Dealing with Xero bank feed issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re trying to keep your business finances up to date. Let’s dive into why these feeds might stop working and how to get them flowing again.
Why Bank Feeds Stop Working
Bank feeds can break for several reasons, but the most common culprits I’ve seen in my years of working with Xero are security updates from banks, expired consent agreements, and changes in banking credentials. Think of it like your Netflix subscription suddenly stopping because your credit card expired – it’s usually a connection or authorization issue rather than something wrong with the service itself.
Common Symptoms
• Feeds showing as “error” in your Xero dashboard
• Transactions stopped importing several days ago
• Error messages about authentication
• Bank feed appearing as “disconnected”
Quick Fixes to Try First
Before diving into more complex solutions, let’s start with the basics. I always tell my clients to first check if they’ve received any emails from their bank about security updates or required actions. Often, the solution is as simple as re-authorizing the connection.
Step-by-Step Resolution
1. Log into your Xero account
2. Go to Accounting > Bank Accounts
3. Look for any accounts with red error messages
4. Click on the problematic account
5. Follow the prompts to reconnect
When Direct Feeds Break Down
If you’re using a direct feed (where your bank connects directly to Xero), sometimes the issue lies with the bank’s API. I’ve seen this happen particularly after banks update their security protocols. In these cases, you might need to:
1. Remove the current connection
2. Wait 24 hours
3. Set up a fresh connection
Working with Yodlee Feeds
For those using Yodlee feeds (the indirect connection method), password changes at your bank are often the culprit. Remember, Yodlee acts like a secure intermediate between your bank and Xero, so any change in your banking credentials needs to be updated in Xero as well.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
To avoid future feed disruptions, I always recommend:
• Regularly checking your feed status (at least weekly)
• Keeping your banking passwords updated in Xero
• Watching for emails from both your bank and Xero about required actions
• Setting up backup feed methods for critical accounts
When to Contact Support
If you’ve tried these solutions and still can’t get your feeds working, it’s time to reach out to Xero support. They can often see technical issues that aren’t visible on your end. Keep a note of any error messages you’re seeing – this helps them diagnose the problem faster.
Remember, while bank feed issues are frustrating, they’re usually temporary and fixable. The key is acting quickly when you notice a problem to minimize any disruption to your bookkeeping routine.
