Deep Dive: Understanding Credit Card Import options

Isabela Stisser
Isabela Stisser Expensify Team, Expensify Student Ambassador Posts: 200 Expensify Team
edited September 2021 in Deep Dive Docs

In Expensify, users have access to direct connections from multiple banks around the world. This feature allows users to seamlessly import card transactions to their accounts, automatically merge receipts with the transactions, and make the expense reconciliation process a breeze!

Credit Card import options in Expensify

There are three ways to connect a credit card to Expensify:

  1. Connect a personal credit card or company credit card via direct connection
  2. Request a VisaMastercard, or Amex company card feed from your bank
  3. Import card expenses via a spreadsheet or CSV

1. Connect your bank via direct connection

For personal credit cards, check to see if Expensify has a direct connection to your bank at Settings > Account > Credit Card Import and click Import Bank/Card. If your bank shows up in the search box, choose that option and follow the prompts.

For company credit cards, check to see if Expensify has a direct connection to your bank at Settings > Domain > Company Cards and click Import Card. If your bank shows up in the search box, choose that option and follow the prompts.

2. Connect your bank via corporate card feed

If you are connecting company cards, it's possible that you might be able to obtain a VisaMastercard, or Amex commercial card feed directly from your bank. This connection is not an option for personal cards.

3. Connect your bank via CSV/Spreadsheet upload

If a direct connection or corporate card feed isn't an option, your bank is supported via our company card or personal card spreadsheet import method.


Details about imported card expenses

After a card is connected, Expensify will import 30-90 days worth of historical transactions to your account (the timeframe is based on your bank's discretion). Any historical expenses beyond that date range can be imported using our company card or personal card spreadsheet import method.

Your credit card transactions will import to Expensify once they’re posted, this usually takes 1-3 business days between the point of purchase and when the transactions are imported into Expensify.

If you see a longer delay, you can update the card connection manually via the web:

  • Manually updating a personal card connection: Settings > Account > Credit Card Import > click Update
  • Manually updating a company card connection: Settings > Domain > Company Cards and click Update

Receipts and card transactions, how do they merge?

Expensify will automatically merge a SmartScanned receipt with a matching card transaction in your account.

If you have a company card added to your account, all your SmartScanned receipts will get flagged with an "Awaiting merge with imported card transaction" violation. If there is no matching card transaction after 7 days, the violation will expire.

If you don't need the expense to match a corporate card transaction, then you can Mark as Cash instead. This will make the transaction a reimbursable expense.

 


If the corporate card feed is down or broken, you'll see an error message stating: "Credit card receipt; Can't auto-match due to a broken bank connection which [Your Domain Admin] needs to fix." In this case, you'll need to reach out to the Domain Admin listed to fix the connection before you can resolve this violation within 7 days. The violation will automatically expire after 7 days.


Check out this help article for more information on how SmartScanned receipts merge with bank card expenses. 

The best ways to import card transactions into Expensify


1) The Expensify Card is the world’s smartest corporate card in town, thanks to market-first daily settlement, unapproved expense limits, and real-time compliance features that enable the highest spend within the safest limits. You can find more information and instructions to apply for the Expensify Card here.

2) VisaMastercard, or Amex commercial card feeds are also one of the most stable connections in Expensify. If you have a corporate or commercial card account, contact your banking relationship manager to see if your card program is eligible for this type of connection.

3) As part of the Expensify Approved! Banks program, Expensify has partnered with major banks around the world to provide a seamless direct import option. Below is the list of banks that offer a direct connection in Expensify:

  1. Bank of America
  2. Citibank
  3. Capital One
  4. Chase
  5. Wells Fargo 
  6. American Express
  7. Stripe
  8. Brex

If none of the instructions provided in the help articles above fixes the issue, you will need to reach out to concierge@expensify.com, and our team will be able to request more information about your bank account and troubleshoot the issues by checking the card logs.

Important note: Because you will need to provide information about your bank account, we cannot troubleshoot bank and credit cards issues in the Expensify Community. Please reach out concierge@expensify.com, and the team will be happy to help!

Have a question?

  • Feel free to post a general question in our community for all community members to see. You can start a discussion here!
  • Have a specific question about your Expensify account? Please email us at concierge@expensify.com or contact us through the mobile app. We can’t support troubleshooting bank import issues in the public community space.

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