Bank Feeds allow you to connect your Dext account directly to your bank, enabling a live stream of bank transactions.

These transactions are automatically imported into Dext, giving you quick and ongoing access to your latest bank activity without needing to upload statements manually.

Important: You must be an Admin user to set up or manage Bank Feeds.

Availability and Security

Bank Feeds are available for users based in the UK, France, and North America.

This feature is powered securely by Plaid, a trusted third-party provider. There is no additional cost to use Bank Feeds in Dext.

How to Connect a Bank Feed

To begin syncing transactions directly from your bank, follow these steps:

1. Go to Bank > Bank Accounts in the sidebar.

2. Click the Add bank account button at the top right of the page.

3. Choose Connect to bank and click Continue.

4. You’ll see a summary of the types of data Dext will request access to. Review this and click Continue to Plaid.

5. On the Plaid connector page, review their summary and then click Continue.

6. Select your bank from the list provided.

7. Either scan the QR code or click Go to your bank website, then follow the steps to log in and authorise the connection.

Once your bank feed is successfully connected, the account will appear on the Bank Accounts page with Bank Feed shown in the Source column.

Note: While Bank Feeds import transaction data, they do not pull in full bank statements.

Syncing Timelines and Historical Data

When you first establish a Bank Feed connection:

Dext pulls in 30 days’ worth of transactions immediately.
If your bank permits, Dext will also fetch up to 2 years of historical transaction data.

After the initial sync, transactions will continue to import automatically. The exact timing of syncs depends on your bank’s data refresh schedule.

Feed Expiry and Renewals

Depending on your region and banking institution:

Most EU bank connections will expire after 180 days.
UK connections typically expire after 90 days.
US connections generally do not have an automatic expiry period.

When your feed is nearing expiration, Dext will notify you. To renew the feed:

Go to the Bank > Bank accounts page
Click the current feed status
Select Renew connection to go through the connection steps again

Viewing and Working with Transactions

All transactions pulled from your bank via a feed appear under Bank > Transactions, grouped by the associated bank account.

On the Transactions page, you can:

Use Advanced Search to look up transactions by description, amount, or date range

Apply filters to narrow down results based on:
- Whether there's a Bank Match
- Whether there's a Paperwork Request
- Whether the transaction is Paid in or Paid out

Adjust visible data columns using the Table settings (gear icon in the top-right corner)

Sub-Account Details

Some banks allow for a more detailed view, showing which card within a multi-card bank account was used for a transaction.

This information appears in the Sub-Account column, which may display the cardholder's name and the last four digits of the card.

To enable this column:

Go to the Bank > Transactions page
Click the Table settings icon (top right)
Select Sub-Account, then click Apply

Important: Sub-account data is sent from your bank to Plaid, then passed to Dext. This feature is not supported by all banks or account types, and availability may vary.

Exporting Transaction Data

You can export transaction data at any time from the Transactions page. Here's how:

To export specific transactions: Tick the checkboxes next to the transactions you want, click Export, and choose the preferred CSV format.

To export all transactions for an account: Click Export all, then select the format you need.

This makes it easy to share transaction records or import them into other financial tools.

Enabling Notifications for Bank Feeds

To stay informed about the status of your Bank Feed connections (e.g., when they expire or encounter errors):

1. Click your Profile icon in the top-right corner of Dext

2. Go to User settings

3. In the Bookkeeping email notifications section, turn on the toggle for Bank feeds

This ensures you receive timely alerts and can take action if needed.

Creating Cost Items with Cash Coding

If you have a bank transaction but not the corresponding receipt or invoice, you can still create a cost item using the Cash Code button on the Transactions page.

This allows you to record the transaction in Dext using only the available bank data.

This is helpful when:

The original document is lost or unavailable
You want to reconcile your records for completeness

Important: Cash Coding is only available for users who are either not integrated with cloud accounting software or who are using compatible desktop software like Sage 50 UK/Canada or QuickBooks Desktop.

Once you click the Cash Code button on the right of a transaction, you’ll be able to select a Supplier and Document Owner, then proceed via the Create button.

You will then be able to find the resulting item in the Costs inbox section of the account.

FAQs

Do Bank Feeds import full bank statements?

No. Bank Feeds only bring in individual transaction data. If you need to upload full bank statements, use the Bank Statement Extraction feature instead.

How far back does transaction syncing go?

Dext initially syncs the past 30 days. If allowed by your bank, it can pull up to 2 years of historical transactions.

How frequently are transactions synced?

Sync frequency depends on your bank. Dext will check for new transactions on a schedule determined by the institution.

Will I need to reconnect my feed over time?

Yes, for most users. EU feeds expire every 180 days, and UK feeds every 90 days. US feeds typically remain active without renewal. You can reconnect easily through the Bank Accounts page.

What is the Sub-Account column?

Sub-Account data provides visibility into which specific cardholder made a transaction, when multiple cards are linked to one account. You can enable this column from the Table settings on the Transactions page.