Bank Feed
A bank feed is a secure connection that brings bank account transactions into accounting software automatically.
In plain English, a bank feed saves you from downloading statements and typing transactions by hand. New deposits, card payments, fees, transfers, and withdrawals appear in the software ready to match or categorise.
Bank feeds do not replace business records. They make the bank movement easier to review, while invoices, bills, receipts, payroll records, and notes still explain what each transaction means.
Where Bank Feed Appears
You will usually see a bank feed in:
- bank reconciliation screens
- bank account setup and authorisation steps
- imported transaction lists
- invoice and bill payment matching
- cash flow checks and accountant reviews
- business record-keeping conversations
In Australia, bank data sharing can involve the Consumer Data Right. The ACCC’s Consumer Data Right overview explains the framework for sharing data with consent.
How Bank Feed Works In Practice
After a bank account is connected, the feed imports transactions into the accounting system. The software may suggest matches to customer invoices, supplier bills, transfers, payroll payments, or common expense categories.
The owner or bookkeeper still reviews the matches. A bank feed can suggest that a $220 card payment looks like software expense, but the supporting record might show it was a subscription, a refund, or a mixed business and private purchase.
Simple Example
A landscaper receives a $1,100 bank deposit from a customer. The bank feed brings in the deposit overnight. Gimbla suggests matching it to invoice INV-104, which is also $1,100. Once reviewed and matched, the invoice shows as paid and the bank reconciliation stays current.
Without a bank feed, the owner may need to download a CSV file, import it, and manually find the invoice.
Why Bank Feed Matters
Bank feeds reduce repetitive data entry and help keep records fresher. That matters because late bank coding can hide unpaid invoices, duplicate expenses, GST mistakes, and cash flow pressure.
They also make automation more useful. When the software sees regular payments, it can learn patterns, suggest categories, and make reconciliation faster without changing the underlying record-keeping responsibility.
Easy Way To Remember It
A bank feed brings the bank statement into the books, but it does not explain the business reason by itself.
How Gimbla Can Help
Gimbla supports bank feeds and bank statement imports so bank transactions can be matched to invoices, receipts, bills, transfers, GST records, and reports in one place.
Related Terms
Helpful Gimbla Guides
In Short
A bank feed automatically brings bank transactions into your accounting software. It makes reconciliation faster, but the business still needs clear records behind each transaction.