---
title: How to create bookings from bank statements?
description: "To do this, you'll need a bank statement in MT940 or CAMT format, which you can usually download from your bank's online banking portal. In this article, we'll show you how to import it and create transactions from it. You…"
url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-create-bookings-from-bank-statements/"
updated: "2026-07-01"
category: Finances / Transactions
---

# How to create bookings from bank statements?

To do this, you'll need a bank statement in MT940 or CAMT format, which you can usually download from your bank's online banking portal. In this article, we'll show you how to import it and create transactions from it.

You can also import PayPal activity reports and perform transactions on your account from there. Click [here](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-create-bookings-from-a-paypal-activity-report/) to find out what else you need to keep in mind when doing so.

[Here](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/using-bank-statements-well/), we'll explain how to use bank statements correctly in ChurchTools.

**Note**

You can upload multiple files at once as a ZIP file. It's important that they all have the same format, bank account, and posting year.

**Important**

The CAMT.052 format is not supported. CAMT.052 replaces the MT942 files. CAMT.053 is the account statement and replaces the previous MT940 and MT950 files.

CAMT.052 includes the retrieval of intraday account transactions (so-called "pending entries"). These should not be imported, as they are still subject to change and could therefore result in incorrect accounting entries.

## 1. Import a bank statement

In *the Finances module* (1), navigate to *Bank Statements* (2) and click on *"+ Import Bank Statement* " (3).

[![Screenshot Finances Bank statements Import statement](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Finances_Bank-statements_Import-statement.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Finances_Bank-statements_Import-statement.png)

In the dialog box that opens, name the *bank statement* you want to import (1), select the *account* (2) it belongs to, and define how the *document numbers* (3) should be assigned. You can either assign document numbers manually, specify a user-defined scheme, or have the system automatically continue the numbering based on the document number of the last existing booking for the selected account.

**Note**

*The* only *accounts* available for selection are those assigned in the *master data* to an *account group* that is marked as *a cash account*. By default, this is the *"Bank and Cash Balances*" account group.

![Screenshot Kontoauszug einlesen](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-111.png)
*Dialog box using an MT940 import as an example.*

## 2. Transactions

Once you've imported the bank statement, all the transactions it contains will be displayed, and you can *post* them directly (1)—based on ChurchTools' suggestions (indicated by the purple text).

If you hover over a suggestion, you'll also see how accurately ChurchTools was able to calculate it.
Clicking the " *Recalculate Suggestions* " button (4) updates ChurchTools' booking suggestions based on the most recent available data.

**Note**

ChurchTools detects whether the imported bookings have already been imported in whole or in part, meaning they are duplicates. These bookings are displayed as duplicates in the overview, allowing you to avoid saving them twice in ChurchTools.

If you [*purposes*](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/budgets-reports-and-purposes/understanding-purposes/) in the master data, you can *apply* them with a single click (3), and the information stored in the purpose will be filled in automatically.

Of course, you can also *edit* individual transactions *manually* (2) before posting them. To do so, simply click in one of the highlighted fields to open the posting screen.

![Screenshot Kontoauszüge importierte Buchung](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-109.png)

**Tip**

ChurchTools learns from every imported bank statement and every booking you make. It’s therefore worth using this feature especially after you’ve made a few bookings, so that ChurchTools can learn from this information and generate better suggestions for you.

## 3. Optionally review and post transactions

When editing a transaction manually, all fields in the advanced entry view are available to you. Some fields are already filled in based on suggestions from ChurchTools, but you can edit all fields—both empty and pre-filled ones. To better understand the transaction form, we recommend reading our guide [“How to perform a transaction?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-enter-transactions-using-the-expert-view/) ”

Once you've entered all the information, you can either *go to the next or previous transaction* (1) or *post the transaction* (2).

![Screenshot Kontoauszüge importierte Buchung berarbeiten](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-110.png)

## Read more

- [How to use bank statements in ChurchTools?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/using-bank-statements-well/)
- [How to create bookings from a PayPal activity report?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-create-bookings-from-a-paypal-activity-report/)