Connect Personal Credit Cards
Connecting your personal credit card to Expensify makes it easy to track your expenses and get reimbursed all in one place. You can either set up a direct connection to automatically import transactions or manually upload a CSV file. These methods also merge your expenses with SmartScanned receipts and, if enabled, allow you to generate IRS-compliant eReceipts.
Option 1: Connect Directly to Your Credit Card Account
Follow these steps to import expenses automatically from your bank or credit card account:
- Log in to Expensify and navigate to Settings > Account.
- Select Credit Card Import.
- Click Import Bank/Card.
- Search for and select your bank from the list.
- If your bank isn’t listed, proceed to Option 2 (Manual Import via Spreadsheet).
- Choose a transaction start date from the calendar.
Note: Most banks allow importing up to 90 days of transactions. If you need older transactions, use a spreadsheet import (details below). - Click Take Me There.
- Enter your online banking credentials.
- Select the account(s) to import.
- Click Update to sync the latest transactions.
Option 2: Import Transactions via Spreadsheet
Use this method if your bank isn’t supported or you need older transactions. Supported file types: CSV, OFX, QFX, or XLS.
- Download your transactions from your credit card account in one of the supported formats.
- Tip: CSV files are a good fallback if OFX files aren’t compatible.
- Ensure your file includes columns for Merchant, Transaction Date, and Amount (formatted as positive values).
- Keep only one header row.
- Format dates (e.g.,
yyyy-mm-dd
ormm-dd-yyyy
). In Excel, go to Format Cells > Custom to update the format.
- Log in to Expensify and go to Settings > Account > Credit Card Import.
- Select Import Transactions from File and click Upload.
- For first-time uploads:
- Keep the layout set to Default.
- Assign a clear name for this card, like “Platinum Visa,” for future reference.
- Set the date format and currency to match your file.
- If you’ve imported transactions for this card before, choose a previously saved layout.
- Map file columns to Merchant, Date, and Amount.
Optional: Map additional columns like categories and tags (only if there’s no accounting integration in your workspace). - Review the Output Preview, then click Add Expenses.
Note: For checking accounts, toggle Flip Amount Sign if transactions are listed as negatives.
Managing Credit Card Settings
You can customize how imported card transactions appear:
- Navigate to the card’s settings under Credit Card Import.
- Change the card name or set the default reimbursement option:
- Reimbursable: Expenses you need to be reimbursed for, such as personal card purchases made for work.
- Non-Reimbursable: Expenses incurred with a company card or paid by someone else.
Removing a Card
Important: Removing a card deletes all unsubmitted expenses associated with it. Processed expenses remain unaffected.
- Go to Credit Card Import.
- Click the red trashcan icon next to the card.
FAQ
Should I Use Direct Import or Spreadsheet Upload?
- Direct Import: Ideal for personal or business cards that require regular reporting. If using a company-assigned corporate card, consult your Expensify Admin, as they may handle imports.
- Spreadsheet Upload: Best for banks not supported by Expensify or when you need to import older transactions.
Why Don’t I See My Imported Transactions?
Use the filters on the Expenses page (e.g., Date filter) to locate missing expenses.
What’s the Difference Between Reimbursable and Non-Reimbursable Expenses?
- Reimbursable: Personal expenses incurred for work, including:
- Cash or personal card purchases.
- Per diem, hourly, or mileage expenses.
- Non-Reimbursable: Expenses paid using company funds, like a corporate card transaction, that require documentation but not reimbursement.