Skip to content
BANKLIFT

Import a bank statement into SAGA

SAGA imports statements from a file the bank gives you — not from a PDF. If your bank offers the right format, the import is native and free, and this page shows the exact steps. If your statement arrives as a PDF, a scan, or a photo, or you work with Moldovan or Ukrainian banks, you first have to turn it into MT940. We explain both cases honestly.

First check: does your bank export MT940 or CSV?

SAGA reads statements in MT940, CSV, XLS and XML. Most large Romanian banks offer at least one for business accounts — for example, BRD, BCR and UniCredit provide MT940, while Banca Transilvania, ING and Raiffeisen provide CSV. Look in your internet banking for an export labelled “for accounting”, “MT940” or “CSV”. If your bank offers it, use it: it is free and the most accurate, because the data comes straight from the bank rather than being “read” off an image. The details vary by bank and by SAGA version.

The import steps in SAGA

Once you have the MT940 or CSV file, the import takes under a minute.

  1. Get the statement as MT940 or CSV

    Export the statement from internet banking as MT940 or CSV. If you only receive a PDF, a scan or a photo, convert it to MT940 first (see the next section).

  2. Open the bank journal in SAGA

    In SAGA, go to Operații » Jurnal de bancă and select the bank account you are importing the statement for.

  3. Start the statement import

    At the top of the bank journal, use the import icon and point it at the MT940 or CSV file. SAGA reads the date, amount and description of each line and prepares them as entries.

  4. Check the balance before you post

    Compare the closing balance from the import with the one on the statement. If they match, the lines were read correctly. If not, stop and check — never post a statement that does not reconcile.

When you need a converter

  • The statement is a scanned PDF or a photo — there is no MT940 export, it has to be “read” from the image.
  • The bank offers no MT940 or CSV export at all, only PDF.
  • You work with Moldovan (MAIB, Victoriabank, Moldindconbank) or Ukrainian (PrivatBank, Monobank) banks, which do not provide MT940 for SAGA.
  • You have an old or unusual format SAGA does not recognise.

In these cases BankLift turns the statement — scanned or photographed included — into SAGA-ready MT940, straight from the browser, no install. Excel and CSV are free; the MT940 format is paid per file. Privacy details are on the Security page.

Convert a statement to MT940

Frequently asked questions

Which formats does SAGA accept for bank statements?
SAGA imports statements in MT940, CSV, XLS and XML, depending on the bank. MT940 is the standard most Romanian banks use for the “for accounting” export.
My bank only gives a PDF. What do I do?
A PDF, especially a scan or a photo, cannot be imported into SAGA directly — SAGA needs an MT940 or CSV file. It has to be converted first. A converter such as BankLift does this, scans and photos included, straight from the browser.
Why does MT940 need a decimal comma?
MT940 uses a comma as the decimal separator, with no thousands separator. If the file has a dot instead of a comma, the import into SAGA or WinMentor fails or misreads the amounts. A correct converter writes exactly this format.
Can I import Moldovan or Ukrainian bank statements into SAGA?
Yes, but Moldovan and Ukrainian banks do not provide MT940 for SAGA. You have to convert the statement to MT940 first — which is where a converter covering those banks comes in.

Whatever tool you use, always check the closing balance before you post. A statement that does not reconcile means missing or misread lines — easier to fix before posting than after.

Related