How to Import Credit Cards Into Tiller HQ—And Why Manual Import Works Fine

The Direct Answer: Tiller Imports Via Export Files and Bank Connections

Tiller HQ lets you feed it credit card transactions in a few ways: export your statement as a CSV or OFX file from your card issuer and upload it to Tiller, or connect your bank account directly so Tiller syncs transactions automatically. Which path you choose depends on whether your card works with Tiller's bank connection and whether you want transactions to arrive real-time or on your schedule.

Why People Ask About Credit Card Imports in Tiller

Most people new to Tiller assume a bank connection is automatic—like Mint or Monarch. It usually is, if your card issuer plays nice with Tiller's aggregation partners. But automated bank connections require you to store your login credentials with a third party, even if they claim they don't store your password. Not everyone is comfortable with that. Some people have cards from smaller banks or credit unions that don't support the connection at all. And some people just prefer to handle their own imports rather than let an app sit in the middle.

If you fall into any of those camps, manual import is the practical path.

How to Import Credit Card Statements Into Tiller Manually

The process is straightforward and works the same way for almost every card:

1. Log in to your card issuer's website. This might be Chase, Discover, Amex, Citi, your local credit union, or whoever holds your card. You're logging in on their site, not giving your credentials to Tiller.
2. Find the transactions or statement download option. Most issuers call this "Download Transactions," "Export Statement," or "Statements." Some bury it under Account or History.
3. Export in CSV or OFX format. CSV is simpler: a spreadsheet-style file with date, amount, and description. OFX is an older banking format that includes more structure. Either works.
4. Choose the date range. Export the last 30 days if you're doing regular monthly imports, or go back further if this is your first import.
5. Download the file to your computer. Your browser saves it as a .csv, .ofx, or .qfx file.
6. Open Tiller and go to the import tool. Tiller's interface lets you upload the file directly.
7. Map the columns if needed. Tiller usually guesses the right format, but if the import tool asks which column is the date, amount, or description, match them up.
8. Review before importing. Look at the preview to make sure the dates, amounts, and descriptions look right.
9. Confirm and import. Tiller adds the transactions to your register.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes once you've done it once. If you're importing multiple cards, you can batch them on the same afternoon or spread them across the month.

Common Card Issuers and Their Export Options

Most major issuers offer CSV export directly from their website:

The location and format vary slightly, but CSV is almost universal. If your issuer doesn't offer CSV, OFX works just as well—most budgeting tools understand both.

The Case for Manual Import: Why Bank Sync Isn't the Only Option

Here's what most people don't realize: continuous bank sync sounds convenient, but manual import actually gives you more control. You decide when transactions land in your budget. You see exactly what you're importing before it hits your register. You never hand a third party your login credentials. And your budget doesn't get cluttered with recurring charges you meant to skip or transactions you're still investigating.

Apps like Budgetfold lean into this approach entirely. Budgetfold has no bank connection by design—instead, you import statement exports when you're ready to review them. You can import from Mint CSV, Monarch CSV, Rocket Money CSV, Goodbudget CSV, Copilot CSV, EveryDollar CSV, generic bank CSV files, and OFX/QFX/QIF exports from any card issuer. If you're coming from YNAB or Tiller, those apps have specific import guides. The point is: you own your data, you control the timing, and you never store login credentials anywhere.

If you've been using Mint before it closed in 2024, or if you left YNAB over pricing, or if you use Tiller but worry about automated syncing, this is why manual import appeals to people.

Subscription Tracking Alongside Your Card Imports

Once your credit card transactions are in your budget, the next step is usually subscription management. Most people discover they have recurring charges they forgot about—streaming services, software subscriptions, forgotten trials. Manual import gives you a clean moment to audit these.

If you're moving to an app that tracks subscriptions, look for one that logs the renewal date, yearly cost, and price history. This matters because a subscription that seemed cheap at signup often creeps up. You want to see the pattern.

Budgetfold includes a built-in subscription tracker that shows renewal dates, yearly cost, and a price-change log for every subscription you monitor. You add these manually, which takes 10 minutes for a typical household but gives you a real picture of your fixed costs. This is often the moment people actually cancel subscriptions they're not using.

FAQ: Credit Card Importing and Bank Sync

Can I import multiple credit cards at once?

Yes. Export all your statements to the same folder, then upload them one by one. Most apps let you import multiple files in one session. Tiller's interface handles this smoothly.

What if my credit card doesn't offer CSV export?

Contact your card issuer's support and ask for a statement download option. If they truly don't support any digital export, OFX export is usually the fallback—nearly every card issuer that doesn't offer CSV offers OFX. The last resort is manually entering transactions by hand, which is rare.

Does importing my transactions into Tiller (or another app) share my data with credit card companies?

No. When you export and upload, you're downloading the data from your card's website to your computer, then uploading it to your budget app. The card issuer has no idea you're doing this. Your card company sees transactions you make, but not how you categorize them or what budget app you use.

Can I import my old transactions from previous months?

Yes. Most card issuers let you export transactions from the past 12 to 24 months. If you're switching apps and want your full history, export as far back as the issuer allows. Budgetfold's free plan works with the current month of data (up to 100 transactions across 2 accounts). If you're importing multiple months of history, Budgetfold's Plus plan ($39/year or $4.99/month) stores unlimited transaction history. When an import exceeds the free plan limits, you get a one-time offer: $10 off the first year of Plus ($29), good for 30 days.

Why would I choose manual import over bank sync?

Privacy is the biggest reason. Manual import means you never hand your login credentials to a third party, even if they claim encryption. Control is the second reason: you import on your schedule, not in real-time, which gives you a moment to review before transactions hit your budget. And peace of mind is the third: if you're uncomfortable with automated account access, manual import eliminates that worry entirely.