How to Export Banking Transactions from QuickBooks Desktop
This guide shows you how to export banking transaction data from QuickBooks Desktop to a CSV file. You might need this when reconciling transactions, preparing data for import into Piko, or sharing banking records with external systems.
Prerequisites
Section titled “Prerequisites”- QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, or Enterprise)
- “Can export reports to Excel/CSV” permission enabled (Company > Users)
- Access to the bank account you want to export
Method 1: Export via QuickReport (Recommended)
Section titled “Method 1: Export via QuickReport (Recommended)”This method provides the cleanest export with full transaction details.
1. Open the Chart of Accounts
Section titled “1. Open the Chart of Accounts”Navigate to Company > Chart of Accounts (or press Ctrl+A).
2. Generate a QuickReport
Section titled “2. Generate a QuickReport”- Select the bank account you want to export
- Right-click and select QuickReport: [Account Name]
- Set your date range in the report window
3. Export to CSV
Section titled “3. Export to CSV”- Click the Excel dropdown in the report toolbar
- Select Create New Worksheet
- Choose Create a comma separated values (.csv) file
- Click Export and save the file
Method 2: Export via Check Register
Section titled “Method 2: Export via Check Register”1. Open the Check Register
Section titled “1. Open the Check Register”Navigate to Banking > Use Register (or press Ctrl+R), then select the account.
2. Export to CSV
Section titled “2. Export to CSV”- Click the Print icon
- In Settings, select Print to File
- Choose Comma delimited file from the dropdown
- Click Print and save to your desired location
Method 3: Export Banking Reports
Section titled “Method 3: Export Banking Reports”For specific transaction types, use these reports under Reports > Banking:
| Report | Use When |
|---|---|
| Check Register | All transactions in an account |
| Check Detail | Check payments only |
| Deposit Detail | Deposits only |
For each report:
- Customize the date range
- Click Excel > Create New Worksheet
- Select CSV format and export
Expected CSV Columns
Section titled “Expected CSV Columns”Your export will include columns similar to:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | Transaction date |
| Num | Check number or reference |
| Name | Payee or payer |
| Memo | Transaction description |
| Amount | Transaction amount |
| Account | Bank account name |
| Split | Category or contra account |
| Balance | Running balance |
If you need specific columns, customize the report before exporting by clicking Customize Report > Display tab.
Verification
Section titled “Verification”After exporting, confirm:
- Date range matches your requirements
- All expected transaction types appear (checks, deposits, transfers)
- Check numbers and references are populated
- Amounts match the account balance for the period
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”Export option is grayed out
Section titled “Export option is grayed out”The user lacks export permission. An administrator must enable it via Company > Users > Set Up Users and Roles > enable “Can export reports to Excel/CSV”.
Missing transactions
Section titled “Missing transactions”Verify no filters are excluding transaction types. Click Customize Report > Filters tab to check active filters.
Report too large for Excel
Section titled “Report too large for Excel”Select CSV format instead of Excel. If still too large, export in smaller date ranges.
Balance column shows unexpected values
Section titled “Balance column shows unexpected values”The Balance column shows running balance at time of each transaction, not total for the period.