Bank connection errors are common in QuickBooks and strike with different error codes and messages. All these errors restrict access to the bank feeds necessary for several crucial financial operations. Some of the most common issues you may encounter syncing American Express in QuickBooks are as follows:
- Error message: ‘Have the authorized account holder provide authorization.’
- Transactions mismatching the expenses after manual upload.
- QuickBooks getting stuck with the ‘Reconnect my Account’ popup.
- Error message: ‘Something unexpected happened, and we couldn’t connect to your bank.’
- The American Express site is down for maintenance. Try connecting again in a few hours. (105)
- Finding missing transactions when reconciling the accounts.
- Sorry, we’ve run into a problem. QuickBooks is having trouble connecting to American Express Card – QBDT.
If you also find QuickBooks American Express not syncing, fret not. This guide will discuss the most common triggers that disrupt the bank’s connection with QuickBooks, resulting in different errors and solutions to tackle them easily.
Follow our comprehensive guide to address the QuickBooks American Express connection issues. However, if you don’t feel comfortable troubleshooting the issue on your own or face time constraints, contact our QB experts at 1(800) 780-3064 for immediate guidance.
Why is QuickBooks Not Syncing with American Express?
Before trying to fix the issues syncing QuickBooks with American Express, you must understand the reasons for a better troubleshooting approach.
QuickBooks Desktop
- Automatic bank feed updates are interrupting the connection between QB Desktop and AMEX.
- There are connectivity issues while manually uploading the bank transactions.
- The financial institution might be incorrect, or the directory might be outdated.
QuickBooks Online
- There are connectivity issues while syncing American Express in QuickBooks Online.
- Unchecked notifications, alerts, and security updates by the bank require you to perform certain operations before downloading the bank feeds.
- Excessively stored cookies and caches in the web browser.
- Your web browser is incompatible with QuickBooks.
These are the leading reasons your American Express is not syncing with QuickBooks. Let’s move to the next section and check out some prerequisites to sync American Express in QuickBooks.
Points to Consider Before Syncing AMEX with QuickBooks
The points below are crucial before syncing your American Express account in QuickBooks.
- Have the primary account holder secure authorization for the bank feeds setup process.
- Once you have the primary account holder’s credentials, ensure that QBDT is updated to the latest release.
- Lastly, create a backup of your company file to avoid data loss.
Once done, proceed with the troubleshooting solutions in the next section to fix issues with the American Express account in QuickBooks.
Solutions to Fix QB American Express Bank Feed Error in QuickBooks Desktop
The solutions below will help you fix the AMEX bank feed connection error in QuickBooks so that you can continue your financial operation without interruptions.
Solution 1 – Refresh the Connection between QuickBooks and American Express
To fix the syncing issues, you must reconnect using the Express Web Connect in QuickBooks Desktop. Before following the steps below, make sure to reconnect your accounts with the online banking services and review the affected AMEX accounts mentioned below-
If you using an American Express version older than 03/30/2023 –
- Choose American Express Card QBDT in Bank Feed Setup for Credit Cards, Charge Cards, and Checking accounts.
- Select American Express Delegate in Bank Feed Setup in the following cases-
- Only a Delegate User and Non-Account Holder with proper authority can connect accounts in Intuit’s products.
- If you need to link an account other than a Credit Card, Charge Card, or Checking account.
Once the affected accounts are reconnected, follow the next step and switch to Express Web Connect.
Step 1 – Prepare to Switch QBDT to Express Web Connect
The first step is to prepare to switch to Express Web Connect. For this, you can follow the detailed steps given below-
- Launch QuickBooks Desktop and then go to the File menu at the top.
- Select Utilities and click on Switch to Single-user mode.
- Further, choose Company, then click My Company, and sign in to Intuit if you haven’t already.
NOTE: If you haven’t signed in yet, you can create a new Intuit account or recover your user ID and password.
- Next, delete any pending online payments and checks.
- Lastly, add and match the previously downloaded bank feed transactions.
NOTE: After these changes, you will not be able to use Chase Bank, First USA, CardMember Services, Bank One, or Bank of America Bill Pay in QuickBooks Desktop. However, any scheduled or recurring payments you’ve already set up with Chase Bank, First USA, CardMember Services, or Bank One will continue until 9/27/2022. Moreover, any scheduled or recurring payment already set up with Bank of America will continue until 10/11/2022. Remember, if you’d like to continue to pay your bills within QBDT, you can set up QuickBooks Bill Pay powered by Melio.
Once this step is complete, move to the next section and turn off the bank feeds for your account.
