Mint can import your checking account, but the method depends on whether your bank still supports it

Mint shut down on January 1, 2024, and Intuit no longer maintains the app or its import features. If you were using Mint before the shutdown, your account data is no longer accessible through that platform. If you're looking to import checking account transactions into a money-tracking tool now, you'll need to use a different service — Mint's successor products, other third-party apps, or your bank's own tools.

The confusion around Mint persists because many people still have the app on their phones or remember using it. Before the shutdown, Mint did import checking accounts through a secure connection to your bank, but that infrastructure no longer exists. Any attempt to log in or reconnect your bank account through Mint will fail.

Key Takeaways

  • Mint stopped operating on January 1, 2024, and no longer imports checking accounts or any other financial data.
  • Intuit now offers Credit Karma Money as the replacement for Mint's free transaction tracking features.
  • Your bank's own app or website usually has built-in transaction history and categorization without needing a third-party tool.
  • Other apps like YNAB, Monarch Money, and GnuCash can import checking account data if you want a dedicated tracking platform.

What happened to Mint and why it no longer imports accounts

Intuit announced in March 2023 that Mint would shut down at the end of 2023. The company cited the need to consolidate its financial software products and focus resources on Credit Karma Money, which Intuit positioned as Mint's successor. On January 1, 2024, Mint's servers went offline, and the app stopped functioning entirely.

The import feature relied on Mint's servers to maintain secure connections between your bank and the app. Once those servers shut down, no new imports could happen, and existing data became inaccessible. If you had exported your Mint data before the shutdown, you kept those files, but you cannot use Mint itself to import new transactions from your bank.

Credit Karma Money as Mint's official replacement

Intuit created Credit Karma Money as the free alternative to Mint. It connects to your checking account the same way Mint did — through a secure bank connection — and categorizes transactions automatically. Credit Karma Money is free and does not require a Credit Karma account to use, though you can link one if you want.

To import your checking account into Credit Karma Money, download the app or visit creditkarma.com, create an account, and select "Add Account." You'll be prompted to search for your bank by name. Once you find it, you'll log in with your online banking credentials (Credit Karma does not store these; your bank handles the authentication). Your recent transactions will appear within a few minutes to a few hours, depending on your bank's processing speed.

Credit Karma Money also shows your credit score and offers a savings account product, though the savings account is optional. The transaction tracking and categorization are free regardless.

Importing checking account data into other money-tracking apps

If you prefer not to use Credit Karma Money, several other platforms can import your checking account. Each works slightly differently and may charge a fee.

YNAB (You Need A Budget) costs $15 per month after a 34-day trial. It connects directly to your bank and imports transactions daily. YNAB is built around a specific budgeting method and is popular with people who want strict spending controls.

Monarch Money costs $12 per month (or $99 per year) and also imports directly from your bank. It focuses on net worth tracking and investment monitoring alongside checking account transactions.

GnuCash is free and open-source but does not import directly from banks. Instead, you download a CSV or OFX file from your bank's website and import that file into GnuCash. This requires a manual step each time but gives you full control over your data.

Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can also work if you download your bank's transaction history as a CSV file and organize it yourself. This is the most basic option and requires no third-party app, but it means no automatic categorization or ongoing updates.

Using your bank's own tools to track checking account activity

Many banks now offer their own transaction tracking and budgeting features built into their mobile apps or websites. These tools do not require importing anything — your transactions are already there because the bank holds the data.

Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and most regional banks include spending categories, transaction search, and alerts in their apps at no extra cost. If your bank offers these features, using them is often simpler than connecting to a third-party app, because there's no middle layer between you and your data.

Check your bank's app or log into your online banking portal and look for sections labeled "Spending," "Insights," "Analytics," or "Budget." If your bank does not offer these features, that's a sign it may be time to consider switching to a bank with better digital tools.

How to export your old Mint data if you still have it

If you downloaded your Mint data before January 1, 2024, you have a CSV or OFX file with your transaction history. You can import this file into most money-tracking apps to restore your history.

In Credit Karma Money, look for an "Import" option in settings. In YNAB, you can import a CSV file during setup. In GnuCash, use the "Import" menu and select your Mint file. The exact steps vary by app, but all of them support importing data from Mint because so many users needed to migrate.

If you did not export your Mint data before the shutdown, that data is gone. Intuit did not provide a way to recover it after January 1, 2024.

What to look for when choosing a replacement for Mint

If you're deciding between Credit Karma Money, YNAB, Monarch Money, or another app, consider these factors: whether you want to pay a monthly fee, how often you want transactions to update, whether you care about budgeting features versus just tracking, and whether you want to monitor investments alongside your checking account.

Credit Karma Money is the closest free replacement for Mint and requires no learning curve if you used Mint before. YNAB and Monarch Money are better if you want more detailed budgeting or net worth tracking and are willing to pay. Your bank's built-in tools are best if you only need to see where your money is going and do not want to manage multiple apps.

Start with whichever option matches your needs, knowing you can always switch later. Most apps let you disconnect and reconnect your bank account, so you're not locked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use the Mint app on my phone?

No. The Mint app will not connect to your bank or load any data. If you open it, you'll see an error message directing you to Credit Karma Money. You can delete the app from your phone.

Will my bank let me connect to a third-party app like Credit Karma Money?

Most banks do. They use a standard called OAuth that lets you log in securely without sharing your password. A small number of banks, usually smaller regional ones, do not support third-party connections. Your bank's website will tell you if it's compatible when you try to connect.

How long does it take to import checking account transactions after I connect?

Usually a few minutes to a few hours. Credit Karma Money typically shows transactions within an hour. Some banks are slower, especially if they process overnight. After the first import, most apps update daily or multiple times per day.

If I import my checking account, can the app see my password?

No. When you log in through Credit Karma Money or another app, your bank handles the authentication directly. The app never sees your password. This is different from how Mint worked in its early years, when it asked for your password directly — modern apps use OAuth, which is more secure.

What if my bank is not on the list when I try to connect?

Contact your bank's customer service and ask if they support third-party connections. If they do not, you can download your transactions as a CSV file from your online banking portal and import that file into apps like GnuCash or Excel instead.