LedgerMatch
Wells Fargo CSV Export: Column Layout & Reconciliation Guide
Wells Fargo's CSV has no column headers at all — the very first row is already live transaction data. Any tool that treats row 1 as a header silently deletes your first transaction and misnames every column. The format also hides two blank placeholder columns between Amount and Description that shift all column positions and break positional auto-mapping. This tool handles the headerless format natively and maps columns by position, not by name.
CSV format at a glance
- Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
- Amount layout: one signed amount column
- Negative values are debits. Positive values are credits.
Where to export the CSV
Sign in → Accounts → select account → Download Account Activity → Comma Separated Values (.csv)
Common import issues
- Wells Fargo CSV exports have NO header row. The very first row is already transaction data. If you treat row 1 as a header, you will lose your first transaction.
- The file has two blank "asterisk" columns (columns 3 and 4) between Amount and Description. This surprises most import tools.
- Descriptions are often cryptic abbreviations — "ONLINE TRANSFER REF #XXXXXX" rather than the payee name. Cross-reference with your Wells Fargo activity page for the full merchant name.
- Wells Fargo does not export a running balance column. You cannot derive an opening balance from this file alone.
Useful setup tips
- In LedgerMatch's column mapper, select "No header row" to prevent the first transaction from being consumed as column names.
- Map columns by position: Col 1 → Date, Col 2 → Amount, Col 5 → Description. Cols 3 and 4 can be ignored.
- For large date ranges, Wells Fargo caps exports at 500 rows per download. Download in monthly segments if your account has high transaction volume.