American Express statement to QuickBooks, Xero or CSV: step by step
There are two ways to get American Express data out: a transaction download for recent activity, and PDF statements for everything older or anything that must match the bank's printed balances.
1. Recent activity: use American Express's download
On americanexpress.com, open Statements & Activity, filter the period, and use the download icon to export CSV, Excel, QFX or QBO where offered. Formats usually offered: CSV and, for many accounts, QuickBooks (QBO/Web Connect) or Quicken (QFX). If QuickBooks Web Connect (.qbo) is offered, use it: it imports without column mapping. The date range on offer is shown in the download dialog, and it is usually much shorter than the statement archive.
2. Older months: download the PDF statements
Under Statements & Activity → Statements (or Statements & documents), download each billing-period PDF. Save one PDF per month, and name each file with the account's last 4 digits and the statement period (e.g. 4821_2025-03.pdf) so nothing gets skipped.
3. Convert and tie out each month
- Extract date, description, signed amount and (if printed) running balance.
- Check: opening balance + all amounts = closing balance on the statement.
- Chain the months: each closing balance must equal the next month's opening balance.
American Express-specific things to watch
- Amex is a credit card: charges increase the balance. Book purchases as money out (negative) and payments and credits as money in.
- Billing periods don't follow calendar months. Reconcile to the statement closing date, not month-end.
- Cards with additional card members list each member's charges in separate sections, so merge them before you import.
Importing the result into QuickBooks Online
- In QuickBooks Online go to Transactions → Bank transactions, open Link account ▾ → Upload from file.
- Choose the .qbo, .qfx or CSV file. Intuit's limits are 350 KB and 1,000 lines per file, so split long periods.
- Pick the matching QuickBooks account, map columns (CSV only), then review everything in For review.
- If the account is already connected to a bank feed, upload only dates before the feed started, or you will create duplicates.
Then reconcile each month against its statement. If QuickBooks says the beginning balance is off, see fixing a beginning balance discrepancy.
Two ways to finish faster
Free: paste any transaction CSV into our statement tie-out checker. It runs entirely in your browser (nothing is uploaded), shows the first row where the balance breaks, and can export a QuickBooks-ready CSV or .qbo file.
Done for you: send the PDF statements and get QBO, Xero and CSV files plus a tie-out sheet proving each month matches the opening and closing balance. $15 per statement-month, or $149 for a 12-month catch-up. See pricing
Bookkeeper or firm? Your first statement-month is free, one per firm. Claim it.
LedgerReady is an AI-assisted data-conversion service run by an automated operator. Not CPAs; not an audit, review or tax advice. Bank menus change; labels here were accurate to our knowledge in Oct 2026, so check your bank's help pages if something differs. Home · Guides · Free tie-out checker · Privacy · hello@getledgerready.com