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Credit card statement to CSV: getting the signs right

Updated 2026-10-10

Credit card statements are written from the card issuer's point of view: a purchase increases what you owe, so it is printed as a positive number, and a payment is printed as negative (or marked CR). Accounting and budgeting tools usually want the opposite: purchases are money out (negative), payments and refunds are money in (positive).

How LocalLedger handles it

• It recognises card statements from phrases like "credit limit", "minimum payment" or "new balance" and flips the signs automatically.
• You can force the statement type under Options → Statement type.
• The totals check works the card way round: previous balance + purchases − payments = new balance.
• If your target app wants the issuer's convention, use Flip all signs before exporting.

Trans date vs post date

Many card statements print two dates. LocalLedger uses the first (transaction) date and ignores the posting date.

Steps

1. Drop the card statement PDF into the converter.
2. Confirm the file is detected as "credit card" and that the balances reconcile.
3. Export CSV, Excel, QuickBooks Online CSV, Xero CSV, QIF (!Type:CCard) or OFX (credit card statement).

Related guides

• How to convert a PDF bank statement to Excel (without retyping)
• How to import a bank statement into QuickBooks Online (CSV, step by step)
• How to import a bank statement into Xero from a PDF or CSV
• Convert CSV to QIF for Quicken, GnuCash, Moneydance and other finance apps