USAA Script to fix the broken download issue
Need to reconnect to USAA? I have written a (run one-time only) script to make USAA download to Moneydance work again. All it does it fix your connection profile. You simply run once, and then use standard Moneydance. It's not needed again.
This is now the IK recommended fix as they are working on 'medium and long-term' improvements to ofx connections
You must be on MD version 2019.4 (build 1904) or newer (if older, you must upgrade, else usaa will never work again).
[@@ UPDATE Oct 2021: This script is now built into the Toolbox extension (MD2021 onwards) under the Online Banking menu and it also works with MD2022 too. Further, we have worked with Moneydance so that once you have ‘primed’ MD with your USAA specific ClientUID number(s), the standard Moneydance Online Setup will work. Further again, there is now an even simpler way to get the connection working (which we haven’t documented: In Toolbox run the USAA ‘Prime’ option and then just use standard MD Online Setup. Lastly, if you need to get multiple UserIDs working, then Toolbox / Online Banking / OFX Authentication / Edit Multiple UserIds. NOTE: if you still just want the script, it’s still available, read on…. @@]
Following these simple, but complete, PDF instructions will make USAA download to your Moneydance file.
My python script creates a new USAA profile in Moneydance to replace the broken USAA profile. It has been used since Feb 23 by more than 100+ users successfully 😃
This script will allow you to download USAA transactions again. It isn't rocket science, really. You don't have to wait for IK/MD to fix the problem, nor will it stop you from embracing the Moneydance fix if/when it happens. I just fix the connection profile.
NOTE: usaa have changed their download data (content, format). If you get some data duplication afterwards, this is NOTHING to do with the script, it's what usaa are now sending. You simply need to do a one-time cleanup, keep the new data, and that's it.
DISCLAIMER: I have no affiliation with Moneydance. It's entirely possible that this won't work for you. Pretty much the worst that can happen is that your bank logon / service profile won't work - but then it's not working anyway.. You can always just delete the profile and start again, if you wish.
PLEASE ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR DATA FIRST!
The first thing to do is read the walk through PDF guide: ofx_create_new_usaa_bank_custom_profile.pdf
The latest PDF guide (now version 8a) is always here:
[https://github.com/yogi1967/MoneydancePythonScripts/raw/master/sour...]
The latest zip file containing the script to fix USAA/Moneydance is at: [https://github.com/yogi1967/MoneydancePythonScripts/raw/master/usef...]
FYI - When you click these links, you may see a blank screen (depending on your browser) and the file(s) will auto download to your downloads folder
You need to unzip this file. The script is called: ofx_create_new_usaa_bank_custom_profile.py
Quick Details:
- Make a backup first.
- Read the instructions.
- Once you run the script, Moneydance takes over with the new profile.
PS - If you get issues ensure a) you are connecting from a USA IP; and that any PiHole, Blockers etc are not getting in the way..
If you have problems, post - We love to solve problems.
CREDITS and thanks: @dtd and @hleofxquotes
I am not support, just a fellow user and creator of the very free and most-excellent Toolbox 🧰 extension for Moneydance.
The latest useful_scripts.zip package and Toolbox are on my site: [https://yogi1967.github.io/MoneydancePythonScripts/]
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331 Posted by taser8 on 25 Mar, 2021 09:54 PM
@dtd - Tried all, no change. Whether I get accounts one by one or all together, the one checking account errors out. Tried disabling and re-enabling, no change.
I did a rudimentary comparison between the console results from a successful download and the bad one; I see a difference in "DTCLIENT" numbers, TRNUID; the expected account number, of course. The unsuccessful one does not have anything where the other has a "DTSTART". There are several differences in cookie references on both sides.
Those seem to be the main ones.
Thanks for the help!
332 Posted by dtd on 25 Mar, 2021 10:03 PM
Ok, this may seem weird, but I've encountered "bad accounts" within Moneydance and two of my Chase accounts in the past - if anything - this tests Moneydance accounts, vs. USAA connection. So if you are willing, go with me on this (or tell me no, that's fine too)
Make an export backup first of course.
Then create a new checking account, call it USAA Primary Account Test (or whatever you want - call it snitzfritz for all I care). Disable the account that doesn't work. Then ENABLE this account and connect with the problematic account. See if it works. (I do this because all the others work, why not this one?)
If it works, then yay. move all the transactions from the one account to the new one, change snitzfritz to the main name, and delete the other account since it is now empty. And you get to deal with the duplicate transactions, sorry.
