Troubleshooting steps for Online Banking

Detailed Instructions:

Verify you are on the latest release of QuickBooks. If not click here to Update QuickBooks to the latest release. This update will include the most current Financial Institution (FI) list.

1.    Exit Online Banking Setup.

2.    Verify the Account is not setup for Online Banking:
   1. Select the account that you want to verify.
   2. Select the Edit menu and then select Edit Account > Online Info.
   3. Verify that the name of the financial institution for the account is correct and the information in the Customer ID field exactly matches the information provided by your financial institution.
   4. Verify that the information in the Routing Number and Account Number fields is correct and is entered without dashes.
   5. Verify that the account type is correct (Checking, Savings, etc.) and that it is configured for Online Access only at this point.
   6. Attempt your download again in the Online Banking Center.
   7. If the problem persists, create a new QuickBooks company file following the steps outlined above.
   8. Set up an account in the new file for online access with the account information from your live company file and attempt the download.
   9. If the download is successful, the account is set up correctly on your financial institution's server.
  10. If the error persists in this new file, contact your financial institution to verify that your online account information matches the information configured on their server.

3.    To remove the lightning bolt, edit the account:
a.    Select the Lists menu and select Chart of Accounts.
b.    Select the account and click the Account button > Edit Account.
c.    Click the Online Services tab and select Deactivate All Online Services.
d.    Click Save & Close.

4.    Verify no Online Services tab:
a.    Select the Lists menu and select Chart of Accounts.
b.    Select the account and click the Account button > Edit Account.
c.    Verify the only tab displayed is the General tab.
If an Online Services tab is also displayed, this account is damaged and will need to be merged into a new account.

5.    Create a new account:
a.    Select the Lists menu and select Chart of Accounts.
b.    Select the suspect damaged account and click the Account button and select Edit Account.
Make note of all the information on both the General and Online Services tabs for later use, and click Cancel.
c.    Click Account and select New.
d.    Select Bank and click Continue.
e.    Enter the Account Name with a slight change from the original account name.
f.    Enter the same Bank Acct. No., and Routing Number as the original account, and click Save & Close.
g.    Click No to Set Up Online Services.
h.    Select the original bank account and click Account and select Edit Account.
i.    Change the Account Name to match the new bank account just created.
j.    Click Yes on the message to merge the account.
k.    From Chart of Accounts, select the new account and click Accounts and select Edit Account.
l.    Change the account name back to the original name and click Save & Close.

If the issue does not stem from an inactive account or incorrect account information, your file may have data integrity issues

Run the QuickBooks Verify Data utility. If problems are detected with your data, then Run the Rebuild Data utility .
Try to download your online banking information again. If you continue to receive the error message, proceed to Step 3.
Run the Verify Data utility a second time.
Find and review the qbwin.log file. Look for the following message: LVL Error--Orphan payee found in online cache. If running the Rebuild Data utility a second time does not repair all instances of this error message, you will need to contact Intuit Data Services to arrange to have your file repaired manually.
If an account in your company file was deleted while still enabled for online access, you will need to contact Intuit Data Services to arrange to have your file repaired manually.

10 Tips to use Online Banking

1. Backup Before Downloading.

2. Download Before Reconciling.

3. Understand File Types for Download. There are 2 types of files that can be downloaded:

A Web-Connect file, which is a fancy way of saying .qbo. This is the ideal type. Try to get one of these whenever you can. Also, if you switch banks, make sure your new bank offers this type.
A .iif file. Intuit Import Interchange Files can be used as well. I prefer the .qbo's since they are specific to QB online banking, but an .iif can be used as well.
Banking transactions cannot be imported into QuickBooks Online Banking with an Excel file.

4. Have Only One QuickBooks Online Banking Window Open.

5. Understand Your Connection. There are two ways QuickBooks downloads transactions:

    * The first way is through a "Web-Connect." The internal QB web browser opens and takes you to the financial institution's website. Sign into your account, and navigate to the place where you can download transactions. Normally you will download a small file to somewhere on your computer, then import it into QB via the file menu. Sometimes a .iif file is offered; try to get a .qbo file if you can.
    * The second way is a direct connection. QB asks for your password, then downloads transactions directly, without opening the QB web browser.

6. Make a 'QB Downloads Folder' for Your Desktop. Setting up and using a QB Downloads folder makes it easy to remember where you downloaded the files. Download them to this folder, then from the File menu, choose them to be imported.
After the import is finished, go back to the folder and throw the file away. You don't want to accidentally import it again.

7. Upgrade Before Sunset. Intuit has really done a fabulous job making bookkeeping and financial reporting about as easy as it can get. They can't support their products forever, so they must 'sunset' older products. This means that they no longer offer support or services for them.

8. Correct Dates for Download. If your financial institution uses the "web-connect" described above, it may or may not keep track of the last date you downloaded. If yours does not, you'll have to try to remember the last time you downloaded. A good rule of thumb is to download each time you receive a statement, and use the statement dates a guide. If you accidentally overlap dates, you will download transactions twice.

9. Match and/or Enter Transactions Correctly.
Note: QuickBooks uses the following when matching Online Banking transactions:

    * Amount
    * Number
    * Payee
    * Date

10. Be Careful about Deleting the QuickStatement.