Bank statements are available in various digital formats - but which one is right for your accounting? In this technical guide we explain the differences between CSV, Excel, DATEV, MT940 and CAMT and show when you should use which format.
📅 Status of information: October 22, 2026 – Reviewed: MT940 has not been a DK standard since November 23, 2025, but some systems may still support it.
Current standard for electronic bank statements
Since November 23, 2025, MT940/MT942 are no longer DK standards.CAMT.053 V08 is the successor standard for electronic end-of-day statements. Some banks and software platforms may still offer MT940 support.
Format overview: The 5 most important bank statement formats
Comma-Separated Values – the universal text format for table data
File extension: .csv
Text format, UTF-8
Microsoft Excel – the standard table format with advanced functions
File extension: .xlsx, .xls
Binary format, Microsoft
DATEV format – standard for tax advisors and accounting software in Germany
File extension: .csv (DATEV format)
CSV with DATEV structure
SWIFT MT940 – former DK standard for electronic statements, potentially still supported by individual providers
File extension: .sta, .txt
Text format, SWIFT
ISO 20022 CAMT – current DK standard for electronic account statements
File extension: .xml
XML format, ISO 20022
Export profiles in KontoCSV: Ready-made CSVs for any accounting software
Simply select your target system when uploading - we will deliver the appropriate CSV layout with correct separators, signs, accounts and columns. Ideal for tax advisors, Lexware users, BuchhaltungsButler teams or simple exports to Excel/Google Sheets.
Practical advantage: KontoCSV provides export profiles for common target systems. Before import, review account assignment, required fields and the target system's import settings.
CSV format: The universal standard
CSV (Comma Separated Values) is a simple text format in which data is separated by commas (or semicolons). Each row represents a data record, each column a field.
Date;Description;Amount;Currency
2025-10-15;Salary;3500.00;EUR
2025-10-16;Rent;-1200.00;EUR
2025-10-17;Supermarket;-85.50;EUR✅ Advantages of CSV
Universally compatible
Works with Excel, Google Sheets, German DATEV/Lexware profiles, etc.
Easy to process
Can be opened with any text editor
Small file size
Just text, no formatting = compact
Platform independent
Windows, Mac, Linux – usable everywhere
❌ Disadvantages of CSV
No formatting
No colors, fonts or formulas
Just a spreadsheet
No multiple sheets like in Excel
Encoding problems
Umlauts can cause problems (use UTF-8!)
Delimiter conflicts
Commas in dates can cause problems
💡 When to use CSV?
- If you want to import data into different programs
- For accounting software (DATEV, Lexware, sevDesk)
- When you need maximum compatibility
- For automated data processing (scripts, APIs)
Excel format: The feature champion
Excel (.xlsx) is Microsoft's proprietary table format. It offers advanced features such as formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple sheets.
✅ Advantages of Excel
Formulas & Calculations
Automatic totals, averages, etc.
Formatting
Colors, fonts, conditional formatting
Multiple spreadsheets
Different months/years in one file
Charts & Pivot Tables
Visualization and analysis
❌ Disadvantages of Excel
Proprietary format
Requires Excel or compatible software
Larger files
Binary format = greater than CSV
Version issues
.xls (old) vs. .xlsx (new) – Compatibility
Harder to automate
More complex than CSV for scripts
💡 When to use Excel?
- If you want to do calculations and analysis
- For manual accounting with formulas
- If you need charts and visualizations
- For presentations and reports
DATEV format: The tax advisor standard
This DATEV format is a special CSV format with a defined structure specified by DATEV eG (Germany's largest provider of tax consulting software). It allows direct import into DATEV programs.
DATEV structure:
- • Line 1: DATEV format version
- • Line 2: Column headings
- • From line 3: booking data
- • Special fields: account, offsetting account, booking text, amount, etc.
✅ Advantages of DATEV
Tax advisor standard
Used by almost all tax advisors in Germany
Automatic booking
Can be imported directly into DATEV software
Account Mapping
DATEV export for SKR03/SKR04; review account assignment before posting
GoBD-compliant for German workflows where relevant
Meets legal requirements
❌ Disadvantages of DATEV
For DATEV software only
Not universal like standard CSV
Complex structure
Many mandatory fields and rules
Version issues
Different DATEV versions = different formats
Difficult to create manually
Requires special software or tools
💡 When to use DATEV?
- If your tax advisor uses DATEV
- For automatic booking in DATEV software
- If you need GoBD-compliant accounting for German workflows
- For professional accounting with account allocation
MT940 format: former DK standard
MT940 is no longer a DK standard
MT940 ceased to be a DK standard on November 23, 2025. Check CAMT.053 V08 as the successor standard and confirm any continued MT940 support with your bank and software provider.
