password (or PIN) for online banking setup.

  • Customer ID and Password/PIN: A unique credential used to log in to your financial institution account. The customer ID maybe your name, email, account number, Federal Tax ID, or other identifier provided by you or your company. It may be referred to as Customer ID, Online ID, Internet ID, User name, Login Name, or something similar. Take note of the following limitations:
    • QuickBooks does not support the use of multiple Customer IDs with the same financial institution.
    • QuickBooks allows just one login per bank (FI), per company file. If you have multiple Customer IDs or logins at a single bank (FI), you'll only be able to set up one (Customer ID/login) for download, per company file.


If you’re using Direct Connect and depending on your FI, you may also need some or all of these:

  • Account Number: This is the number that your FI gives to your account when they create it. It appears on your banking statements. If you have checks for the account, you can usually use one to find your account number. If you can't find it, contact your FI.
  • Routing Number: FIs are identified by a unique 9-digit number called the routing number. It is used to send checks and electronic transactions to the right place for processing. You can usually find the routing number from a check if you have them for the account. If you cannot find it, contact your FI for this information.
  • Account type: To set up a direct connection between your FI and QuickBooks, you need to know how the financial institution classifies your account, not how QuickBooks does.
    Account Type at FI Account type in QB
    Checking Bank
    Savings Bank
    Money Market Bank
    Line of Credit Bank
    Credit card Credit card
    Line of Credit Other current liability
This article is part of a series that covers basic information about Bank Feeds in QuickBooks for Windows.

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