CSV Import Column Mapping
Detailed guide to mapping CSV columns during import, including supported source formats and deduplication.
Getting Your Columns Right
When you import a CSV file, NivoaFlow needs to know which columns contain the date, description, and amount. The column mapping step ensures your transactions import correctly.
Pick a Source First
Before mapping, the importer asks "Where are you importing from?" Choosing a known source uses a built-in parser and skips column mapping entirely.
Built-in institution parsers (auto-detected):
- TD Canada Trust — date, description, debit, credit, balance
- CIBC credit card — date, transaction, debit/credit
- Scotiabank chequing — date, transaction, name, amount, balance
- Tangerine bank — date, transaction, name, memo, amount
- Tangerine credit card — transaction date, transaction, name, memo, amount
- Simplii Financial chequing — date, funds out, funds in
- American Express — date, date processed, description, amount
Built-in finance-app parsers:
- YNAB (You Need A Budget) — Outflow/Inflow + Payee
- Monarch Money
- Mint (legacy)
- Copilot Money
For anything else — including RBC, BMO, National Bank, Wealthsimple, and most credit unions — choose Other CSV to map columns manually.
Manual Column Mapping (Other CSV)
For files with non-standard headers:
- Date column — the column containing transaction dates
- Description column — the column with merchant names or transaction details
- Amount column(s) — pick the format that matches your file:
Single Amount Column
One column holds all amounts. Expenses are negative, income is positive (or vice versa — you can set the sign convention).
Separate Debit and Credit Columns
Some institutions (like TD and CIBC) put expenses in a "Debit" column and income in a "Credit" column. Select both columns and NivoaFlow handles the rest.
Sign Convention
If your file uses the opposite sign convention — for example, positive numbers for expenses — toggle the flip-signs option during mapping. This ensures amounts are recorded correctly.
Saved Default Mapping
When you map columns yourself for an account, you can save the layout as that account's default. The next time you upload a file in the same shape to the same account, the mapping is applied automatically — review the preview and confirm.
The saved mapping covers column positions only. Transaction categorisation still happens through your categorisation rules after import; categories from the source file are not copied across.
Deduplication
Every imported file is fingerprinted with a hash. If you try to import the same file again, NivoaFlow detects the duplicate and warns you. This prevents accidental double entries.