How to Get a Bank Statement: Online, App, Branch, Phone, or Mail
The quickest way to get a bank statement is to download it from your bank’s website or app. Log in, open the section called Statements or Statements & Documents, choose the account and month, and download the PDF. You can also get statements at a branch, by phone, or by mail.
Not sure what a statement includes or why someone wants one? Start with what a bank statement is.
1. Download it from online banking
- Go to your bank’s website by typing the address or using a bookmark, not by clicking a link in an email or text message.
- Log in and find the statements section. At most large banks it’s called Statements & Documents, Documents, or eStatements, and it may sit under a main menu, an Accounts tab, or your profile.
- Choose the account and the statement period.
- Open the statement and download or save the PDF.
The PDF is the same document the bank would mail you. Save it with a clear file name, such as the account name and month, so you can find it later.
2. Use your bank’s mobile app
Most banking apps have the same statements section, often under a menu, your profile, or a “More” tab. You can usually open a statement as a PDF and save, print, or share it from your phone. If you need several statements at once, the website is often faster.
For step-by-step instructions at specific banks, see our guides for Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC, and Chime.
3. Visit a branch
Bring a government-issued photo ID and your account number if you have it. Branch staff can usually print recent statements or order copies of older ones. If you need activity from the current period, ask whether they can print a list of recent transactions or an interim statement. Not every bank offers this, and online-only banks have no branches.
4. Call customer service
Use the phone number on the back of your debit card or on the bank’s official website. After verifying your identity, an agent can usually mail you a copy or explain how to request one online. Mailed copies take time. Bank of America, for example, says paper statement copies are mailed 7 to 10 business days after you request them.
5. Get paper statements by mail
If you’d rather receive paper statements, change your delivery preference in online banking or ask your bank. Paper statements are mailed after each statement period closes. Some banks charge for them. PNC, for example, says a fee may be assessed if you choose paper statements. Check your account’s fee schedule.
How far back can you get bank statements online?
It depends on the bank and the type of account. Here’s what several banks’ help pages said in October 2026:
| Bank | Statements available online |
|---|---|
| Chase | Up to 7 years, depending on the account type |
| Bank of America | Its pages mention both 18 months and up to 7 years; copies going back 7 years can be ordered |
| Wells Fargo | Up to 7 years for deposit accounts, 2 years for credit cards, 12 months for auto loans |
| PNC | Up to 7 years for checking and savings, 4 years for credit cards |
| Chime | No limit stated in its help center |
These limits change, so check your own bank’s help pages. If you need a statement older than what’s online, request a copy.
How to get older bank statements
- Look for a request option online. Some banks let you order older copies from the statements section. Bank of America, for example, has a Request statements option for copies up to seven years old.
- Call or visit a branch. Say which account and which months you need.
- Ask about fees first. Some banks provide copies for free, especially electronic ones. Others charge per statement or for research time.
- Allow time. Electronic copies may take a day or two, and mailed copies a week or more.
Banks don’t keep statements forever, and a statement from many years ago may no longer be available. The simplest protection is to download each statement when it arrives and keep your own copies.
Official statement vs transaction history or printout
Not every document that lists your transactions is a bank statement:
| Document | What it is | Accepted as a bank statement? |
|---|---|---|
| Official statement | A PDF or paper statement for one closed period, with beginning and ending balances | Yes |
| Transaction history | The live activity list in online banking, which may include pending items | Usually not |
| Activity download | A CSV, Quicken, or QuickBooks file of your transactions | No |
| Screenshot | A picture of your banking app | Usually not |
| Bank letter | A signed letter confirming facts such as your current balance | No, but it can supplement one |
When someone asks for bank statements, send the official PDFs, complete and unchanged. Editing a statement, even to fix what looks like a small detail, is fraud. If you need proof of your balance between statements, ask your bank for a letter.
Can you get a statement for the current month?
Not usually. A statement is created after its period closes, so this month’s statement won’t exist until the closing date passes. If you need something sooner, you have a few options:
- Download your transaction history for the dates you need, keeping in mind that it isn’t an official statement.
- Ask a branch whether it can print an interim statement or a list of recent transactions.
- Ask for a bank letter confirming your current balance, if that’s what the requester really needs.
Check with the person asking before you choose one, since landlords and lenders don’t all accept the same documents.
Statements for a closed account
Closing an account doesn’t erase its records, but online access may end soon after. Wells Fargo, for example, says statements for a closed account may stay available online for about 90 days, and PNC says online statement history may not be available for closed accounts.
- Before you close an account, download every statement you might need.
- After it’s closed, call or visit the bank with the account number and the dates you need. Fees may apply.
- If your bank merged with another bank, contact the bank that took over the accounts.
Turn your statement into a spreadsheet
Statements usually come as PDFs, which are hard to sort or total. Our converter reads a PDF statement and exports the transactions to Excel or CSV. If your bank gave you a QuickBooks (.qbo) download instead, our QBO to CSV converter turns it into a spreadsheet.