If it DOES NOT WORK, then we have to start to question what is going on with USAA, but we'll deal with that if such happens.
Hope that helps.
333 Posted by dtd on 25 Mar, 2021 10:15 PM
Since we are on page 12 now, let me restate that the script works extremely well (40+ users so far).
The issues you may be reading are dealing with the fact the script does work so well. What we are dealing with are the repercussions of what USAA did on Jan 26, now that we are getting downloads again. USAA made some changes, and now that we see them, (account number changes, transaction issues, etc.) we are trying to help "make it all good" - but this has nothing to do with the script, which only fixes the connection profile.
334 Posted by taser8 on 25 Mar, 2021 10:21 PM
Okay, tried it - I think I'm tracking the logic on this test. I'm assuming when you say to disable the account you mean pick "disable" under the "set up online banking" for the "old" account. Did that, set up the new one, still get the same error.
May I just point out that my last name IS Murphy...
335 Posted by dtd on 25 Mar, 2021 10:31 PM
Ok, sigh. As you say, the logic is to test the integrity of the older account.
Given the new account doesn't work, try one more thing (I don't think it will work, but it will give the temerity towards complaining to USAA (which will be a very frustrating experience)
Create a brand new empty database. Create a checking account. Run the script (of course) to make usaa work. put in all the dang credentials and create a new profile. EDIT: Make sure the account is connected to online download ...
Try to download. as you say, i think you see the logic.
given it doesn't work, we now have to start complaining to usaa - do grab a console log of all of this, and keep it in a file - maybe send it via email to me and/or Stuart, but at this point, I think we'd just say - something is wrong here, but who knows.
Glad all your other accounts work!
336 Posted by dtd on 25 Mar, 2021 10:38 PM
Since you may not see the edit I made - create the new profile using the script with a WORKING account. Then connect the checking account you just created in the empty database via online banking, and see if the bad account shows up in the picklist. That would be part of the process to determine why in the h-e-doublehockeysticks this account wont work.
337 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 25 Mar, 2021 11:04 PM
Sean. If this latest test doesn’t work. Then by all means open console. Keep it open. Download one that works and then one that doesn’t. And then email me the console output.
If it does work we should collaborate to debug why (for others)
…
338 Posted by v3hanson on 28 Mar, 2021 07:11 PM
Stuart - thanks for putting the script together - i just ran it successfully - odd thing - it downloaded duplicates going back to october (my history goes back years and years - n to sure why that month) - i have only been about 6 weeks unable to download - wasnt too hard to delete the 400 duplicates - all balanced ok -
339 Posted by dalefurrow (Fel... on 28 Mar, 2021 07:25 PM
@Stuart, @dtd, @hleofxquotes;
Just wanted to confirm that your script and instructions worked as expected for me. Like others, I had some issues getting the credit card to work correctly, but I used your appendix section and worked through it...I'd note that re-linking the credit card caused an (Old) card number to come up for linking--my guess is that was a USAA problem (I've had cards w/ them for decades). Anyway, since I only have one card, the link connection choice was straightforward.
In any case, wanted to say thanks for your work on this and other tasks you take on as volunteers.
Take care,
Dale [NOT STAFF--JUST ANOTHER USER]
340 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 28 Mar, 2021 07:44 PM
@v3hanson 😃 +1 (=45)
341 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 28 Mar, 2021 07:46 PM
@dalefurrow 😃 +1 (=46)
342 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 28 Mar, 2021 08:44 PM
@v3hanson - I note my script is populating "date_avail_accts" to 2020/02/04. Is this the date it's going back to? I will change this to 2021-01-26.
343 Posted by dtd on 28 Mar, 2021 08:49 PM
@ Stuart - I'd make the date a bit before 2021-01-26 as some may have run into the cutoff, but had not downloaded for a time.
A good cutoff might be 2021-01-01 ? And if someone DOES need an older download, they could do reset sync on the account? (You can probably hear me typing on Version 7b.... ;) )
Oh, and the date it is going back to is probably six months. USAA historically held six months, Schwab holds 18 !
344 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 28 Mar, 2021 09:18 PM
@dtd - we should consider just putting the last download date fix straight into the script too.....
345 Posted by Doug on 29 Mar, 2021 02:14 PM
Oh wow, you folks rock.
:) +1 (=47)
Thank you.
