What you will get from this guide
Most "PDF to Excel" workflows actually end up as CSV, and that"s fine: Excel opens CSV files directly.
The real challenge is getting clean columns (date, amount, balance, description) without broken rows. This guide compares the common methods and shows the reliable approach.
Step-by-step
1. Avoid copy & paste for statements
Copy & paste works only for some text-based PDFs. Bank statements often break columns or merge cells, especially when descriptions wrap across lines.
2. Use a statement-aware converter
Upload the statement PDF to KontoCSV to extract a clean table. OCR is available for scans.
3. Import into Excel the right way
If columns look off, import via Excel: Data → From Text/CSV, then choose the correct delimiter and encoding.
Best practices
- If your amounts use commas vs dots, set the correct locale in Excel during import.
- Check negative amounts and refunds: signs are critical for totals.
- Keep the original PDF for audit trails and reconciliation.
FAQ
What is the difference between CSV and Excel?
CSV is a simple text table format. Excel can open and edit CSV files, and many accounting tools prefer CSV because it is universally supported.
Do scanned PDFs work?
Yes, but they need OCR. KontoCSV includes OCR to extract tables from scans and photos.
Why are my columns shifted in Excel?
It"s usually delimiter or encoding. Use Data → From Text/CSV and select the correct delimiter (comma vs semicolon) and encoding (UTF-8).
German original (more detail)
If you want the full German version with screenshots and extra edge cases, open the original guide here: