I've got your back, @wildcraftedorgan.
Adding bank directly to QuickBooks Self-Employed requires you to have an active bank account. Not to worry, if you still have the transactions saved as a .CSV, .QFX, .QBO, or .OFX document, there's another way you can manually bring them into the program so that your books are updated and balanced. You can import transactions from banks that aren't connected to QBSE.
To start the process, you'll have to make sure you've chosen the correct columns in the mapping stage. Otherwise, QuickBooks will not be able to read the data. To make the mapping stage easier, you can read through this write-up about the CSV file format for more information.
Once done, follow these steps to get them imported into your account:
- Go to the Gear icon.
- Select Imports.
- Click the Import transactions link.

- Select Browse and find the file you downloaded from your bank. It's usually in your Downloads folder.
- Select the file and select Open to start the import.
- Review the column headers and data. Make sure the Date, Description, and Amount columns on the CSV match the columns and order in QuickBooks. The other column headers can be in any order.
- Select Continue to complete the import.
- Follow the on-screen instruction.
Once done, it's time to categorize and split the transactions.
Here are some helpful resources that will ensure your success:
Please feel free to reach out to us here with all of your questions and concerns. I'm determined to ensure your success.