How do I manage accounts in multiple currencies?

One of Banktivity's more advanced features is the ability to manage accounts in different currencies and track exchange rates automatically. By default, Banktivity sets your main currency to match the one specified in System Preferences under "Language & Region" (click the "Advanced" button to view and edit the system currency):

Specify which currency to use with a particular account

When you add an account to the current document, Banktivity prompts you to choose a currency to use with the account. Be sure to choose the appropriate currency, because this setting cannot be changed after the account has been created. Each account shows its balance, in its own currency, in the sidebar.

View and edit the currency list

Click "Configuration" in the sidebar, then "Currencies" to view a list of all currencies that are used by your accounts:

To add a currency, click the plus (+) button at the top left of the list. Choose a currency using the popup menu button in the sheet that appears. You can change the name or symbol associated with the currency before adding it to the document.

Click "Add Currency" to add the item to the currency list. Banktivity will automatically download the latest exchange rates for that currency and displays them in the list. To change the name or symbol of a currency that is already in the list, double-click it. Use the sheet that appears to modify the currency and click "Apply Changes."

Set the document display currency

Some Banktivity features, like the Overview Summary report and account groups, automatically convert figures to a single currency. To select which currency to use, click the "Display currency" popup menu button at the top right of the currency list.

Update exchange rates

First, make sure you are connected to the internet. Click the "Update" button on the toolbar or choose View > Bring Up to Date. This will update exchange rates along with your online accounts, security quotes, and Cloud Sync status.

You can also update currencies from the currency list by clicking "Update Exchange Rates" at the top of the list. Banktivity will connect and download updated exchange rate information automatically.

Remove a currency from a document

While viewing the currency list, select the item you want to remove and press "Delete" on your keyboard, or choose Edit > Delete. You cannot delete a currency that is used by any accounts or transactions.

Apply an exchange rate to an individual transaction

Sometimes a transaction is conducted in a currency that is different from the currency of the account affected by the transaction. For example, you might use a USD credit card to purchase coffee in Paris, where the charge is made in EUR. To record this transaction, create a charge in the credit card account and enter the withdrawal amount of the transaction in USD (if you know it). Since you are using multiple currencies, the currency popup button will automatically be shown in the transaction editor. Use this popup to choose "EUR" as the transaction's currency, at which point the total expense/income and exchange rate fields will appear next to the payee:

Since this is an expense, enter the USD amount of the purchase in the total expense field. By default, the exchange rate is set to 1 (indicating no conversion) and the EUR expense field shows the same amount that you entered in the USD expense field above it. To apply a conversion, adjust the exchange rate. Banktivity will automatically adjust the EUR amount based on the USD amount and exchange rate.

In the example pictured above, a cup of coffee was purchased for 2.00 Euro through an account that uses U.S. Dollars. An exchange rate of 1.5 was applied, so the final withdrawal (in USD) was 3.00.

When entering a transaction with two currencies, you may know both amounts but not know the exchange rate. In that case, enter the first amount (the one matching the account currency), then in the exchange rate field you can do a quick calculation like so: account amount / foreign amount. Banktivity will calculate the exchange rate automatically and fill in the correct foreign currency amount as well.

Transfer money between accounts with different currencies

When you transfer money between accounts with different currencies, you may wish to apply a conversion so that the correct amount is recorded in each account. In this case, however, you don't need to change the transaction currency setting.

Add a transaction to an account, set its type to "Transfer," and specify the name of the receiving account in the Category field. The total expense/income fields will appear next to the payee, and the exchange rate field will appear next to the foreign expense/income fields. Enter the foreign amount first, followed by the exchange rate or the total amount in the account's currency. Banktivity will calculate the third figure automatically.