A Daily HSBC Feed for Your Books: Setting Up HSBC Business Go's Google Sheets Export
Traditional banks rarely offer the kind of direct feed that fintech accounts like Airwallex do, so their transactions usually reach the books once a month, from the statement (see bookkeeping with a bank that has no feed). For HSBC Hong Kong business accounts there's now a better option. HSBC Business Go can keep a Google Sheet of your account's transactions up to date every day, and Certanta can turn that sheet into bookkeeping entries.
We've been running it on our own company's books since October 2026, and it's available to clients on request.
How it works
- HSBC fills the sheet. HSBC Business Go's Automatic bank feed to Google Sheets tool writes your transactions into a Google Sheet in your own Google account: one tab per sub-account, with the date, description, withdrawal and deposit.
- You share it with us, read-only. We can see the sheet; we can't change it, and we never have access to your bank.
- We read it twice a day. At 07:30 and 18:30 Hong Kong time, new lines go into your books.
- Every line arrives as a draft. Each bank line comes with a suggested account, and your bookkeeper approves it. Nothing is posted as final without a person.
- The monthly statement checks it. At the month end, every line and the closing balance on the statement are compared with what the feed booked, so statements are no longer typed in.
What happens to each line
- No double-booking. Each line is checked against what's already in your books, so a line read twice, or overlapping with a statement, is never booked twice.
- Known payers and payees recognised. Tell us once who's behind the account numbers and names that appear in your bank descriptions, and they're recognised from then on.
- Payments linked to invoices and bills. When a payment matches exactly one open invoice or bill of that customer or supplier, it's linked automatically. Part payments and anything unclear go to your bookkeeper.
- Classified to your chart of accounts with a suggested account, approved by your bookkeeper.
Setting it up: five steps
- In HSBC Business Go, open the Automatic bank feed to Google Sheets tool, choose the accounts, and connect a Google account. HSBC creates the sheet in that Google Drive. Data starts arriving from the next day, with up to 180 days of history.
- Share the sheet with the read-only address we give you when you start (Viewer, no editing).
- Send us the sheet's link and tell us which accounts are in it.
- Leave the sheet alone. HSBC asks that it isn't moved, renamed or edited.
- Approve the history. On first connection we compare the history in the sheet with your books, and import only the missing lines you approve.
You'll need HSBC Business Go and a Google account.
Timing and limits
- Usually next day. HSBC writes each day's transactions after midnight, sometimes not until late morning. With our two reads, a transaction usually reaches your books the next day.
- Weekends and holidays. HSBC posts weekend transactions on the next business day; a Sunday ATM transfer, for example, appears as Monday's.
- History. Up to 180 days back, from when the feed is set up.
- If the sheet is unshared or deleted, our read fails, we're alerted, and nothing is posted. Nothing is lost while the transactions are within HSBC's 180 days: once the sheet is shared again, we catch up.
- New financial year. HSBC recommends setting up a new feed each financial year, which creates a new sheet, so you'll share that one with us too.
- Accounts covered. HSBC Hong Kong business accounts on Business Go. So far we've run it on HKD savings and current accounts.
What it costs
The feed is included in Certanta bookkeeping. An HSBC account counts toward the two bank or payment accounts included in every plan; each extra account is HK$150 a month, or HK$900 a year on an annual package (see pricing).
Frequently asked questions
Can my HSBC Hong Kong business account feed my bookkeeping daily?
Yes, through HSBC Business Go's Automatic bank feed to Google Sheets tool. HSBC keeps a Google Sheet of your transactions up to date every day; you share it with Certanta read-only, and we read it twice a day and turn new lines into draft entries your bookkeeper approves. It is available to Certanta clients on request.
Does Certanta get access to my HSBC account?
No. You share only the Google Sheet that HSBC Business Go creates in your own Google account, and only with view access. We cannot change the sheet and never have access to your bank.
How quickly do transactions reach my books?
Usually the next day. HSBC writes each day's data after midnight, sometimes not until late morning, and we read the sheet at 07:30 and 18:30 Hong Kong time. Weekend transactions are posted by HSBC on the next business day.
Are the entries posted automatically?
No. Every line arrives as a draft with a suggested account, and your bookkeeper approves it. Lines are checked against your books so nothing is booked twice, and payments that match exactly one open invoice or bill are linked to it.
How much history can be imported?
Up to 180 days back from when the feed is set up. On first connection we compare that history with your books and import only the missing lines you approve.
Does it cost extra?
No, the feed is included in Certanta bookkeeping. An HSBC account counts toward the two bank or payment accounts included in every plan; extra accounts are HK$150 a month, or HK$900 a year on an annual package.
Does it work with Excel instead of Google Sheets?
No. The feed works with the Google Sheets option in HSBC Business Go.
Want your HSBC account on a daily feed?
Tell us which HSBC Business Go accounts you'd like to connect, and we'll take you through the setup and compare your history with the books before anything is imported.
Open the demo See pricingWritten on 28 October 2026. HSBC Business Go's tools and screens are HSBC's and may change; Certanta is not affiliated with HSBC. This article describes how Certanta uses the Google Sheet you choose to share with us.