What is CAMT.053?

CAMT.053 is the ISO 20022 XML message standard for bank-to-customer account statements. It is the modern replacement for MT940, offering richer data structures and full Unicode support as part of SWIFT's global migration to ISO 20022.

Overview

CAMT.053 (Cash Management message 053) is part of the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard. ISO 20022 is a universal framework for financial messages developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Within this framework, the "camt" (cash management) family handles account reporting, and message 053 specifically delivers end-of-day bank-to-customer account statements.

The ISO 20022 standard was designed to address the limitations of legacy SWIFT MT messages. Where MT940 uses a compact text format with fixed-width fields and a limited character set, CAMT.053 uses structured XML that can carry significantly more detail. Each transaction can include structured creditor and debtor information, purpose codes, remittance references, and related party details — all in dedicated XML elements rather than crammed into free-text fields.

SWIFT launched its MT-to-MX migration program to transition the global financial network from MT messages (text-based) to MX messages (ISO 20022 XML). The migration for cross-border payments began in March 2023, and SWIFT has set November 2025 as the deadline for full adoption of MX messages on the network. For account statements, this means CAMT.053 is progressively replacing MT940 at banks worldwide.

For businesses that use QuickBooks® for their accounting, CAMT.053 files from European or international banks cannot be imported directly. PrimeConnect bridges this gap by converting CAMT.053 XML to QBO (Web Connect) format, preserving transaction details, dates, and amounts while producing a file that QuickBooks® Desktop and Online can import natively.

Key Features

ISO 20022 Standard

Part of the globally adopted ISO 20022 framework used by central banks, payment systems (SEPA, TARGET2, Fedwire), and commercial banks across 70+ countries.

XML Structure

Uses well-formed XML with a defined schema (XSD), enabling automated validation, rich nesting of data elements, and straightforward parsing by modern software.

Rich Data

Carries structured remittance information, creditor/debtor details, bank transaction codes (BTC), purpose codes, and related agent information — far beyond what MT940 can express.

Future-Proof

As the designated successor to MT940, CAMT.053 is the format all banks are migrating toward. Adopting it now ensures compatibility with the financial messaging infrastructure of the future.

CAMT.053 File Structure

A CAMT.053 file is an XML document with a root element containing a group header and one or more statement blocks. Each statement includes account identification, balances, and individual transaction entries. Here is a simplified example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:camt.053.001.08">
  <BkToCstmrStmt>
    <GrpHdr>
      <MsgId>MSG-20260215-001</MsgId>
      <CreDtTm>2026-02-15T12:00:00</CreDtTm>
    </GrpHdr>
    <Stmt>
      <Id>STMT-20260215</Id>
      <ElctrncSeqNb>125</ElctrncSeqNb>
      <CreDtTm>2026-02-15T23:59:00</CreDtTm>
      <Acct>
        <Id><IBAN>DE89370400440532013000</IBAN></Id>
        <Ccy>EUR</Ccy>
        <Svcr>
          <FinInstnId>
            <BICFI>COBADEFFXXX</BICFI>
            <Nm>Commerzbank AG</Nm>
          </FinInstnId>
        </Svcr>
      </Acct>
      <Bal>
        <Tp><CdOrPrtry><Cd>OPBD</Cd></CdOrPrtry></Tp>
        <Amt Ccy="EUR">12500.00</Amt>
        <CdtDbtInd>CRDT</CdtDbtInd>
        <Dt><Dt>2026-02-14</Dt></Dt>
      </Bal>
      <Ntry>
        <Amt Ccy="EUR">89.50</Amt>
        <CdtDbtInd>DBIT</CdtDbtInd>
        <BookgDt><Dt>2026-02-15</Dt></BookgDt>
        <ValDt><Dt>2026-02-15</Dt></ValDt>
        <NtryDtls>
          <TxDtls>
            <RmtInf>
              <Ustrd>Electric Utility Payment</Ustrd>
            </RmtInf>
          </TxDtls>
        </NtryDtls>
      </Ntry>
      <Ntry>
        <Amt Ccy="EUR">3200.00</Amt>
        <CdtDbtInd>CRDT</CdtDbtInd>
        <BookgDt><Dt>2026-02-15</Dt></BookgDt>
        <ValDt><Dt>2026-02-15</Dt></ValDt>
        <NtryDtls>
          <TxDtls>
            <RmtInf>
              <Strd>
                <CdtrRefInf>
                  <Ref>INV-2026-0042</Ref>
                </CdtrRefInf>
              </Strd>
            </RmtInf>
          </TxDtls>
        </NtryDtls>
      </Ntry>
      <Bal>
        <Tp><CdOrPrtry><Cd>CLBD</Cd></CdOrPrtry></Tp>
        <Amt Ccy="EUR">15610.50</Amt>
        <CdtDbtInd>CRDT</CdtDbtInd>
        <Dt><Dt>2026-02-15</Dt></Dt>
      </Bal>
    </Stmt>
  </BkToCstmrStmt>
</Document>

Key elements: BkToCstmrStmt is the root message, Stmt contains one statement per account, Bal holds opening (OPBD) and closing (CLBD) balances, Ntry represents each transaction entry with RmtInf for remittance details.

The SWIFT MT-to-MX Migration

SWIFT's migration from MT (Message Type) to MX (ISO 20022 XML) is one of the largest infrastructure changes in global banking history. The program affects all SWIFT message categories, including payments (MT103 to pacs.008), confirmations, and account statements (MT940 to camt.053).

The migration timeline has evolved over several years. SWIFT introduced a coexistence period where both MT and MX messages travel the network simultaneously, with automatic translation between formats. The deadline for mandatory MX adoption on cross-border payments was November 2025. For account statements, many European banks already deliver CAMT.053 as their primary format, while others offer it alongside MT940 during the transition.

For businesses, this migration means encountering CAMT.053 files from their banks more frequently. Companies that previously received MT940 statements are being migrated to CAMT.053, often with little advance notice. Having tools that can handle both formats — and convert them to your accounting software's preferred format — is increasingly important.

The CAMT Message Family

CAMT.053 is part of a family of cash management messages in ISO 20022. Understanding the related messages helps clarify where CAMT.053 fits:

CAMT.052 — Intraday Report

Delivers account balance and transaction information during the business day. Used for real-time cash positioning. Replaces MT942.

CAMT.053 — End-of-Day Statement

The complete end-of-day bank statement with all transactions and final balances. This is the message covered in this guide. Replaces MT940.

CAMT.054 — Debit/Credit Notification

Real-time notification of individual debit or credit entries on the account. Used for immediate transaction alerts. Replaces MT900/MT910.

Compatible Systems

CAMT.053 is supported by modern enterprise software and can be converted for use with smaller accounting platforms:

SAP S/4HANA

Native support

Oracle Cloud ERP

Native support

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Finance module

European Banks

Primary statement format

SEPA Payment Systems

All participants

QuickBooks® (via QBO)

Convert with PrimeConnect

Migration tip: If your bank still sends MT940, ask about their CAMT.053 migration timeline. Many banks offer both formats during the transition period, and switching early gives you access to richer transaction data.

Ready to Convert?

Convert your CAMT.053 bank statements to QBO format for QuickBooks® — free and instant.

Start Converting Free