
Understanding your bank statements is a crucial step in creating an accurate profit and loss statement. A bank statement typically includes all transactions, such as deposits and withdrawals, over a specific period.
To prepare a profit and loss statement, you'll need to analyze your bank statements. This involves identifying all income and expenses, including cash transactions.
A comprehensive profit and loss statement should include all sources of income, including business sales, investments, and any other revenue-generating activities.
Definition: What Is a Bank Statement
A bank statement is a document that shows all the transactions that have taken place on a bank account over a specific period of time, typically a month. This includes deposits, withdrawals, and any fees charged by the bank.
It's usually generated by the bank and sent to the account holder, either electronically or through the mail.
A bank statement can be used to reconcile the account balance, which is the total amount of money in the account, with the bank's records to ensure accuracy.
It's an essential tool for managing finances, helping individuals and businesses keep track of their income and expenses.
Understanding Bank Statement Structure
A bank statement typically includes a list of transactions, such as deposits and withdrawals, which can be categorized as either income or expenses.
The statement may also show a balance at the end of the statement period, which can be used to reconcile the account.
A bank statement usually includes a date range, which can help you identify the transactions and balance for a specific period.
This date range can be used to match the transactions on your bank statement with your own records, such as your profit and loss statement.
By understanding the structure of a bank statement, you can more easily identify and categorize income and expenses.
What Is the Purpose of a Bank Statement
A bank statement is a financial document that provides a clear picture of a person's or business's income and expenses.
It's a crucial tool for lenders, landlords, and credit providers to assess a client's financial situation and make informed decisions.
Bank statements show how much someone earns and how they spend their money, which helps lenders and credit providers understand their financial stability.
This is particularly important for businesses, as their income can vary greatly depending on their operations and investments.
Lenders use bank statements to verify a client's income stream, which is known as bank statement income verification.
Structure of the Bank Statement
A bank statement typically includes a heading section that displays the bank's name, your account number, and the account type.
The account summary section provides a breakdown of your account balance, including the current balance, available balance, and minimum balance requirements.
Your statement will also include a transaction history section that lists all the transactions made on your account, including deposits, withdrawals, and payments.
Each transaction is recorded with a unique transaction number, date, and time of the transaction.
The statement may also include a list of pending transactions, which are transactions that have been authorized but not yet processed.
Your bank statement will also display any fees or charges that have been applied to your account, such as overdraft fees or maintenance fees.
The statement will also show any interest earned on your account, as well as any interest rates that are applicable to your account.
Example Statement
An example of a profit and loss statement, also known as a P&L statement, is a financial statement that summarizes the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specified period. This statement is typically prepared using the cash method or accrual method of accounting.
The P&L statement includes main categories such as Revenue (or Sales), Cost of Goods Sold (or Cost of Sales), Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expenses, Marketing and Advertising, Technology/Research & Development, Interest Expense, Taxes, and Net Income.
Here are the main categories found on a typical P&L statement:
- Revenue (or Sales)
- Cost of Goods Sold (or Cost of Sales)
- Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expenses
- Marketing and Advertising
- Technology/Research & Development
- Interest Expense
- Taxes
- Net Income
The P&L statement provides an in-depth look at a company's financial performance, and when used together with the balance sheet and the cash flow statement, it provides a comprehensive view of a company's overall financial health.
Key Components of a Bank Statement
A bank statement is a detailed document that provides a clear picture of your financial activities. It's usually a multi-page document.

The key components of a bank statement include the bank's logo and address, which are usually located at the top of the first page. This helps identify the bank and its contact information.
Your account information, such as your account number and account type, are typically listed at the top of the statement as well. This information helps the bank verify your identity and ensures you're looking at the correct account.
The statement date and period covered are usually listed prominently, indicating when the statement was generated and what time frame it covers. This information is crucial for reconciling your account and identifying any discrepancies.
Transaction details, including deposits, withdrawals, and transfers, are listed in a clear and easy-to-read format. Each transaction includes the date, amount, and description of the transaction, making it easy to track your financial activities.
The statement also includes a balance column, which shows the available balance in your account after each transaction. This helps you keep track of your account balance and identify any overdrafts or low balances.
The bank statement may also include a section for fees and charges, which outlines any fees or charges associated with your account. These fees can include maintenance fees, overdraft fees, and other charges.
The statement may also include a section for account activity, which provides a detailed breakdown of your account activity, including deposits, withdrawals, and transfers. This section can help you identify any suspicious activity or discrepancies in your account.
Analyzing Bank Statements

Bank statement income verification is the process of checking a person's or business's income stream through their bank statements. This helps lenders, landlords, and credit providers make informed decisions about loans or renting property.
The process involves a thorough check of basic details such as the account number, name, address, and dates on the bank statement. This ensures that the context and personal information are correct and valid.
Auditors review past transactions to check whether income is being used appropriately and if there are any signs of financial insecurity, like the lack of savings or safety nets. This is crucial in assessing the financial stability of an individual or business.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the bank statement income verification process:
How to Analyze a Bank Statement
Analyzing a bank statement can seem like a daunting task, but it's actually quite straightforward. You need to start by checking the basic information on the statement, such as the account number, name, address, and dates.