Step 2 – Turn Off All Bank Feeds for Your Account
Before updating the bank feeds connection, you must turn off all related accounts to ensure no discrepancies. Don’t worry; these accounts will be set up again in the next step. To turn the bank feeds off, ensure that you match or delete all of the downloaded transactions for all the accounts, as QBDT won’t allow any changes if the transactions are pending. Then, follow the detailed steps given below-
QBDT for Windows
- Go to Lists and select Chart of Accounts, then right-click the account you want to turn off.
- Select Edit Account and then go to Bank Settings.
- Further, choose Deactivate all online services.
- Select OK, then click Save & Close to confirm the changes.
QBDT for Mac
- From the Lists menu, select Chart of Accounts.
- Highlight the account and select the Pencil icon to edit.
- Now, click on Online Settings.
- Select Download Transactions and then click on Not Enabled.
- Click OK to confirm the changes, then hit OK again to end the process.
Note: QB won’t be able to download new transactions after disconnecting your account.
Once done, move to the next section to set up an account for bank feeds.
Step 3 – Set Up an Account in QB for Bank Feeds
You need to set up your bank account in QBDT to download your bank transactions in the following manner-
- First, select Bank Feeds from the Banking menu and click Set Up Bank Feed for an Account.
- Now, enter the name of your bank, then hit Next.
Note: Use the updated bank name shown in the account reconnection required list above and then return here to complete the next steps.
- When the My Company sign-in page opens, sign in using your Intuit User ID and enter your online banking account information.
- Further, select Connect, and QB will connect to the bank’s server. Your bank might ask you to enter a one-time password.
- Choose the account you want to connect with QuickBooks, then hit Connect and click Close.
NOTE: Chase may launch an external browser and requires authentication. Once logged in, move back to QuickBooks Desktop.
Once the account is set up for bank feeds, move to the next step and download transactions with Express Web Connect.
Step 4 – Use Express Web Connect and Download Transactions
As the last step, you must download the transactions with Express Web Connect. The next time you use bank feeds, the latest transactions will be auto-downloaded. To download the transactions, implement the steps given below-
Note: After the setup is complete, you may see transactions from the previous day that you’ll need to review and categorize. Make sure to remove any duplicate transactions.
- Select Bank Feeds from the Banking menu, then choose Bank Feeds Center.
- Select the account you need to download, then click Download Transactions.
- Once the process is complete, select Transaction List to process the transactions.
NOTE: To view any connection/bank errors, select the Add Account dropdown (v) and then select Manage Accounts.
Now, rerun QuickBooks and try to sync American Express to check if the issue is fixed. If you cannot sync American Express to QuickBooks, move to the next troubleshooting solution.
Solution 2 – Update the Financial Institution Directory in QB Desktop
To ensure you have the latest info from your financial institution, you need to update the Financial Institution Directory (FiDir). Follow the steps provided below to update the FiDir in QuickBooks Desktop-
Step 1 – Setup Automatic Updates for the FiDir in QB
Firstly, ensure that QB is updated and you have created a backup copy of the company file. Then, follow the steps below to set automatic updates for the FiDir-
- Go to the Banking menu and select Bank Feeds. Then, choose Bank Feeds Center.
- Next, select Refresh account(s) or choose Sync all for this bank from the dropdown menu.
This will set up the updates automatically for your Financial Institution Directory. However, if you are still facing the same syncing issues, you can manually update each file location in the next section.
Step 2 – Manually Update Each File Location for Every QB Version
To manually update the FiDir, you must update each file location for every QB version you use. Implement the steps mentioned below to update the Financial Institutions list in QuickBooks manually-
- Find the fidir.txt file on your system by following the location path as per the QB version referred to below –
- QB Enterprise – C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions XXXX\Components\OLB\branding\filist
- QB Pro/Premier – C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions XXXX\Components\OLB\branding\filist
- Right-click fidir.txt, then select Rename and change .txt to .old.
- Click outside the field to save the name change, then select your QuickBooks version (year) to get the latest file.
- Save the file to your desktop and then right-click the fidir.txt file.
- Select Copy, open the filist folder, then right-click anywhere in the folder. Now, click Paste.
- Lastly, close and re-launch QuickBooks Desktop
Your Financial Institution list has been successfully updated. If you still find the QuickBooks American Express not syncing, move to the next solution and verify your FI’s website.