MT940 (SWIFT Message Type 940) is an international banking standard for electronic statements. It is a text-based format with a complex, structured syntax.
:20:STARTUMSE
:25:DE89370400440532013000
:28C:00000/001
:60F:C231015EUR3500.00
:61:2310151015DR1200.00NMSCNONREF
:86:166?00RENT?20LANDLORD GMBH
:62F:C231015EUR2300.00✅ Advantages of MT940
International standard
SWIFT standard, recognized worldwide
Structured data
Clear field structure for transactions
Widely used
Supported by many banks and software
Compact
Text format, small file size
❌ Disadvantages of MT940
No longer a DK standard
Availability depends on the bank and software
Complex syntax
Difficult to read and process
Limited information
Less details than CAMT
Outdated technology
From the 1980s
CAMT.053: current DK standard (ISO V08)
✨ CAMT is the new standard!
Since November 23, 2025, CAMT.053 V08 has been the DK standard for electronic end-of-day statements. MT940 may still be available from some providers.
CAMT (Cash Management) is an XML-based format according to the ISO 20022 standard. It offers significantly more information than MT940 and is better structured.
CAMT variants:
- • camt.052 - Intraday account statement (real time)
- • camt.053 - End of day account statement (standard)
- • camt.054 - Direct debit notification
✅ Advantages of CAMT
Modern standard
ISO 20022 – future-proof
More information
More detailed transaction data
XML based
Easier to parse and validate
Better automation
Structured data for software
❌ Disadvantages of CAMT
Larger files
XML = more overhead than MT940
Not yet supported everywhere
Older software needs to be updated
More complex structure
XML knowledge required
Conversion effort
Migration of MT940 required
💡 When to use CAMT?
- Since November 2025: CAMT V08 is the DK standard for electronic account information
- If you use modern accounting software
- For automated processes with detailed data
- If you want to work in a future-proof way
Compatibility matrix: Which software supports which format?
| Software/Tools | CSV | Excel | DATEV | MT940 | CAMT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DATEV | former DK standard until November 2025 | ||||
| Lexware | |||||
| sevDesk | |||||
| Microsoft Excel | with adjustment | ||||
| Google Sheets | |||||
| Banana accounting | |||||
| KontoCSV.de Recommended | via CSV | via CSV | via CSV | via CSV |
💡 Legend
Which format and when? Our recommendations
1st choice: CSV
Universally compatible, works with Excel and all accounting tools
2nd choice: Excel
When you perform manual calculations and analysis
3rd choice: DATEV
If your tax advisor uses DATEV
1st choice: DATEV
Direct import into DATEV software, automatic booking
2nd choice: CAMT.053 V08
Modern standard with more information
3rd choice: CSV
As a backup or for additional analysis
1st choice: CSV
Supported by all online tools
2nd choice: CAMT
Modern tools support CAMT natively
Avoid: MT940
No longer a DK standard; availability depends on the bank
1st choice: CSV
Simply import into Excel, then add formulas
2nd choice: Excel directly
If you already have formatted templates
Tip: KontoCSV.de
Converts PDF statements directly to CSV
🎯 Our top recommendation: CSV
For most use cases is CSV the best choice:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CSV is a simple text format with comma separated values, while Excel is a binary format with advanced features (formulas, formatting, multiple sheets). CSV is universally compatible, Excel offers more features.
Yes, in some systems. MT940 has not been a DK standard since November 23, 2025. Some banks and software platforms still support it. CAMT.053 V08 is the current DK standard for end-of-day statements.
The appropriate DATEV format depends on the import workflow. CAMT.053 V08 is the current DK standard for electronic statements; CSV and MT940 may be relevant for supported workflows.
All formats are equally secure because they only contain data (no executable programs). It is important that you save the files in encrypted form and only transfer them over secure connections.
Yes! Many users export their account statements to CSV (for accounting software) and Excel (for your own analysis). With KontoCSV.de you can easily open and further process CSV files in Excel.
Conclusion: CSV is the universal winner
For most use cases is CSV the best choice: Universally compatible, easy to process and future-proof. With KontoCSV.de you can convert PDF statements to CSV in seconds!
- CSV: Universally compatible, for all accounting tools
- Excel: For analysis and manual calculations
- DATEV: For tax advisors and professional accounting
- CAMT: Current DK standard (V08)
- MT940: No longer a DK standard; still supported in some systems
Our tip: Use KontoCSV.de to automatically convert PDF statements to CSV - compatible with all accounting tools!