How to Import Bank Statements in SnelStart

Importing bank statements in SnelStart

SnelStart is a popular accounting package for small business owners and freelancers in the Netherlands. The software supports importing bank statements in MT940 format and via its own bank connection. In this article we explain how to import bank statements in SnelStart and how to convert files that are not in the right format.

Supported formats in SnelStart

• MT940 (SWIFT): The standard bank statement format. SnelStart processes MT940 files from Rabobank, ING, ABN AMRO, Regiobank, Triodos, Knab, SNS, ASN, Deutsche Bank and bunq.
• CAMT.053 (ISO 20022): The newer XML format. SnelStart supports CAMT.053 files from all banks listed above.
• Bank connection: Automatic bank connections for Knab, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, SNS, ASN, Regiobank, Triodos, ING, Van Lanschot Kempen, bunq and Revolut.

Note: For Rabobank, always use the CAMT.053 or MT940 format. CSV files from Rabobank are not reliably imported. Always use the same file format when importing overlapping periods to prevent duplicate entries.

Importing MT940 in SnelStart Web

Importing an MT940 file in SnelStart Web (Polaris):

1. Click Banking in the main menu.
2. Select the bank account you want to import for (or add a new one via Add bank account > With manual upload).
3. Click the Upload statement button.
4. Select your MT940 file or drag it to the upload window.
5. The transactions are automatically imported.

SnelStart 12 (desktop version)

In SnelStart 12, open the Bank journal (general ledger account 1100, Current account) and click Import statements. You can also place the file in the folder c:\snelstart\bankieren — SnelStart will detect it automatically.

Converting CSV or Excel for SnelStart

SnelStart does not accept CSV or Excel files directly. If you have transaction data in these formats (e.g. from a credit card company or foreign bank), convert them to MT940:

1. Upload your CSV or Excel file in StatementBridge.
2. Map the columns (date, amount, description).
3. Enter the account IBAN.
4. Export as MT940 and import the result in SnelStart.

Common problems and solutions

Problem	Cause	Solution
"Bank account not known"	The IBAN in the file is not linked to an account in SnelStart	Create the bank account with the correct IBAN in Master data
"File cannot be read"	The file is not in valid MT940 format	Convert the file to MT940 with StatementBridge
Duplicate transactions	The same statement was already imported	SnelStart warns about duplicates; check the statement number

Converting bank statements for SnelStart

With StatementBridge you can convert any bank statement to the MT940 format SnelStart expects. Whether it's a CSV from your credit card company, an Excel export from a foreign bank or a CAMT.053 file — StatementBridge makes it compatible with SnelStart.