Every month, your bank prepares a document for you showing all of of your transactions for the past month. This is called a bank statement. It’s important to review your bank statement regularly – in part to ensure there aren’t any transactions you don’t recognize, which could mean fraud.Let’s break down how to get your bank statements, either online or through the mail.
Your bank account is only one part of your finance. Consider working with a financial advisor to put together a financial plan for other financial needs and goals.
How to Get a Bank Statement Online
Most banks today offer online banking for both deposit and credit card accounts. This makes it easy to check your account to see the status and transactions, transfer money, and conduct other banking business. One of the things you can do in your online banking account is get yourbank statement.
For recent months, your statements should be readily available to download as a PDF, free of charge.Banks vary on how to receive your statement, but typically there will be a link at the top for “Statements,” possibly under “Account” or “Account Services.” Once you find this page, you will have access to downloadable, PDF versions of your bank statements. You can choose the time frame and what account you want to view. Most banks have your statements instantly available, though it’s possible you’ll need to request to have the PDF emailed to you.
In addition to downloadable PDF statements, the main page of your account should also list out your recent transactions in an account summary. The transactions may be broken out by statementcycle or all together. While this is not technically your statement, and may include some pending charges, this is an easy way to review recent credits and debits from your account.
Most banks offer the option to “go paperless” and only receive and review your statements online. If you’ve gone paperless, this is the way to see your statements. You should also regularly download and file your statements on your computer in case you need easy access to them in the future.
How to Get a Bank Statement by Mail
Typically, when you sign up for a bank account, you will automatically receive your monthly bank statements by mail.They are mailed out monthly based on when you opened your account, so they won’t necessarily align with the beginning or end of the calendar month. These will look identical to the downloadable PDFs from the website.
What happens if you can’t find your paper statement? These could happen for a number of reasons. Perhaps you misplaced it, perhaps it got lost in the mail, or perhaps you chose to only receive online statements. Regardless, most banks offer the option on their online banking portal to request a paper statement to be mailed to you. This request is likely in the same place as your digital statements. It may be a different option under the same “Statement” heading, or there may be a button on the page showing your statements. If you choose to request a printed statement, be careful, as your bank may charge a fee – typically around $6 – for this service.
If you do not have access to online banking, you can call your bank’s customer service line. They can help you receive a paper copy of your statement. You can find the number for customer service on the back of your debit card or in the contact section of the bank’s website.
If your bank doesn’t have an option to request a paper statement, you can print out a downloaded PDF for a physical copy of your statement. This printed version will look exactly like the mailed version of your statement and is considered an official document.
How Long Do Banks Retain Statements?
Most banks have a limit to how long they retain copies of your statement. This is usually seven years. It is important to keep copies of your statements filed either physically or digitally, just in case you need them and your bank no longer retains the statements. This is especially true for any year-end statements you receive before tax time, as these tend to recap your interest and other taxable earnings for the year. You may be audited by the IRS and need to prove how much you earned.
When you no longer need your bank statement, it’s advisable to shred them, as you would any document containing private financial information.
Bottom Line
Getting a copy of your bank statement is easy. Your online banking page will list out all of your statements. From there, you can download a PDF or order a paper version by mail.You can also call your bank’s customer service line for help. And if you’d like to receive a paper statement every month, most banks will do so by default unless you specifically choose to “go paperless” and receive only online statements.
Tips for Getting More From Your Bank
- Checking and savings accounts are just one part of your financial picture. If you really want to work toward larger financial goals, like retirement, consider working with a financial advisor to put together a financial plan for your needs and goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors in your area, and you can have free introductory calls with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- If you’re comfortable in the world of online banking, you might consider switching to an online-only bank. They tend to have higher interest rates than traditional banks. And some, like Ally, still offer in-person access to your cash through ATMs.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Steve Debenport,©iStock.com/jacoblund, ©iStock.com/Rawpixel
FAQs
If you do not have access to online banking, you can call your bank's customer service line. They can help you receive a paper copy of your statement.
