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Account Types

Account Types define how FRacker parses CSV files from your bank. This guide explains how to configure them for accurate imports.

What Are Account Types?

Account Types are templates that tell FRacker:

  • Which CSV column contains transaction dates
  • Which column has the transaction amount
  • Which column has the description/merchant name
  • Whether positive values are expenses or income

Different banks use different CSV formats, so you'll need an Account Type for each bank account you import from.

Pre-Configured Account Types

FRacker includes templates for popular banks:

  • Chase Checking
  • Chase Credit Card
  • Bank of America
  • Wells Fargo
  • Capital One
  • Citi Credit Card

You can use these as-is or customize them for your needs.

Creating a Custom Account Type

Step 1: Export a Sample CSV

  1. Log into your bank
  2. Export a transaction statement as CSV
  3. Open the CSV in a text editor or Excel
  4. Note the column names in the header row

Example CSV: 

Transaction Date,Description,Amount,Balance,Type
12/20/2025,STARBUCKS #1234,-5.50,1245.50,DEBIT
12/21/2025,PAYCHECK DEPOSIT,2000.00,3245.50,CREDIT

Step 2: Create Account Type

  1. Navigate to Settings → Account Types
  2. Click Add Account Type
  3. Fill in the configuration

Step 3: Configure Fields

Field Purpose Example
Name Descriptive name for this account "Chase Personal Checking"
Date Field CSV column name for date "Transaction Date"
Amount Field CSV column name for amount "Amount"
Description Field CSV column for merchant/description "Description"
Category Field Bank's category column (optional) "Type"
Positive = Expense Check if positive amounts are expenses ☑ or ☐

Step 4: Test the Configuration

  1. Save the Account Type
  2. Try importing a CSV file
  3. Check the preview to ensure fields are parsed correctly
  4. Adjust if needed

Field Configuration Examples

Example 1: Chase Checking

Chase uses positive values for deposits (income):

Name: Chase Checking
Date Field: Transaction Date
Amount Field: Amount
Description Field: Description
Category Field: Type
Positive = Expense: ☐ (unchecked)

CSV Format: 

Transaction Date,Description,Amount,Type
12/20/2025,Coffee Shop,-5.50,Purchase
12/21/2025,Paycheck,2000.00,Deposit

Example 2: Credit Card (Positive = Expense)

Many credit cards show charges as positive numbers:

Name: Citi Credit Card
Date Field: Date
Amount Field: Amount
Description Field: Merchant
Category Field: (empty)
Positive = Expense: ☑ (checked)

CSV Format: 

Date,Merchant,Amount
12/20/2025,AMAZON.COM,45.99
12/21/2025,PAYMENT RECEIVED,-100.00

Example 3: Separate Debit/Credit Columns

Some banks use separate columns:

Name: Bank of America
Date Field: Date
Amount Field: Amount
Description Field: Description
Category Field: (empty)
Positive = Expense: ☐ (unchecked)

For separate debit/credit columns, combine them into a single "Amount" column before import, or configure two Account Types (one for debits, one for credits).

Field Details

Date Field

The column containing the transaction date.

Common Names: - Date - Transaction Date - Post Date - Effective Date - Trans. Date

Supported Formats: - MM/DD/YYYY - YYYY-MM-DD - DD/MM/YYYY - Month DD, YYYY

Amount Field

The column with the transaction amount.

Common Names: - Amount - Transaction Amount - Debit/Credit - Value

Format Notes: - Can be positive or negative - May include currency symbols ($) - May use parentheses for negatives: (50.00) - Decimals with period or comma

Description Field

The merchant name or transaction description.

Common Names: - Description - Merchant - Payee - Details - Memo

Usage: - Used for import rule matching - Displayed in transaction lists - Searchable

Category Field (Optional)

Your bank's category for the transaction.

Common Names: - Category - Type - Transaction Type - Class

Usage: - Can be used for initial categorization - Often overridden by import rules - Not all banks provide this

Positive = Expense Checkbox

Determines how FRacker interprets positive vs. negative values.

When to Check: - Credit card statements (charges are positive) - Some banks show expenses as positive - When deposits/credits are negative

When to Uncheck: - Standard checking account format - Expenses are negative, income is positive - Most common configuration

Advanced Configuration

Multiple Accounts, Same Bank

If you have multiple accounts at the same bank:

Option 1: One Account Type, Multiple Imports - Use the same Account Type for all accounts - Import each account's CSV separately - Categorize or tag to differentiate

Option 2: Separate Account Types - Create one Account Type per account - Name them descriptively ("Chase Checking", "Chase Savings") - Easier to track which CSV came from which account

Date Format Issues

If dates aren't parsing correctly:

  1. Check the exact column name (case-sensitive)
  2. Verify date format in CSV
  3. Try different date field if bank has multiple date columns
  4. Manually standardize dates before import if needed

Amount in Multiple Columns

If debits and credits are separate:

Workaround: 1. Open CSV in Excel/Sheets 2. Create new "Amount" column 3. Formula: =IF(ISBLANK(C2), D2, -C2) (adjust columns) 4. Export as new CSV 5. Import using combined amount column

Managing Account Types

Editing

  1. Click Edit next to an Account Type
  2. Modify fields
  3. Click Save

Warning

Changing an Account Type affects future imports but doesn't update past transactions.

Deleting

  1. Click Delete next to an Account Type
  2. Confirm deletion

Danger

You cannot delete Account Types that have been used for past imports. Deactivate them instead by renaming (add "- INACTIVE").

Testing Changes

After editing an Account Type:

  1. Export a new CSV from your bank
  2. Try importing it
  3. Review the preview
  4. Verify all fields parse correctly

Troubleshooting

Field Not Found

Error: "Date field 'Transaction Date' not found in CSV"

Solutions: - Open CSV and check exact column name - Check for extra spaces - Ensure column name is in first row - Case-sensitive matching

Wrong Amounts

If amounts are incorrect:

  • Check "Positive = Expense" setting
  • Verify amount column name
  • Look for currency symbols or formatting
  • Check for parentheses notation

Dates Not Parsing

If dates show as errors:

  • Verify date column name
  • Check date format in CSV
  • Ensure dates are in a recognized format
  • Try different date column if multiple exist

Categories Not Importing

If bank categories aren't coming through:

  • Verify Category Field is set correctly
  • Check that column exists in CSV
  • Leave blank if bank doesn't provide categories
  • Use import rules instead for better control

Best Practices

  1. Test First - Always test with a small CSV before importing months of data
  2. Descriptive Names - Use clear names like "Chase Personal Checking" not just "Chase"
  3. Document Settings - Keep notes on which settings work for each bank
  4. Regular Review - Banks sometimes change CSV formats - review periodically
  5. Backup - Export your data before making major Account Type changes

Next Steps