A bank statement is a record of what happened in your account during one period. Layouts differ between banks, but the parts are mostly the same. This guide explains what they mean. It covers the terms only, so for questions about a specific charge, ask your bank.
The parts of a bank statement
| Part | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Statement period | The first and last date the statement covers |
| Beginning balance | What was in the account at the start of the period |
| Deposits or credits | Money that came in |
| Withdrawals or debits | Money that went out, such as card payments, checks, ATM cash and fees |
| Running balance | The balance after each transaction, if your bank prints it |
| Ending balance | What was in the account on the closing date |
Banks use different words: opening or closing balance, money in or money out, paid in or paid out. They mean the same things.
How the numbers fit together
Beginning balance, plus deposits, minus withdrawals, equals ending balance. The FDIC's Money Smart material walks through balancing an account the same way. If your own records differ, items that have not cleared yet are a common reason.
Statement balance and available balance
The ending balance is a snapshot of the closing date, so the balance in your banking app today can differ. The available balance is the balance less any holds, uncollected funds and restrictions.
Reading a transaction line
- Date: many statements show when the bank posted the entry, which can be later than the day you paid. Some print a second date for this.
- Description: often a shortened merchant name or a reference, so it may not match the shop name you know.
- Amount: either one column with a sign, or two columns for debits and credits.
Working with a statement in a spreadsheet
A long PDF is hard to search and impossible to sum. To sort or total your transactions, use the bank statement to Excel converter. Not sure which file type you need? See Excel vs CSV.
Upload a PDF and download its tables as Excel or CSV.
Convert a statementExtract tables from your Chrome toolbar
Click the extension icon, pick a PDF and get the tables without opening this site.
Questions and answers
How do you read a bank statement?+
Start with the statement period and the beginning balance. Go through the deposits and withdrawals in date order, then check the ending balance. The transactions explain how the balance moved from start to end.
What is the difference between debit and credit on a bank statement?+
On your statement, a debit is money going out of the account and a credit is money coming in.
Why does my statement balance differ from my current balance?+
The ending balance is the position on the closing date of the statement. Transactions after that date, or items still pending, change the balance you see today.
What is the available balance?+
It is your balance minus holds, uncollected funds and other restrictions on the account. It can be lower than the current balance.