Solution 3 – Verify the Financial Institution’s Website
If QuickBooks cannot access the bank’s server or if the server is down, you might be forced to search ‘QuickBooks American Express not syncing 2024’. So, ensure your financial institution is correct, and the servers are accessible by following the steps below-
Step 1 – Link Your American Express Bank Account
You need to review the URL to ensure proper connection and link your bank account in the following manner-
- Ensure that the URL QuickBooks uses to connect to American Express is correct, then open QuickBooks.
- Further, go to the Bookkeeping section, choose Transactions, then select Bank Transactions.
- Next, select Link Account to connect to your bank. You don’t need an account; just add a link to your bank to connect.
- Choose American Express, copy the URL on the bank’s website, and log in to your account using the same URL.
Now, check if you can connect to your bank without any issues. Then, follow the steps in the next section to ensure you can download the transactions in QBDT.
Step 2 – Check for Pending Notification and Security Requirements
Once the account is linked, check for any pending notifications, announcements, security requirements, etc, by following the steps given below-
- Access your bank’s website and ensure you have no pending notifications, alerts, or messages.
- Next, check for any display issues. If there are any, QuickBooks might block the bank’s website from downloading the transactions.
- Lastly, make sure to check for any announcement of new security requirements. If there is, first review these announcements, notifications, or messages, then download the transactions.
When done, move back to QuickBooks Desktop and follow the next step.
Step 3 – Refresh the Bank Transactions in QB
As the last step, you need to refresh the bank feeds in QuickBooks Desktop by going through the following steps-
- Go to the Bookkeeping section, then select Transactions and choose Bank Transactions.
- Next, click the Refresh option.
Once done, check if your American Express account is syncing with QuickBooks Desktop without issues.
If you want to fix the American Express not syncing with QuickBooks issue in QuickBooks Online, follow the solutions mentioned in the next section.
Do This if QuickBooks Not Syncing with the American Express Issue in QBO
If your American Express is not syncing with QuickBooks Online, you can follow the troubleshooting solutions mentioned below-
Solution 1 – Check for Latest Notifications and Security Requirement Announcements
Sometimes, problems from the bank’s end can also lead to syncing issues. The bank requires you to complete the registration and refresh the connection between American Express and QuickBooks. You can sign in to the bank account and check for the latest notifications and alerts.
Additionally, check for any announcements related to security requirements. If you face any display or sign-in issues in the process, it can block QB from downloading the latest transactions. Also, if you have updated anything on your bank’s site, including your account number or credentials, make sure to update the same in QB by following the steps given below-
- Go to the Banking section from the left menu and select the Edit icon.
- Next, select Edit Sign-in Info and update the info to incorporate the latest changes.
NOTE: If you haven’t connected the account before, use the Bank’s URL in the search box.
Once the info is updated and the notifications are checked, rerun QBO and check if the QuickBooks American Express not syncing 2024 error is rectified. However, if the issue persists, reconnect your account to the next section.
Solution 2 – Reconnect Your Amex Business Account in QBO
The next solution is disconnecting and reconnecting your American Express account in QuickBooks Online. By doing this, you can eliminate any syncing issues that arise when the connection between QB and Amex is interrupted. Thus, follow the steps given below to reconnect the account-
Step 1 – Disconnect the American Express Account
Firstly, disconnect your American Express account from QuickBooks by implementing the steps given below-
- Go to the Transactions menu, then select Bank Transactions and mark the blue square for one of your American Express accounts.
- Next, select the Edit ✎ icon, then click Edit account info to access the Account window.
- Checkmark the Disconnect this account on the save box, then hit Save and Close to confirm.
This will disconnect your Amex account from QB Online banking. Once done, move to the next section and reconnect the account.
Step 2 – Connect the American Express Account Again
Now, reconnect the account in QuickBooks Online by going through the steps provided below-
- Go to the Transactions menu and then click on Bank Transactions.
- Since you’ve already connected the banking before, select Link account and search for one of the following accounts depending on your American Express account user type:
- If you’re a primary account holder, search for and select American Express Business Credit Card & Checking (US).
- If you’re a delegate user on a card account, search and select American Express (Delegate).
- Select Continue, then sign in with your American Express User ID and password in the pop-up window. If American Express requires additional security steps, follow the prompts on your screen.
- Now, choose one of the accounts you want to connect to QuickBooks Online.
- Choose the account type from the dropdown for each selected account, then select the Date Range for the download.
- Lastly, select Connect and let the account reconnect to QBO.
Once done, check if the “QuickBooks not syncing with American Express” issue is addressed. If not, move to the next solution to address the syncing issues.
Solution 3 – Connect to your American Express Account Using a Private Browser
You can log in to QBO in a private window and use your Amex account. This will help avoid any existing damaged or outdated cached files that might lead to syncing issues. To open your account in a private browser, follow these shortcuts-
- Google Chrome
- Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + N.
