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Import a camt.053 statement into Xero

In short: A camt.053 file is the ISO 20022 XML bank statement that is replacing MT940 in Europe. Each booking sits in an Ntry element with its amount, a CRDT or DBIT mark, booking and value dates, and the other party's name, IBAN and payment reference. Xero's statement import uses its own CSV template: a Date and a signed Amount on every line, plus Payee, Description, Reference and a cheque number column. Money out is negative. Drop the file below. It is converted on your device and never uploaded.

Before you start: Dates are written day first (DD/MM/YYYY) for camt.053 statements. If your Xero organisation is in the United States, switch the Xero organisation setting below to United States.

Convert your file

camt.053 to Xero (CSV)

An .xml file from your bank's camt.053 (ISO 20022) statement download

Your file stays on this device

It is read and converted by this page, inside your browser. Nothing from the file is uploaded, and the converter keeps working offline once the page has loaded.

One email when it ships. The address is used for nothing else. Details.

1. Export the file from your bank

  1. In your online banking open the account and look for Statements, Export or Download.
  2. Choose camt.053 (sometimes called ISO 20022, XML statement or CAMT).
  3. Pick the period and download. Some banks give a .zip with one .xml per day; unzip it and upload one .xml at a time.
  4. Upload the .xml file here exactly as downloaded.

Why a raw camt.053 export fails in Xero

Xero does not read camt.053 files from an upload. Its statement import takes its own CSV template or an OFX file, so the statement has to be turned into one of those first.

Xero imports the CSV line by line, so title rows above the table, balance rows, currency symbols in the amount, or separate gross, fee and net columns end up rejected or imported as the wrong amount.

What is unusual about the camt.053 file

  • Versions camt.053.001.02 to .001.08 are read.
  • One file can hold statements for several accounts. Each converted file holds one account in one currency; you choose which.
  • Only booked entries are converted; pending entries are left out with a note.
  • A batch booking (for example one line for several direct debits) is split into its payments when they add up exactly to the booked amount.
  • We check every statement: the opening balance plus the entries must equal the closing balance. If it does not, you get a clear warning.
  • camt.052 reports and camt.054 notifications are not statements and are refused with a note.

What Xero requires

  • Header matches Xero's template: *Date, *Amount, Payee, Description, Reference, Check Number.
  • One signed amount column: money out negative, decimal point, no symbols.
  • Up to 100,000 rows per file.

2. Before and after

Before: the camt.053 statement as downloaded

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- Constructed test file. Layout and element names follow ISO 20022 camt.053.001.02 and the ING sample
     (assets.ing.com Sample-Files-CAMT.pdf); names, IBANs and amounts are invented. -->
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:camt.053.001.02">
<BkToCstmrStmt>
<GrpHdr><MsgId>TEST-20251231</MsgId><CreDtTm>2026-01-01T06:00:00</CreDtTm></GrpHdr>
<Stmt>
<Id>STMT-EUR-1</Id>
<ElctrncSeqNb>12</ElctrncSeqNb>

After: what Xero receives

After: camt053-2025-12-30-to-2025-12-31-xero.csv
*Date*AmountPayeeDescriptionReferenceCheck Number
12/30/2025660.12Müller & Söhne GmbHInvoice 2025-118ASR-0001
12/30/2025-289.00'=HYPERLINK("http://x")RF18539007547034ASR-0002
12/31/202550.00Reversal: Return of direct debitASR-0003
12/31/2025-30.00StadtwerkeStrom DezemberASR-0004/DD-1
12/31/2025-50.00TelekomMobilfunk DezemberASR-0004/DD-2
12/31/2025-1.50Account fee DecemberASR-0005

Synthetic sample data that follows the real export layout, not a real account. The "after" output was produced from it by the same converter this page runs.

3. Import the converted file into Xero

  1. In Xero open Accounting > Bank accounts and choose the account.
  2. Click Manage account > Import a statement.
  3. Choose this CSV and click Import.
  4. Check the column mapping (Date, Amount, Payee, Description, Reference) and confirm the date format if asked.

Questions

How do I know nothing went missing?
Every camt.053 statement carries an opening and a closing booked balance. The converter adds up the booked entries of each statement and compares the result with the closing balance. If they do not match, you see a warning that names the statement and the difference.
Which date format does Xero need?
Xero lists both month-first and day-first dates as accepted and asks you to confirm the format when it is unclear. Choose United States for MM/DD/YYYY or Elsewhere for DD/MM/YYYY, and confirm the same format in Xero if it asks.
What about pending entries and batch bookings?
Only booked entries are converted; pending ones are left out with a note, because they are not part of the booked balance yet. A batch booking, such as one line for several direct debits, is split into its payments when they add up exactly to the booked amount, and kept as one line otherwise.
Can I import more than one month at once?
Yes. Xero imports the whole statement file you give it. Keep each file to one bank account in Xero, and avoid overlapping a period you already imported so you do not have to delete duplicate statement lines.

Other ways to convert camt.053

Other exports to Xero (CSV)