How Can I Download Download QIF Transactions to Quicken?

Question: How Can I Download Download QIF Transactions to Quicken?

This method of downloading transactions to Quicken will work for any financial institution that provides QIF downloads. Quicken will only import QIF files to cash accounts and asset and liability accounts. Set up your account as a cash account to download and import transactions using QIF as described in this tutorial.

Answer: Downloading QIF transactions to a Quicken cash account is a two step process. First you must download and save a file from your financial institution, then you must import that file into the correct cash account in Quicken.

While it is preferable to use Quicken's automatic transaction download features to save time, if you must import a QIF file and your account is set up as a cash account in Quicken, here is how you get your data from your financial institution and into Quicken.

• If your financial institution later offers QFX downloads for Quicken, create a new Quicken (checking, credit card, etc.) account using Quicken Express Online Setup. After your transactions are downloaded to the new account you confirm that your account balance is correct in Quicken, delete the cash account created here for QIF downloads.

1. Log on to your financial institution's web site and follow their directions for downloading your transactions as a QIF file.
2. Select any options your FI provides for downloading transactions, such as a date range.
3. If you see a message that says the QIF file is for use with Microsoft Money, ignore it.

4. Save the QIF file to your computer, preferably to your desktop so you can easily find it and import it into Quicken.

Now that you have downloaded your transactions, you must import the transactions into your Quicken account.

1. In Quicken, select the account you want to import the transactions to in the account bar or the account list (Cash Flow/Cash Accounts/Select account).

2. Click on File/Import/QIF file.

3. The QIF import window opens. Click on browse.

4. Click on the box next to Look in: to find the QIF download. If you saved the file to your desktop, click on Desktop (may need to scroll up or down to find Desktop) and select the file. Click OK.
5. Ensure that box next to Quicken account to import into: is the account you want to import transactions into.
   For Include in import, select Transactions. You may also select any of the other options as well:
   • Memorized Payees - include items from the Memorized Payee List.
   • Account List - include items from the Account List.
   • Special handling for transfers - if you've exported to several QIF files from a number of Quicken accounts in the same file and are using Import to re-create all the transactions by importing from several QIF files. This choice prevents duplicate transfer transactions when you import data from both the to and from accounts involved with transfers.
   • Category List - include items from the Category List.
   • Security Lists - include items from the Security List and the Security Prices List.
   • If you've purchased Quicken Home & Business, select the Business lists check box to include items from the Invoice Items List and the Business Templates List.

6. Click Next to complete the import.

Transactions will now be imported into your Quicken cash account and you can delete the QIF file from your desktop.