Quick answer
Most people can download bank statements as PDFs from internet banking or the banking app, or ask the bank to issue them by phone or in branch. Lenders often ask for several months across every account, including savings, cards and business accounts. Leave extra time for older or closed accounts, which can take longer.
Key points
- Statements are usually downloadable from internet banking, and the bank can issue older ones on request.
- Lenders often want every account you hold, not just your main transaction account.
- Use the original statements and never edit them, because lenders can verify them.
- Joint, business and closed accounts may need extra steps and time.
- Some lenders accept secure bank data sharing under the Consumer Data Right, with your consent.
Why do lenders ask for bank statements?
Because statements show how your money really moves. Payslips and tax returns describe income, but statements show what lands in your account, what leaves, how regularly you pay your commitments and whether there are surprises. For a self-employed borrower, they can also support the story the tax return tells. Lenders use them to check income, test living expenses against what you declared, and look at savings patterns and any existing loans.
That is why a request for statements is normal, not a sign of suspicion. The good news is that most people can get them with a few clicks.
How do I get bank statements from internet banking or the app?
The exact menu names differ between banks, but the pattern is similar:
- Log in to internet banking or the app.
- Find the section called statements, documents, eStatements or account history.
- Choose the account and the date range or the monthly statements.
- Download each as a PDF and save them in a folder with a clear name.
- Repeat for every account the lender asked for.
Download the official statement rather than a transaction list copied into a spreadsheet. Lenders usually prefer the formatted statement that carries the bank’s name, your name, the account number and the period. If the app only shows a transaction history, look for a “statements” option, or ask the bank to send full statements.
What if I need older statements or cannot find them?
Banks can generally issue historical statements on request, though how far back you can self-serve online varies. Options include:
- A secure message through internet banking asking for statements for set months.
- A call to the bank’s customer service line.
- A visit to a branch, where staff can print or issue them.
Allow extra days for older records, and be aware that some banks charge for historical copies. If a lender wants certified or stamped statements, say so when you ask. Our guide on what documents you need for a loan explains how statements fit with the rest of the bundle.
Which accounts should I include?
Lenders often want to see everything that affects your finances. That can include:
- Your main transaction account.
- Savings and offset accounts.
- Credit card statements.
- Existing loan and mortgage statements.
- Business accounts, if you are self-employed or the loan relates to the business.
- Accounts held with other institutions.
Supplying only the tidy accounts can backfire, because the lender may spot money moving to an account they have not seen and then ask for it anyway. It is quicker to include them up front.
What about joint, business and closed accounts?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Joint account | Either holder can usually download statements, but a lender may want both borrowers’ consent and details. |
| Business account | The authorised signatory or account administrator downloads them, often from business internet banking. |
| Closed account | Contact the bank and ask for historical statements. Expect identity checks and more time. |
| Accounts at an old bank | Ask the bank directly. If you cannot log in, they can reset access after verifying you. |
| Offset or redraw account | Include the linked loan and the account statements together. |
For self-employed borrowers, lenders often compare business account activity with BAS and tax returns. Our bank statement business loans page and low doc loans page explain how statements can carry the load when full financials are not available.
Can I use open banking instead of PDFs?
Possibly. The Consumer Data Right allows you to share certain bank data securely with an accredited recipient, with your consent. Some lenders and brokers use that route to view transaction data without PDFs. It depends on the lender and the product, so ask your broker whether it is available. If you do use it, check what you are consenting to and for how long, and remember you can withdraw consent.
What mistakes should I avoid with bank statements?
- Editing or redacting. Never alter a statement. Lenders can verify documents with the bank, and altered ones can end an application. If something is private, discuss it first.
- Sending screenshots. Many lenders will not accept cropped images.
- Missing pages. A statement with a missing page looks incomplete.
- Forgetting small accounts. A lightly used card or savings account may still be requested.
- Leaving it to the last day. Closed or older accounts can take time.
- Making unusual transactions just before applying. Large unexplained transfers draw questions.
How do I get ready for questions about my statements?
Read your statements as the lender would. Look for:
- Regular income, and anything that looks like income but is not (transfers between your own accounts).
