Can you help me to understand credit memo and debit memo in the bank reconciliation? | AccountingCoach (2024)

Definition of Bank Credit Memo

A bank credit memo is an item on a company’s bank account statement that increases a company’s checking account balance.

Examples of Bank Credit Memo in a Bank Reconciliation

A few examples of a bank credit memo appearing in a company’s bank account include:

  • The bank adding interest that was earned for having money on deposit
  • The bank having collected a note for the company
  • A refund of a previous bank charge

Since the amount of the bank’s credit memo has already been added to the bank’s balance, the bank reconciliation will not reconcile unless the amount is also included in the company’s general ledger Cash account. To record the bank credit memo the company will debit Cash and credit another account. For example, if the bank statement shows a credit memo of $20 for interest earned, the company will debit Cash for $20, and credit Interest Income for $20. (The company’s Cash account needs to be debited because its asset has increased.)

Definition of Bank Debit Memo

A bank debit memo is an item on a company’s bank account statement that reduces the company’s checking account balance.

Examples of Bank Debit Memo in a Bank Reconciliation

Some examples of bank debit memos include:

  • Bank service charge for maintaining the checking account
  • A subtraction for a customer’s check that did not clear the customer’s bank account
  • A bank fee for handling a check that was returned for insufficient funds
  • A monthly loan payment

Since the amount of a bank debit memo has already been subtracted from the bank account, the amount must also be subtracted from the company’s general ledger Cash account. For example, if the bank statement shows a debit memo of $25 for a service charge, it means that the company’s general ledger Cash account will need an entry that credits Cash for $25, and debits Bank Fee Expense or Miscellaneous Expense for $25. (The company’s Cash account needs to be credited because the company’s asset account has decreased.)

[The bank debits the company’s bank account balance to reduce the balance because its customers’ account balances are liabilities for the bank. For instance, when the bank records a customer’s deposit, the bank debits its Cash account and credits its liability account Customer Deposits. Hence, when the bank pays a customer’s check, the bank’s cash is reduced and the bank’s liability account Customer Deposits is reduced. The bank records this with a credit to Cash and a debit to Customer Deposits.]

Can you help me to understand credit memo and debit memo in the bank reconciliation? | AccountingCoach (2024)

FAQs

Can you help me to understand credit memo and debit memo in the bank reconciliation? | AccountingCoach? ›

A debit memo

debit memo
A debit memo is a document issued by a seller or service provider to notify a business customer of a debit or deduction from their account. It is used to communicate adjustments, corrections, charges, or penalties related to a transaction between business partners.
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increases the amount owed by a customer due to underpayment or additional charges, while a credit memo decreases the amount owed by a customer due to overpayment or returned goods. They serve opposite purposes in adjusting financial accounts during business transactions.

What are credit memos and debit memos in bank reconciliation? ›

Credit memos reduce invoice and account balances. By applying one or more credit memos to invoices with positive balances, you can reduce the invoice balances in the same way that you apply a payment to an invoice. Debit memos increase the amount a customer owes. It is a separate document from the invoice.

What is a credit memo and a debit memo? ›

A business issues a credit memo when it needs to reduce the amount a customer owes. This usually happens when there's been an overcharge, a product return, or a service issue. A business will use a debit memo when it needs to increase what a customer owes.

What is a credit and debit in a bank reconciliation? ›

Reconciliation Figures

Credits - a sum of checked transactions that have income nature. Debits - a sum of checked transactions that have expense nature. Total - your total balance for the period, the difference between debits and credits.

What does a credit memo mean on my bank statement? ›

No matter where you see the credit memo, it signifies the same thing. A credit memo is shown when money is added to an account. In the case of a bank or credit card statement, you might see a credit memo if you were reimbursed for fees or earned interest on a bank account.

How to entry a credit memo? ›

Journal Entry for Credit Memo

A credit memo journal entry typically involves debiting your Sales Returns, and Allowances account and crediting your Accounts Receivable account. Here's an example: Debit: Sales Returns and Allowances ($X)

What is an example of a debit memo? ›

For example, when a bank charges a fee, it will often issue a debit memo to the specific bank account in question. When this happens, the fees work as more of an adjustment instead of a specific transaction. Then, it gets debited from your account and is then recorded as a debit memo.

What is a credit memo in layman's terms? ›

A credit memo is an official written acknowledgement that money is owed back to a customer.

Is a credit memo positive or negative? ›

A debit memo increases the amount owed by a customer due to underpayment or additional charges, while a credit memo decreases the amount owed by a customer due to overpayment or returned goods. They serve opposite purposes in adjusting financial accounts during business transactions.

How does a credit memo look like? ›

The contents of an offering memorandum include the following: Description of the property, including an overview of the site, location, demographics, operation, and management. A summary of the property's historical, current, and projected future returns based on various assumptions.

What two items do you need to reconcile your checking account? ›

To start your reconciliation, you need 2 main things:
  • Your bank statement for December.
  • Your business ledger, check register, or accounting software where you record all transactions.
Jan 16, 2024

What are debit and credit examples? ›

Sale for cash: The cash account is debited and the revenue account is credited. Cash payment received on an account receivable: Cash account is debited and accounts receivable is credited. Supplies purchased from a supplier for cash: The supplies expense account is debited and the cash account is credited.

Why did I get a debit memo in my bank account? ›

A debit memorandum is a notification to a customer that a debit adjustment has been made to their account, reducing the money available. The three primary reasons for a debit memo are bank charges, incremental billing, and internal offsets.

Why did I receive money from credit memo? ›

Summary. The most common type of credit memorandum (or credit memo) is issued by a seller and given to a buyer as a means to reduce the amount that the buyer owes. Credit memorandums are usually issued because of a price dispute or a buyer returning goods.

Does a credit memo mean refund? ›

When a seller issues a credit memo, it's put toward the existing balance on a buyer's account to reduce the total. A credit memo is different from a refund. A customer who receives a refund for a purchase gets actual money back from the seller.

Is a credit memo considered cash? ›

A cash memo is a document issued by a trader for the purpose of making a cash purchase. A credit memo is a document issued by a trader for the purpose of credit buying. It is also known as an invoice since it contains information such as the name of the party, amount, rate of products purchased, and transaction date.

What is the difference between a credit memo and a return? ›

As your trusted… A credit memo is a posting transaction that can be applied to a customer's invoice as a payment or reduction. A delayed credit is a non-posting transaction that you can include later on a customer's invoice. A refund is a posting transaction that is used when reimbursing a customer's money.

What is the difference between credit memo and note? ›

Short for 'credit memorandum', a credit memo is also known as a credit note. You may encounter entire articles online explaining the difference between credit note vs credit memo, but they are exactly the same thing and each term is interchangeable with the other.

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