346 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Mar, 2021 02:50 PM
@dhbnntt 😃 +1 (=47)
347 Posted by v3hanson on 29 Mar, 2021 03:05 PM
no my date is going back to October 2020 - i just initiated my second download and over 300 dupes downloaded again - not quite sure how to handle this
348 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Mar, 2021 04:49 PM
@v3hanson - can you follow the steps in the PDF to use Toolbox and edit the last txn download date to one more recent, perhaps this week and see if that helps?
349 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Mar, 2021 04:51 PM
@Sean - glad we sorted your 2000 error on one old account. It seems that your account was from 2007 with 1000s of txns. The fix was to change the last txn download date to this week using Toolbox 🧰 +1; and hey. presto it worked. 😃
350 Posted by dtd on 29 Mar, 2021 07:24 PM
@v3hansen - unfortunately, usaa changed all the "already been downloaded" codes on Jan 26, so when you delete the NEW download, MD still doesn't have that code buried in the transaction, so it will download over and over till you keep it.
There are two ways to fix it. One is to keep the new downloaded items vs. deleting them, but my impression is 300 is a lot to deal with. (You could merge them with the other transactions, or if they won't merge, keep the new one vs. the old one. (Again, unfortunately, USAA new downloaded items are cruder than they used to be, so it is natural to not want the new ones... but)
If you have a 2021 preview version, you can use Stuart's Toolbox tool to change the account's "last txn date", which will tell that account - i just don't want anything downloaded before a certain date. That's mentioned in the pdf file and Stuart referenced it a couple messages back.
Nothing to do with the script, of course, the script just reopens the USAA floodgates, and what you see is what everyone using Quicken sees now. They are complaining as well... That said, Stuart and I like solving problems, so the addendum in the instructions just keeps getting longer... we are way beyond what we intended to do originally (just make USAA download again) - now we are trying to help people deal with the "new USAA methodology"....
351 Posted by v3hanson on 29 Mar, 2021 07:30 PM
i will dig in on this - btw when i download the next version of moneydance (i have the latest) will i have to run the script again if Moneydance hasn’t fixed it ?
352 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Mar, 2021 07:38 PM
Nope. The fix sticks. No need to rerun script.
353 Posted by dtd on 29 Mar, 2021 07:44 PM
As Stuart says, the custom profile is independent of the MD version. That said, if MD HAS fixed usaa downloads at some point, you can move to their fixed profile, IF you wish to do so.
Anyone waiting for MD, of course, will run into the exact same issues you are running into now. You just get to see them first.
354 Posted by dtd on 30 Mar, 2021 12:30 AM
@v3hanson - I updated the documentation to Version 7b, specifically to address how USAA now sometimes downloads "too much". May help as you "dig in".
355 Posted by sodak1181 on 30 Mar, 2021 01:06 PM
Big thanks to the developers of this script. I was going to wait it out for an official fix from MD, but that doesn't seem to be coming any time soon. The PDF walk-through was seamless and I was up and running in about 15 mins.
I will say, it's a bit pathetic that we had to rely on the good graces of a few fellow users to fix this problem. Not that IK support has ever been great, but this is ridiculous. And the lack of updates on the issue is appalling. The only thing saving MD at this point is a lack of alternatives for those of us who don't like Quicken or other cloud-based platforms.
356 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Mar, 2021 01:19 PM
@sodak1181 😃 +1 (48)
357 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Mar, 2021 01:21 PM
FYI. This is a now an IK recognised fix and they have written a knowledge base article:
https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/online-banking-and-bill-pay/c...
358 Posted by 00mjwhite on 30 Mar, 2021 05:28 PM
Stuart:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This works and works well! Apart from a Savings account which doesn't seem to be recognized, all of my accounts are working great after running your script. (The savings account is so small as to not be worth much bother.) I would suggest that MD implement something like your script in the program; surely other banks besides USAA change things and break the online connections. By the way, USAA should send you a fee; I think more than a few people have considered changing banks after their indifference to the chaos they caused. I know I have.
359 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Mar, 2021 06:39 PM
@00mjwhite 😃 +1 (=49). Try putting a small txn into your savings account and see if it appears.
360 Posted by sodak1181 on 30 Mar, 2021 11:23 PM
@Stuart - A bit off topic, but I noticed in your PDF that you mention the "don't download again" field and you say that it's hidden. Where is that at? I can see how that would be useful but I can't seem to find it. Thanks for the help.