Fidelity OFX downloads are gone

[tulak]

I've noticed over the last week that Fidelity is downloading transactions into Moneydance. I've been using OFX to sync my Fidelity accounts with Moneydance and some web research shows that Fidelity disabled OFX downloads on Dec 1st with no alternative.

This is going to be painful. I know Vanguard did the same, but they have a sleek 'download all accounts' in QFX format that works wonderfully. I wish Fidelity offered the same. What's disappointing is that I can't find an alternative. Fidelity only offers csv downloads, which I'm about to try to see if I can make that work, but based on what I read, this isn't going to be a seamless solution. I might move some accounts back to Vanguard if I can't find a solution.

Has anyone else hit this issue and if so, any alternative solutions to automatically downloading these transactions?

For now, I will manually enter them, but that's going to get real old, real quick.

 

[braumeister]

For now, I will manually enter them, but that's going to get real old, real quick.

I've always done it manually, but I seldom trade. I think if you raise the issue with Fido they might have a suggestion.

 

[audreyh1]

Not that one, but I noticed that BofA stopped making the QFX files for Quicken available, and before that somehow they got Quicken to relate an error when importing them. All other QFX files imported fine, just not BofA.

I think there is some wrong headed security “enhancement” going on here. There is nothing insecure about a user going to a financial website and downloading a QFX file for use in their personal computer. I notice CSV files are still available.

 

[tulak]

I will definitely give them a call, but it'll have to wait until after the holidays.

It took me about 15 min to get everything entered. For the trading accounts, it's less of an issue, since I don't trade often and it's mostly dividends. But I use a Fidelity brokerage account for cash management, which has more transactions and that one will be painful to keep up to date.

I am surprised that Fidelity doesn't offer QFX downloads. That's an elegant solution and completely secure. I was surprised at how well it works at Vanguard (after they disabled OFX) and even if they offered an alternative, I'd stick with QFX downloads since it works so well and is secure. I never liked entering my credentials in Moneydance and really avoid it for aggregators, such as Plaid, except for a credit cards where I don't care as much.

 

[audreyh1]

Fidelity never made QFX files available. They do allow download of CSV data. Both Fidelity and Schwab required Direct Connect and I was never comfortable providing my account credentials to Quicken, so I have been entering brokerage stuff manually. Almost all my other financial institutions I was able to download QFX files and import them into Quicken.

Now Quicken has upgraded to EWC+ instead of Direct Connect which is a tokenized import only mechanism that is given to Quicken by your bank. I read that Treasury has been leaning hard on financial institutions to not use Direct Connect because third parties having your account credentials is not secure.

 

[Pasha]

Has anyone else hit this issue and if so, any alternative solutions to automatically downloading these transactions?

I have the same issue: Fidelity-Moneydance download stopped working.
There are 2 possible ways: CSV to OFX file converters (online or a program on the computer) OR CSV editing with a spreadsheet editor followed by importing to Moneydance.
I am using the second approach so far and waiting for a better solution.

 

[KarenF]

I've noticed over the last week that Fidelity is downloading transactions into Moneydance. I've been using OFX to sync my Fidelity accounts with Moneydance and some web research shows that Fidelity disabled OFX downloads on Dec 1st with no alternative.

This is going to be painful. I know Vanguard did the same, but they have a sleek 'download all accounts' in QFX format that works wonderfully. I wish Fidelity offered the same. What's disappointing is that I can't find an alternative. Fidelity only offers csv downloads, which I'm about to try to see if I can make that work, but based on what I read, this isn't going to be a seamless solution. I might move some accounts back to Vanguard if I can't find a solution.

Has anyone else hit this issue and if so, any alternative solutions to automatically downloading these transactions?

For now, I will manually enter them, but that's going to get real old, real quick.

Fidelity seems to be very behind. I just found out you can't download statements from their mobile app, only the web, which is extremely annoying. Good luck.

 

[audreyh1]

I never realized that Fidelity offered an OFX option.

I do enter my Fidelity transactions manually, since there are few transactions I don’t mind - generally just the end of the month. Most anything else is scheduled and entered automatically.

 

[loumal]

For those of you using Moneydance as your financial software: If you go to the Fidelity Community forum and find the long thread talking about this, you can find way to import the transactions. Some of the members wrote a script which you can download as an extension of Moneydance, and then use it to import a csv file into your MD program. It'a a little clunky, but it works and saves a bit of typing.

Members there said that MD and Fidelity were talking to resolve the issue.

 

[tulak]

I’m still planning on calling Fidelity and asking for a QFX download feature, similar to what is available on Vanguard. I’m not optimistic this will happen, but that would be my ideal solution.

I will likely keep entering transactions manually. For most accounts, this is ok, but it’s more of hassle for brokerage account, which I use as a checking account. There are more transactions in that account, but it’s still manageable.

I decided I don’t want to use any aggregator, etc, to connect to Fidelity, or any financial institution where I have assets. I’m fine with using aggregators for credit card accounts.