How to Download Bank Statements for Your Mortgage Application

Why Lenders Need Your Bank Statements

Bank statements provide lenders with a real-world look at your financial habits and stability. They help assess:

• Your income patterns
• Your spending behaviour
• Debt repayments (credit cards, loans, finance)
• Savings and transfers
• Any gambling, cash withdrawals or unusual activity

This helps lenders understand whether the mortgage repayments are affordable and sustainable.

What Your Bank Statements Must Show

Your statements must be complete, official paper copies or PDFs downloaded from your online banking. They should:

• Cover the most recent 3 months (some lenders require 6)
• Be downloaded PDFs or printed statements (not screenshots)
• Show your full name, account number and sort code
• Include all transactions, credits and debits
• Show the bank’s name and logo

Why Lenders Won’t Accept Screenshots

Screenshots usually miss essential information such as your name, full account details and complete transaction history. They’re also easy to alter, so lenders require documents that come directly from your bank’s secure portal.