> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pluvel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Bank Reconciliation
> Reconcile bank accounts efficiently.
Reconciliation is how you prove the books match reality. The bank says $47,832.16. Your books say $47,832.16. Everything ties. Client is happy. Auditor is happy. You're happy.
When they don't match, you've got work to do.
## How reconciliation works in Pluvel
Pull the ending balance from the bank statement. This is your target number.
Transactions in your books get compared against what the bank shows. Matches are marked automatically.
Matched transactions get a checkmark. Cleared means "yes, the bank agrees this happened."
Unmatched items need your attention. Something's in your books that isn't at the bank, or vice versa.
When your adjusted book balance equals the statement balance, you're reconciled. Lock it and move on.
## Starting a reconciliation
1. Open the client
2. Go to **Banking → Reconciliation**
3. Select which account (checking, savings, credit card)
4. Enter statement ending date
5. Enter statement ending balance
6. Click **Start Reconciliation**
You'll see a list of transactions and a running difference at the top. Your job: get that difference to \$0.00.
## The reconciliation screen
| Section | What you're looking at |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Statement balance** | The number from the bank statement |
| **Book balance** | What your records say as of that date |
| **Cleared balance** | Sum of transactions you've marked as cleared |
| **Difference** | What's left to figure out — your target is \$0.00 |
| **Transaction list** | Individual items to clear or investigate |
## Clearing transactions
### Auto-matching
Pluvel automatically clears transactions when:
* Exact amount and date match
* Amount matches with date within a few days
* Same recurring transaction you've matched before
These show green checkmarks. They're done.
### Manual clearing
For items that didn't auto-match:
1. Find the transaction in the list
2. Check the box next to it
3. Watch the difference update
If a transaction clears at the bank but shows a different date in your books, that's fine. Clear it anyway. Minor date discrepancies are normal.
### Bulk clearing
Got 50 small transactions that all match? Select them all and clear in one click. Don't process them individually.
## When things don't match
### Transaction in your books, not at the bank
Common reasons:
* **Timing** — Check written but not cashed yet. Leave it uncleared.
* **Error** — You recorded something that didn't happen. Delete or void it.
* **Duplicate** — Same thing entered twice. Mark one as duplicate.
For timing differences, don't stress. They'll clear next month when the check gets cashed.
### Transaction at the bank, not in your books
You're missing something:
* **Bank fee** — Add an expense for "Bank Service Fees"
* **Interest** — Add income for "Interest Earned"
* **Client spent money you don't know about** — Send them a question
Click **Add Transaction** directly from the reconciliation screen to create missing entries without losing your place.
### Amount differences
Same transaction, different amounts. Research which is right:
* Check the actual receipt or invoice
* Ask the client what it was supposed to be
* Look for transposition errors ($85 vs $58)
Fix the amount in your books to match reality.
## Reconciliation adjustments
Sometimes you end up with a small difference that you can't track down:
| Difference | What to do |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Under \$1.00** | Write off to "Bank Adjustments" — not worth more research time |
| **\$1-10** | Spend 5 minutes looking. If you can't find it, adjust. |
| **Over \$10** | Keep digging. Something's wrong. |
To make an adjustment:
1. Click **Add Adjustment**
2. Enter amount and category (usually "Bank Adjustments" or "Reconciliation Differences")
3. Add a note explaining what you tried
4. The adjustment closes the gap
These should be rare. If you're adjusting every reconciliation, there's a systemic problem.
## Completing the reconciliation
When difference shows \$0.00:
1. Click **Complete Reconciliation**
2. Add any notes for the record
3. Confirm
What happens:
* All cleared transactions are locked
* The reconciliation is recorded with timestamp and your name
* Those transactions can't be edited without unreconciling
## Reconciliation history
View past reconciliations in **Banking → Reconciliation → History**.
Each one shows:
* Statement date and balance
* How many transactions were cleared
* Any adjustments made
* Who completed it
* When
This is your audit trail. When a client asks "was January reconciled?" you can point to the record.
## Unreconciling (when you must)
Found an error after completing? You can undo:
1. Go to reconciliation history
2. Click the reconciliation you need to fix
3. Click **Unreconcile**
This reopens all transactions from that period. They can be edited again. Only do this if you have a real error — not just to tweak something minor.
## Multi-account tracking
For clients with several accounts, track status in one place:
| Account | Last reconciled | Status |
| ------------------ | --------------- | --------- |
| Operating Checking | Jan 31 | ✓ Current |
| Savings | Jan 31 | ✓ Current |
| Credit Card | Dec 31 | ⚠️ Behind |
| Payroll Account | Jan 31 | ✓ Current |
The yellow warning means you're a month behind. Catch up before it becomes two months.
View this in **Banking → Reconciliation → Overview** or on the firm dashboard for all clients.
## Best practices from people who do this all day
**Reconcile monthly, religiously.** Two months behind is twice as hard. Three months is a nightmare.
**Use statement dates.** Reconcile to the actual statement ending date, not today's date.
**Document adjustments.** When you make an adjustment, note what you tried before giving up.
**Watch for patterns.** If the same type of discrepancy keeps appearing, fix the root cause.
**Clear the prior month first.** Don't start February's reconciliation until January is complete.
Reconciliation done? Time to close the month.