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + N
- Mozilla Firefox
- Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + P.
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + P..
- Microsoft Edge
- Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + P.
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + P.
- Safari
Mac: Press Command + Shift + N.
If you do not encounter issues while using a private browser, you should return to your regular browser and clear the cache files and data (see Solution 4 below). However, if you encounter issues while accessing the account in a private browser, you should try using another supported browser based on the QuickBooks system requirements. (see Solution 5 below).
Solution 4 – Clear the Web Browser’s Cache and Cookies
Cache data and cookies in your web browser can cause issues and interruptions while connecting with the bank account. When there is excessive cache present in the browser, it can lead to syncing issues between QBO and American Express. To address this issue, clear the cookies and cache as per your browser in the following manner-
Google Chrome-
- Open the Chrome browser, click the More icon at the top right corner, then select Clear Browsing Data.
- Further, select the time range to clear the cache, like the Last hour or All time.
- Select the data type you want to remove, then click Clear Data, and the cache will be cleared.
Firefox-
- Select the Menu button from the right corner, then choose the Settings tab.
- From the right menu bar, choose Privacy & Security, then move to the Cookies and Site Data section.
- Select Clear Data, then unmark the Cookies and Site Data checkbox.
- Once done, close the Settings page; the recent changes will be automatically saved.
Safari Mac-
- Choose History in the Safari app, then select Clear History and click on the pop-up menu.
- Choose the date range in which you want to clear the browsing history and let Safari remove the data.
Microsoft Edge –
- In the top corner of the Microsoft Edge browser, click on Settings and more, then select Settings.
- Click Privacy, Search, and Services, then move to the Clear Browsing Data section.
- Select Choose what to clear under the Clear Browsing Data Now section and select Time Range.
- You need to select the time range for the browsing data you want to clear and then choose the types of browsing data you wish to clear. For example, you may want to delete browsing history and cookies while keeping passwords and other data.
- Once done, click Clear Now, and the data will be removed.
Safari for iPad or iPhone-
- Open Settings on your iPad or iPhone, then select the Clear History and Website Data option.
- Further, clear your browsing history, cookies, and other data. Remember, clearing this data won’t make any changes to your Autofill information.
NOTE: If there is no history or website data to clear, the button will automatically turn gray. Remember, sometimes the button might also turn gray due to some set restrictions under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time.
Once done, rerun QBO, try syncing American Express again, and check the status of the “QuickBooks American Express not syncing” issue. If it persists, move to the next troubleshooting solution to resolve it.
Solution 5 – Use Another Supported Browser for QBO
You might need a compatible browser if you face issues accessing your account via a private browser. To ensure that the web browser you are using supports QuickBooks refer to the browser list below-
Note: These browsers are supported on both web and mobile devices; however, Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
- For Google Chrome, use the 78 version or newer.
- For Samsung, use version 10 or later.
- For Microsoft Edge, use the 79 version or newer.
- For Safari, use the 12 version or newer ( for Mac only).
- For Opera, use version 68 or newer
- For Mozilla Firefox, use version 76 or newer.
NOTE: The Firefox PDF plugin must preview and print forms on the Mac OS version.
Choose a supported browser to run QuickBooks Online, then try syncing American Express. If the issues persist, follow the next solution and manually upload the transactions in QBO.
Solution 6 – Manually Upload the Transactions into QBO
If none of the above solutions work and you are still facing issues syncing QB and American Express, you can try manually uploading the transactions by following the steps given below-
Step 1 – Find the Oldest Transaction Date
Firstly, pick a start date, as you need to know the date of the oldest transaction in the account to avoid duplicates.
- Select Chart of Accounts from the Settings tab and find the account to which you want to upload the transactions.
- Select View Register, then find the oldest transaction (which is usually the opening balance) and note down the date.
Once done, move to the next step and get the transactions from your bank.
Step 2 – Download the CSV Files to Get Transactions from your Bank
You need to download the CSV files of your transactions by following the detailed steps below-
- Sign in to your bank or credit card website, then follow the instructions to download CSV files of your transactions, as your bank or financial institution has instructed.
- Check the date range for the download, which should be at least one day before the date of your oldest transaction.
- Now, download your transactions, then save the file at an accessible location on the PC.
TIP: If your bank offers a few file formats, pick the QuickBooks Online data (QBO) format, which is specifically formatted for QuickBooks Online. Remember, you can also upload transactions from a CSV or Quicken (QFX) file.
