How to Manage Bank Accounts in SimpliHome

How much does your household actually have right now? Across your current account, savings, and joint accounts — what's the total?

Most people can't answer this without logging into multiple banking apps, adding up the numbers, and doing some mental arithmetic. SimpliHome's bank account feature gives you the answer in one view.

#Adding a Bank Account

Go to Finances → Bank Accounts.

1. Click Add Account
2. Fill in the account details:

• Account name — how you want it displayed (e.g., "Joint Current Account", "Tom's ISA", "Emergency Fund")
• Bank — search for your bank or add a new one
• Account type — Current, Savings, Credit Card, ISA, etc.
• Sort code and account number — for reference (these are not used to connect to your bank; SimpliHome doesn't have direct bank access)
• Current balance — enter the current balance manually

3. Click Save

#Tracking Balances

Each bank account in SimpliHome has a balance history. You can:

Update the balance manually:

1. Open the account record
2. Click Update Balance or Add Balance Entry
3. Enter the current balance and date
4. Save

The balance history builds up over time, showing a chart of how each account has changed.

Import balances via CSV:

If you have transaction history to import, see the CSV import guide. Transactions contribute to balance calculations.

#The Finances Overview

The main Finances page (Admin only) shows:

• Total across all accounts — the combined balance of all Circle bank accounts
• Balance per account — each account's current balance
• Recent activity — latest transactions across all accounts
• Net worth indicator — when property values and mortgage data are connected, this can extend to a household net worth estimate

This gives you the household financial picture at a glance rather than requiring you to log into each bank separately.

#Multi-Currency Accounts

If your household has accounts in different currencies (common for expats, international families, or those with foreign savings), SimpliHome handles currency conversion:

1. When adding an account, specify the currency
2. SimpliHome converts to your preferred display currency using current exchange rates
3. The total balance overview shows everything in your chosen currency

Currency preferences are set in Settings → Preferences → Currency.

#Credit Card Accounts

Add credit cards as accounts with a negative balance approach:

1. Add the account as type: Credit Card
2. Enter the current balance as a positive number (representing what you owe)
3. SimpliHome treats this as a liability in your net position calculations

Tracking credit card balances alongside current accounts gives you a more accurate household financial position than looking at current accounts alone.

#Bank Account and Budget: Working Together

Bank accounts, transactions, and the budget all work together in SimpliHome:

1. Bank accounts hold your money
2. Transactions are the individual credits and debits
3. Budget categories classify what transactions are for
4. Budget targets set spending limits by category

When transactions are imported and categorised, they automatically feed into the budget. The budget then compares what you planned to spend vs. what you actually spent.

See the budget planning guide and transaction categorisation guide for the next steps after setting up your accounts.

#What SimpliHome Does and Doesn't Do

SimpliHome does:

• Track your account balances manually entered or imported via CSV
• Import transaction history from bank exports
• Categorise transactions into budget categories
• Show a combined multi-account balance view
• Support multiple currencies
• Provide balance history charts

SimpliHome doesn't:

• Connect directly to your bank via Open Banking
• Automatically sync live balances from your bank
• Initiate payments or transfers
• Store your banking passwords or credentials

SimpliHome is a tracking and management tool, not a banking app. You maintain control of your actual banking with your bank, and use SimpliHome to organise and analyse the financial picture across your household.

#Privacy and Security

Your bank account numbers and sort codes entered in SimpliHome are stored securely and are only visible to Circle admins. SimpliHome does not connect to banking networks or financial systems — it cannot access, move, or affect your actual bank accounts.

#Tips for Bank Account Management

Add every account the household has. The value of the overview view grows with every account added. Leaving out savings accounts gives a misleading picture of household finances.

Update balances monthly. Set a monthly reminder to update balances. The 5th of the month after payday is a natural time — log in, update each account balance, and get a fresh picture.

Name accounts clearly. "Account 1" and "Account 2" are confusing. "Joint Current - Barclays" and "Emergency Savings - Marcus" are immediately understandable.

Add your partner's accounts too. For a household financial overview, both partners' accounts should be included. The combined picture is the useful one.