This is often referred to as the Basic Information Inspection, and it's essential to get this right. You can't verify income without knowing who the account belongs to and what the account details are.
Next, you'll want to error check and account reconcile the statement. This means looking for any miscalculations or discrepancies in the account. It's like balancing your checkbook, but on a much larger scale.
Error checking and account reconciliation is crucial in verifying income. It helps to confirm the accuracy of the financial data and ensures that everything adds up.
As you review the statement, you'll also want to look at past transactions. This is where you can see how income is being used and if there are any signs of financial insecurity, such as a lack of savings or safety nets.
Transaction review is a critical step in analyzing a bank statement. It helps to identify any red flags that may indicate financial difficulties.
Fraud detection is also an important part of analyzing a bank statement. Auditors look for signs of a fake statement, such as discrete alterations or attempts to inflate income.

Some common signs of a fake statement include:
- Discrete alterations in the statement
- Attempts to inflate income
Finally, you'll want to assess the consistency and stability of the income. This involves looking at regular income patterns and comparing them over different months or even years.
Consistency and stability analysis is the final step in analyzing a bank statement. It helps to confirm whether the income is reliable and consistent.
By following these steps, you can analyze a bank statement and get a clear picture of a person's or business's financial situation.
Managing Costs Efficiently
Analyzing your bank statements can help you manage costs efficiently.
Comparing your current numbers to those of a prior period can show you whether certain expenses are growing faster than expected.
Looking at a comparative profit and loss statement can reveal surprising trends. For example, if revenues increase by 20% from the prior year, but office supplies expenses are up 75%, you want to figure out why.
You should regularly review your bank statements to catch any unexpected expenses early.
If office supplies expenses are increasing at a much faster rate than revenues, it may be worth investigating the cause, such as a change in supplier or a new office equipment purchase.
Bank Statement Types and Verification

Bank statements are a crucial document for financial verification, and there are several types of income that should be included. Employment income, which is the main source of income for most people, is the most straightforward to highlight. However, other types of income such as self-employment income, investment income, government benefits, and other sources like royalties or alimony should also be shown.
To verify income through bank statements, lenders, landlords, and credit providers follow a consistent process. This involves inspecting basic information, checking for errors and account reconciliation, reviewing transactions, detecting fraud, and analyzing consistency and stability.
Here are the different types of income that should be shown:
- Employment Income: Income from a regular job.
- Self-employment Income: Income from freelance work, consulting, or running your own business.
- Investment Income: Earnings from stocks, bonds, real estate rentals, or other investments.
- Government Benefits: Regular government pensions or one-time welfare benefits.
- Other Sources: Income from royalties, alimony, or other consistent revenue streams.
Types of Bank Statements
There are several types of bank statements, each serving a specific purpose. The most common type is the monthly statement, which is typically issued at the end of each month.
A monthly statement shows the account holder's transactions for the past month, including deposits, withdrawals, and balance. It's essential for account holders to review their statements regularly to detect any discrepancies.

Another type of statement is the periodic statement, which can be issued at any frequency, such as quarterly or annually. This type of statement is useful for account holders who want to review their transactions less frequently.
A detailed statement, also known as a mini statement, shows a condensed version of the account holder's transactions for a specific period. It's usually used for quick reference or to verify transactions.
Some banks also offer online statements, which can be accessed through the bank's website or mobile app. This type of statement is convenient for account holders who want to view their transactions on the go.
Bank Verification Works
Bank verification works through a series of steps that ensure the accuracy and authenticity of financial information. These steps include Basic Information Inspection, Error Checking and Account Reconciliation, Transaction Review, Fraud Detection, and Consistency and Stability Analysis.
A thorough check of basic details such as account number, name, address, and dates on the bank statement is the first step in the verification process. This step ensures that the context and personal information are correct and valid.

Error checking and account reconciliation are critical steps in verifying income through bank statements. This involves looking for any unintended errors, like miscalculations, and ensuring that the checks and balances in the account match up.
Transaction review is crucial in verifying income through bank statements. This step checks whether income is being used appropriately and if there are any signs of financial insecurity, like the lack of savings or safety nets.
Fraud detection is a critical step in verifying income through bank statements. Auditors look for signs of characteristics of a fake bank statement, such as discrete alterations in the statement or attempts to inflate income.
The final step in verifying income through bank statements involves assessing the consistency and stability of the income. Auditors look for regular income patterns and compare them over different months or even years.
Here's a summary of the verification process:
Frequently Asked Questions
How to create a P&L from bank statements?
To create a Profit & Loss (P&L) statement from bank statements, start by selecting a reporting period and gathering all relevant financial information, then follow the standard steps of calculating revenue, COGS, expenses, and net income. This process will help you accurately track your business's financial performance and make informed decisions.
Why does my profit and loss not match my bank statement?
Unmatched downloaded bank transactions can cause errors in your Profit and Loss reports. Find and delete duplicates to ensure accurate financial reporting
Sources
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/accounting/profit-and-loss-statement-pl/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/plstatement.asp
- https://www.munich-business-school.de/en/l/business-studies-dictionary/financial-knowledge/pl
- https://www.docuclipper.com/blog/bank-statement-income-verification/
- https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/reports/profit-and-loss-report
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