Once the transactions are downloaded, review the file size and format in the next step.
Step 3 – Review the File Size and Format
You need to ensure that the downloaded files are in the correct format before uploading them. To review the file size and format, follow these steps –
- Ensure that the file size is not more than 350 KB. If it is, shorten the date range and download the transactions in smaller batches for big file sizes.
- Remove zeroes from the file and keep the cells blank.
- Fix transactions that display numbers in the Description column.
- Next, remove the word “amount” from the Credit or Debit column header.
- Make sure that all dates follow the same format (dd/mm/yyyy is the recommended format).
- If you’re a Mac user, save the file as a Windows CSV file.
- If your bank adds the day of the week in the Date column (for example, 20/11/2018 TUE), split the date and the day of the week into separate columns.
You can manually update the transactions in the next section once you follow these steps and the size and format are correct.
Step 4 – Manually Upload the Bank Transactions
Now, manually upload the bank transactions by going through the steps given below-
- Go to the Transactions tab, click Bank Transactions, and select the blue tile for the account into which you want to upload the transactions.
- Select the Link account dropdown, select Upload from File, and click Drag and Drop or select Files.
Note: If your account is not yet connected to online banking, click the Upload from File option.
- Select the file you downloaded from your bank, hit Continue, and access the QuickBooks account dropdown.
- Further, select the account you want to upload the transactions into and hit Continue.
Note: If you’re new to QuickBooks Online, you may not have an account to upload the transactions. In such a case, select Add New from the dropdown and create a new bank account.
- Follow the given steps to match the columns on the file with the correct fields, hit Continue, then select the transactions you want to import.
- Click Continue, select Yes, and hit Done to end the process.
After this step, you will have successfully uploaded the transactions. Then, you can move to the final step below to categorize and reconcile them.
Step 5 – Categorize and Reconcile the Transactions
Now that your transactions are in QuickBooks, the next step is to match and categorize them. After you review the bank transactions, they go into your accounts. QBO also automatically enters certain details if you set up any banking rules or if there are transaction descriptions.
Lastly, reconcile the transactions you uploaded to ensure that all transactions are recorded correctly in QuickBooks.
Conclusion
Follow this troubleshooting guide to address the QuickBooks American Express not syncing issue. If these solutions are ineffective or you are stuck in the process, you can get professional guidance from our support team. So, dial 1(800) 780-3064 and connect with the team of professionals. The team can handle this issue on your behalf in no time.
FAQs
1. What does the “QuickBooks Desktop American Express not syncing” issue imply?
The “QuickBooks American Express not syncing” issue indicates problems between Amex and your bank. This occurs when there are connection issues, and the bank is unable to work simultaneously with American Express to produce real-time results.
2. Why is QuickBooks not syncing with Amex?
Your QuickBooks might not be syncing with American Express due to the following reasons-
1. There are connectivity issues, and the connection between QB and Amex is interrupted.
2. Some 3rd party software might interfere with the browser while syncing Amex with QuickBooks Online.
3. There are incompatibility issues with the web browser.
4. Excessive cache and cookies in the browser can be another reason for syncing issues.
5. The financial institution might be incorrect, and the Financial Institution Directory might be outdated while you connect American Express to QuickBooks Desktop.
3. How do you reconcile credit cards in QuickBooks?
To successfully reconcile a credit card in QuickBooks, follow the steps mentioned below –
1. Go to the Gear icon, then select Reconcile and choose the account you want to reconcile from the Account dropdown menu.
2. Review the Beginning Balance, then enter the Ending Balance and Ending Date on your statement.
3. Lastly, once you’re ready to start, tap on Start Reconciling.
4. Does Intuit QuickBooks accept American Express?
Yes, Intuit accepts American Express cards as a payment method. You can link the American Express card to your QB account to track expenses, manage finances, and reconcile transactions. Through this integration, Intuit ensures that accounting processes are streamlined for businesses that use Amex cards for transactions.
5. How can I reconcile discrepancies in QuickBooks?
To reconcile discrepancies in QuickBooks, you can run a discrepancy report in the following manner –
1. Go to the Reports menu, then select Banking, and click on Reconciliation Discrepancy.
2. Choose the appropriate account, then select OK to confirm. You now have a list of transactions that were changed since the last reconciliation, and you can use this report to identify the transaction/s causing the issue.
3. If you find a discrepancy, note the transaction date and the Entered/Last Modified date, which will tell you when the discrepancy occurred.
Gabby Taylor, combines financial expertise with literary prowess. With over a decade in finance, she crafts insightful narratives on navigating fiscal complexities