Importing Transactions via CSV
How to upload a CSV or Excel file from your institution and import transactions into NivoaFlow.
Import Transactions Without Institution Sync
CSV import is available on all plans, including Free. It is a great way to bring in transaction history without connecting through Plaid.
Supported Formats
When you start an import, NivoaFlow asks where the file is from. We have built-in parsers for these sources:
Canadian institutions (auto-detected):
- TD Canada Trust
- CIBC (credit card)
- Scotiabank (chequing)
- Tangerine (chequing and credit card)
- Simplii Financial (chequing)
- American Express
Finance apps:
- YNAB (You Need A Budget)
- Monarch Money
- Mint (legacy export)
- Copilot Money
For any other institution, including RBC, BMO, National Bank, Wealthsimple Cash, and most credit unions, choose Other CSV and map the columns once. The mapping can be saved as a default for that account.
Bank exports can change. A built-in parser working for one bank or account does not guarantee that every CSV export from that institution will work automatically. If a file is not recognised, choose Other CSV and map these core columns: Date, Description, and Amount.
How to Import
1. Download Your File
Log in to your online banking or finance app and export your transactions. Most institutions offer this under "Download Transactions" or "Export."
2. Upload to NivoaFlow
Go to Settings → Import Data (or use the import shortcut from an account page), then select Choose file and pick your download.
3. Pick Your Source
Select the tile that matches your file: your institution, a finance app, or Other CSV for everything else. Picking a known source skips column mapping entirely.
4. Map Your Columns (if needed)
For Other CSV, NivoaFlow tries to auto-detect the standard columns. You can confirm or override the mapping:
- Date: the transaction date
- Description: merchant name or transaction details
- Amount: single column, or separate debit/credit columns
See CSV import column mapping for the full mapping reference.
5. Review and Confirm
Preview the parsed transactions before importing. Check that dates, descriptions, and amounts look correct, then confirm the import.
Transactions and Account Balances
Transactions do not reliably give you a current balance. An export can cover part of an account's history or omit the starting balance that a balance would need to build from. After an import, confirm the balance against your latest bank or credit card statement when NivoaFlow asks. Otherwise, the account continues to show the last balance you supplied or the bank provided.
Saving a Default Mapping
When you map columns yourself, you can save the layout as the default for that account. Next time you import a file in the same shape, the mapping is applied automatically.
Deduplication
Each imported file is fingerprinted with a hash. If you accidentally try to import the same file twice, NivoaFlow flags the duplicate and prevents double entries.