What does a bank statement look like? An annotated example and how to read each part

The parts of a bank statement, top to bottom

Most US checking statements follow the same order, even though fonts, colors and labels differ between banks. Chase lists the common elements as the statement period, starting and ending balances, all completed transactions for the period, fees and interest earned, and bank information including the account number and possibly your phone number and mailing address. TD adds the routing number, bank contact details, a check summary or check images, and a fee summary.

The annotated example on this page numbers each part so you can find the same thing on your own statement.

• Header: the bank’s name, contact details and logo, your name and mailing address, a masked account number such as ending 0426, and the statement period.
• Account summary: opening balance, deposits and other credits, withdrawals and other debits, fees, and closing balance. Some banks also show the average daily balance or the number of items.
• Transaction list (also called transaction history or account activity): date, description and amount for each posted item, often with a running balance column.
• Checks paid: check number, the date it cleared and the amount. Some banks print small images of the checks.
• Fees and interest: a fee summary, sometimes with year to date totals, and interest paid with the annual percentage yield on interest bearing accounts.
• Notices: changes to fees or terms, error resolution instructions, and how to contact the bank.
• Page numbers: usually Page 1 of N. They are the quickest way to tell whether a statement is complete.

How to read the numbers

Read the summary first, because it tells you the story of the month in four numbers. In the fictional example below, the account opened at 1,250.00, received 2,400.40, paid out 1,483.40 and closed at 2,167.00. Because 1,250.00 plus 2,400.40 minus 1,483.40 is 2,167.00, the summary is internally consistent.

Then check that the transaction list explains the summary. Add the money in column and compare it with the total credits; add the money out column and compare it with total debits. If the statement has a running balance, the last running balance should equal the closing balance. A difference usually means a page is missing or you misread one line.

Descriptions are compressed. Card purchases often start with POS or a card prefix, transfers say ONLINE TRANSFER or ACH, and checks show CHECK and a number. Our guide to bank statement abbreviations explains the common codes.

How statements differ between banks and account types

Between banks the content is similar but the layout is not. Some banks use a single amount column with minus signs or parentheses for money out, others use separate debit and credit columns. Some list checks inside the transaction list, others in their own section. Some print a running balance on every line, others only a daily ending balance. Statement periods do not always match calendar months: Chase describes the period as the first to the last of the month or another time frame of about a month, so a cycle may run from the 16th to the 15th.

A savings statement looks like a shorter checking statement: fewer transactions, usually no checks, and more emphasis on interest. TD notes that the year to date interest on a December statement gives a preview of the Form 1099-INT the bank sends.

A credit card statement is organized around what you owe, not what you hold. Capital One describes a payment information box near the top with the payment due date, the new balance and the minimum payment due, plus late payment and minimum payment warnings. It says most account summaries begin with the balance at the end of the last billing cycle and can show payments, credits, transactions, fees and interest charges, along with your credit limit and available credit. A credit card billing cycle can last about 28 to 31 days, according to Capital One.

A statement is also different from the activity screen in online banking. Wells Fargo explains that the activity screen shows recent and pending transactions for the past 60 to 90 days, while the online statement covers a fixed statement cycle and does not include pending transactions.

What a landlord or lender looks at

When you hand over statements for a rental or loan application, the reader is checking identity, income and stability. TD notes that lenders may require statements to verify income and cash reserves when you apply for a car loan, mortgage or line of credit.

Expect them to check that the name and address match your application, that the statement period is recent and complete (every page, consecutive months), that regular deposits match the income you stated, and that the closing and average balances cover what they need. Large one off deposits, frequent overdraft or returned item fees and transfers between your own accounts often draw questions, so be ready to explain them.

Send the bank’s own PDF, not a screenshot of the activity screen. Wells Fargo says its online statement contains all the information on the paper statement and is considered an official document. You can usually black out the full account number if the recipient does not need it, but ask first, because some lenders want the unaltered PDF.

How to tell if a bank statement is genuine

You cannot prove a statement is genuine by looking at it. Layouts change, logos are easy to copy, and every bank formats differently, so a statement that looks unfamiliar is not necessarily fake and one that looks perfect is not necessarily real.

The dependable check is to ask the issuing bank. Find the bank’s phone number on its official website, not on the statement you were given, and ask how it confirms account details for third parties; expect it to need the account holder’s consent. As a recipient you can also ask the applicant to download the statement in front of you, or to arrange for the bank to confirm the details directly.

Simple arithmetic checks still help you spot problems worth asking about: the summary should add up, the running balance should follow from each line, dates should fall inside the statement period, and page numbers should be continuous.

Getting the transactions out of a PDF statement

If you need the rows in a spreadsheet or accounting software and your bank only gives you a PDF, you can convert it. Fulla Ledger turns statement PDFs into transaction rows that you check against the source page before exporting to Excel, CSV or OFX. The sample page shows a complete fictional statement with matching export files.