Many banks — especially in India, the Gulf, Africa and parts of Asia — send statements by email as password-protected PDFs. The password keeps the statement private if the email is forwarded or intercepted. It also stops most PDF converters, which simply fail on a locked file.
Where to find the password
The password is almost never something you chose. Banks build it from your own details, and the email that carries the statement usually explains the format in a line such as “your password is…”. Common patterns:
- the first letters of your name followed by your date of birth (for example the first four letters in capitals and DDMM);
- your date of birth alone (DDMMYYYY);
- part of your customer ID, account number or registered mobile number;
- a combination of the above.
Read the email again — including the small print at the bottom — before guessing. If it says nothing, the bank’s website or customer service will tell you the format. Never send your statement to a “password remover” website you do not trust.
Opening it
Any PDF reader asks for the password when you open the file: Chrome, Edge, Adobe Acrobat Reader or the preview app on your phone. Once you type it, you can read and print the statement as usual.
Converting it to Excel without removing the protection
- Drop the protected PDF on StatementEasy.
- When it asks, type the password. It is used in your browser to open the file; it is only sent with the file if our server has to read it (for example a scanned statement), and it is never stored.
- Check the table and the balance check, then download Excel, CSV or an accounting format.
The original PDF stays protected on your computer. You do not need to create an unprotected copy first.
If the password does not work
- Check capital letters: many formats use the first letters of the name in capitals.
- Check the date format: DDMM, DDMMYY or DDMMYYYY.
- Use your name exactly as the bank has it, which may differ from how you write it (middle names, initials).
- Statements from a joint or business account may use the details of the main account holder or the company.
Common questions
Can you remove the password for me?
No — you need the password to open the file. That is the point of the protection. Once you have it, you can convert the statement directly.
Is a protected statement less useful for a lender or a visa?
Check what they ask for. Some organisations accept the protected file with the password sent separately; others ask for a stamped statement from the branch.