How do I request a bank statement? ›
Visit your bank's website. Log in to Online Banking/Digital Banking/Internet Banking/eBanking etc. Click 'statements', 'e-documents', or 'download'
How can I get my bank statement? ›
You can check your bank statement through your bank's Net Banking portal or mobile banking app. These platforms allow you to keep tab on your account balances at any time. Accessing your bank statement online gives you real-time updates, enables monitoring, helps detect errors, and facilitates financial planning.
How do I get my Boi statement online? ›
To get your bank account statement through net banking, you can go to the BOI net banking portal and log in with your credentials. After you enter your user ID and password as well as the captcha code, you will be redirected to the dashboard. Here, you can view your account statement for any period.
How can I get my bank statement online without net banking? ›
Check Your Registered Email
- Access the inbox of your registered email account.
- Search the name of your bank in your inbox.
- Open the email containing these details, such as account statement or transaction summary.
- Download the attached file.
- Enter your password in a specific format as mentioned in the email.
Login into your net banking account, choose the account you want the statement for and the period, and then you will be provided with format options. You can select the PDF format and download the statement. How To Bank Statement Offline? Go to your nearest bank branch and request a statement for a specific period.
Is it hard to get a bank statement? ›
Banks are required to provide monthly bank statements for most checking, savings and credit card accounts. That means you probably don't have to do anything to get a bank statement: You should be receiving a paper or electronic statement automatically at the end of each billing cycle.
How do I request a bank statement by email? ›
Respected Sir/Madam, I would like to bring to your kind notice that, I am (Mention your name) maintaining a savings account. I have an account with your bank with the account number XXXXXXXXXXX5673, and I need a bank statement for the last six months (1/12/2021 to 1/05/2022).
Can I get bank statement from any branch? ›
Originally Answered: Can we get a bank statement from any branch? Typically Bank Statements are generated from one designated source, however you can visit any branch office of your bank and request they send you one or better yet go online, access your bank account, and print it right off your own computer.
Do banks charge for bank statements? ›
Paper Statement Fee
These days, it's common for banks to charge a fee if you receive paper statements in the mail.
Bank statements are generated by banks and financial institutions every month to deliver customers records of their overall financials. Individuals who own a checking or savings account in banks can access these statements online by visiting the bank website or via logging into their net banking portal.
What is the password for bank statement PDF? ›
Account Number and Birth Year: Many banks mix your account number and birth year. For example, they might take the first four digits of your account number and the last two digits of your birth year. If your account number is 9876543210 and you were born in 1990, your password could be 987690.
What is meant by bank statement? ›
A bank statement is an official document that summarizes your account activity over a certain period of time—typically one month. You'll find records of all transactions—both incoming and outgoing—so you know exactly what was going on with your funds during that period.
How long does it take to get a bank statement online? ›
Most banks have your statements instantly available, though it's possible you'll need to request to have the PDF emailed to you. In addition to downloadable PDF statements, the main page of your account should also list out your recent transactions in an account summary.
Can I use an online bank statement as proof? ›
Can I use an Online Statement as proof of address? Depending on the company you need it for, you might be able to use your Online Statement as proof of address. However, if the company won't accept a printed Online Statement, you can request a paper statement that will be sent to your home address.
Can you get a bank statement with your address online? ›
How do I get a bank statement? It's simple. If you aren't sent your statements by post, you can go to your online banking page, which will list out all of your statements. From there, you can download a PDF, or order a paper version by mail.
Can I go to the bank and request a bank statement? ›
A bank statement contains all of an account's transactions from a given statement period — usually a month. Many banks and credit unions allow you to view and download bank statements online or request a physical copy by mail or at a bank branch.
Can I get a bank statement from any branch? ›
Typically Bank Statements are generated from one designated source, however you can visit any branch office of your bank and request they send you one or better yet go online, access your bank account, and print it right off your own computer.
How do I retrieve old bank statements? ›
Ask the bank if they can provide the requested statements, and whether it will be via postal mail, email, or online download. There may be fees involved for retrieving and sending old statements. Ask for fee details and make sure to get any estimates in writing. Fees typically range from $5 to $50 per statement.
How can I get a bank statement without showing transactions? ›
To obtain a bank statement without the transaction history, you can contact your bank and ask for one. Depending on the bank, they may be able to provide you with a statement that only includes the information you require.
