Setting Up: Get Your Accounts Lined Up 🏗️

First things first! When you connect your bank or switch accounts, always double-check everything matches perfectly. ✅

• Source & Target: On the left, you'll see your Source (your real bank account). On the right, it's the Target (the matching register in Aplos).
• Match 'Em Up: Always confirm your bank account connects to the right Aplos register. It's key for accurate records! 🎯
• Switching Accounts: Got more than one? Use "Switch Account" to pick the right pair. The system usually remembers your choice after the first time, but a quick check never hurts! ✔️

How Often Should You Retrieve Transactions? 🗓️⏰

Being consistent here stops you from missing anything important and keeps your books up-to-date. 📊

• Go Monthly (at least!): Try to retrieve transactions at least once a month. Weekly is even easier on you! 🔄
• Why It Matters: Banks typically only pull in data from the last 3-6 weeks. Regular retrieval means you won't miss any transactions, even if you import them later. 

What to Import (and What to Hide! 🙈) to Dodge Duplicates

This part's super important for clean records. Not every transaction needs to come from bank integration. 🚫

Stick to Main Accounts 🏦

• Checking Accounts: These are usually your busiest accounts, so most of your transactions will come from here.
• Savings Accounts: Many folks skip importing from savings if it's mostly just interest or transfers to/from checking. Those transfers are usually handled on your main checking account. 

Handle Transfers Carefully ➡️⬅️

• Import Once: If money moves between your own savings and checking, only import that transfer from ONE of those accounts through the bank integration screen. ☝️
• No Duplicates: Importing from both sides creates double entries. Pick one account (like always importing transfers from checking) and stick to it! 🙅‍♀️

Credit Card Payments 💳➡️💸

• Pick One Spot: If you connect credit cards, payments show on both your checking and credit card accounts. Just choose one to import from.
• Best Way to Pay Credit Cards: For credit card payments (not individual charges), we highly recommend using the "Pay Bill" option directly in your Credit Card Register. It makes splitting payments across different funds super easy and keeps your funds tidy. 💡

Hide These! (Common Duplication Traps) 🗑️

For these, it's usually better to hide them in bank integration and enter them through their specific Aplos workflows for proper tracking and reports.

• Donation Deposits: Hide these! Enter them directly on your Donation Deposits page. This ensures you track donors and can send contribution statements.
• Printed Checks: If you print checks directly from Aplos, they're already in your system. Hide any matching checks from bank integration to avoid duplicates.
• Accounts Payable/Receivable: If you use our AP/AR modules often (for bills or invoices), those transactions are already recorded. Hide them from bank integration. 

Keep Your Contacts Clean: No Duplicate Payees! 🧹

Got a super long contact list and not sure why? It's often because of new contacts created from messy bank transaction details. Here's how to fix that! ✨

• The Problem: Your bank sometimes sends very unique transaction details into the "Payee" field. If you just import these, Aplos might create a brand-new contact every time.
• Link to Existing Contacts: When you review transactions in bank integration, always manually link the payee to an existing contact in your system if possible. 🔗
• Turn on "Guess Payee Name": Make sure this option is checked in your settings. It helps the system learn your habits!
• System Gets Smarter: The more you manually link payees, the more the system will automatically suggest existing contacts, and even typically tied accounts and funds, based on your past actions. That means less manual entry for you over time! 🚀

By following these simple tips, you'll use the bank integration tool like a pro, keep your financial records accurate, and make sure your Aplos account always helps your mission-driven work run smoothly! 💪✨