- Large one-off deposits or withdrawals.
- Repeated overdrawn or dishonour fees.
- Payments to other lenders or buy now pay later providers.
- Gambling, if any, which many lenders view closely.
A short note ahead of time explaining anything unusual is far better than a surprise. A broker can help you frame it plainly.
Who suits reading this guide?
- First-time applicants gathering documents.
- Self-employed borrowers whose statements support their income.
- Borrowers refinancing from an old bank.
- Business owners applying for finance on the strength of cash flow.
- Anyone asked by a lender for “all your accounts”.
How does Ownright help with documents?
We tell you exactly what a particular lender wants before you start gathering, so you do not collect six months of statements that only needed three, or miss the one account that matters. Trevor Scott and the team at Ownright Custom Finance in Knoxfield, Victoria, work Australia-wide with salary earners, self-employed borrowers and business owners. Where documents are limited, we look at self-employed home loans and low doc business loans that can rely on statements and other evidence. Our guide on proving income without payslips sets out the options.
A simple checklist
- Statements for every account the lender listed.
- Full PDF statements, not screenshots.
- Matching names and account numbers across documents.
- Closed or old accounts requested early.
- A short note about any unusual entries.
- Your broker’s confirmation of the period required.
For the full list, see how to get loan ready.
How recent do the statements need to be?
Lenders want fresh evidence. Documents that are a few weeks old are generally fine, but an application that drags on for months can mean the lender asks for an update. If your approval will run close to a settlement date, ask the lender or broker how long statements stay valid and whether updated ones will be needed before settlement. Keeping the same download routine each month, saving statements into a labelled folder, makes the second round painless.
Align the statements with the rest of your paperwork. If your payslips show a certain employer paying you on a particular day, the statements should show matching deposits. If your tax return shows business income, business account deposits should plausibly support it. Differences are not a disaster, but they invite questions, and it is better to have the explanation ready.
How should I name and organise the files?
A little order goes a long way. Many lenders upload documents through a portal, and clear file names make the assessor’s job simpler, which tends to speed things up. A tidy pattern might be:
- Bank name, account type, last four digits, then the month and year.
- One folder per account.
- A separate folder for the loan and card statements.
- A note listing which accounts you hold and where.
Keep the original PDFs and avoid merging pages from different accounts into one file. If the lender needs a combined PDF, your broker can tell you.
What about privacy and security?
Statements contain a lot of personal information, so treat them with care. Send them through the secure upload link your broker or lender provides rather than ordinary email where possible, and delete downloaded copies from shared devices once the application is done. If you use open banking under the Consumer Data Right, only share with accredited recipients you trust, check the data and period you are consenting to, and remember you can withdraw consent later.
If you are unsure whether a request is genuine, such as an unexpected message asking for statements, contact the lender or broker using a number you already know before sending anything.
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Frequently asked questions
How many months of bank statements do I need for a loan?
It varies by lender and loan type. Many ask for around three to six months of transaction accounts, and some ask for more, especially for self-employed or low doc applications. Your broker can confirm the period for the chosen lender, so it is worth checking before you gather everything.
Can I use screenshots from my banking app?
Often not. Lenders generally want full statements that show the account holder, the account number and the bank's details, not cropped screenshots. Download the PDF statements from internet banking where possible, or ask the bank to issue certified copies if the lender requires them.
How do I get statements for a closed account?
Contact the bank, say the account has closed and ask for historical statements. They may need identity verification and could take longer to produce them, and fees can apply for older records. Allow extra time and ask early, since the lender may want the account if it falls inside their review period.
What if my bank statements show things I would rather not share?
Lenders read statements to understand spending, income and commitments, and they may ask about anything that stands out. Do not edit or hide entries. A short honest explanation of anything unusual usually works better than a surprise, and a broker can help you present the file clearly.
What is open banking and can it replace statements?
Open banking runs under the Consumer Data Right, which lets you share certain bank data securely with an accredited recipient with your consent. Some lenders and brokers can use it instead of uploaded PDFs. Whether it is available depends on the lender and the product, so ask your broker.