QuickBooks Online Banking Error Guide
How to Fix QuickBooks Bank Error 105
You opened QuickBooks Online to reconcile your bank feed — and instead of fresh transactions, you got a message you did not ask for: Bank Error 105. No transactions. No connection. Just a wall between you and your numbers.
Here at QuickFix Bookkeeping, we handle bank feed issues for clients every single week — across banks ranging from Chase and Wells Fargo to regional credit unions. Error 105 is one of the most reported banking errors in QuickBooks Online. The good news: it resolves faster than most errors once you understand what is actually causing it.
📌
QuickBooks Online Only
Bank Error 105 is exclusive to QuickBooks Online. It does not occur in QuickBooks Desktop, which uses a different bank feed connection system. If you are on Desktop and seeing a banking issue, this is a different error entirely — see our QuickBooks Desktop error guides here.
What Is QuickBooks Bank Error 105?
Error Code
105
QuickBooks Online
Bank feed connection failure
What it actually means
Error 105 means QuickBooks Online tried to connect to your bank's server to download transactions — and the bank's server did not respond as expected. Think of it as QuickBooks knocking on your bank's door and nobody answering.
The critical thing to understand: in most cases this is a bank-side issue, not a QuickBooks problem. Your bank's server may be down for maintenance, experiencing an outage, or temporarily blocking third-party connections. QuickBooks is simply the messenger.
The QuickFix Bookkeeping Distinction — Two Very Different Situations
Situation A — Bank-side issue
Your bank's server is temporarily down, under maintenance, or blocking the connection. QuickBooks cannot do anything about this. The fix is either waiting it out or checking your bank's status page. This accounts for roughly 70% of Error 105 cases we see.
Situation B — Account or credential issue
Your bank login credentials have changed, your bank has updated its security requirements, or the connection between QuickBooks and your bank account has broken. This requires active steps on your end to re-establish the connection. Accounts for the remaining 30% of cases.
What Causes QuickBooks Bank Error 105?
🏦
Bank Server Maintenance
Your bank is performing scheduled or emergency maintenance. During this window their servers either go offline entirely or block third-party data requests — including QuickBooks. This is temporary and resolves on its own.
🔐
Changed Login Credentials
You recently changed your online banking password or username — but did not update the saved credentials inside QuickBooks Online. The connection breaks the moment the stored password no longer matches.
🌐
Bank Security Updates
Banks periodically update their authentication requirements — adding multi-factor authentication, changing their API endpoints, or upgrading their connection protocols. This can break existing QuickBooks connections without any action on your part.
📡
Poor Internet Connection
A weak or intermittent internet connection on your end can prevent QuickBooks from completing the handshake with your bank's server — resulting in a timeout that gets logged as Error 105.
🗂️
Deleted Download Files
Previously downloaded or imported transaction files that have been deleted can disrupt the bank feed sync process and trigger Error 105 when QuickBooks tries to reference them during the next update.
⚙️
Incorrect Bank URL
QuickBooks needs the correct online banking URL to establish the connection. If your bank has changed its web address or if the wrong URL was entered during setup, the connection will fail every time.
How Error 105 Shows Up in QuickBooks Online
01
Bank feed stops updating
Transactions stop appearing in your bank feed. You go to Banking → Bank Transactions and see no new activity despite knowing there should be recent transactions to import.
02
Error 105 message appears next to your account
In the Banking tab, the affected account shows a yellow or red warning flag with the error code 105 and a message referencing bank maintenance or a connection issue.
03
Manual update attempts also fail
Hitting the Update button manually returns the same error rather than refreshing the feed. This is a sign the issue is consistent — not a one-off glitch.
04
You can still log into your bank directly with no issues
This is the most telling symptom. If you can log into your bank's website just fine using the same credentials, but QuickBooks still shows Error 105, the problem is in the connection between the two — not the credentials themselves.
How to Fix QuickBooks Bank Error 105 — Step by Step
Work through these in order. Most cases resolve by Method 2 or 3.
METHOD 1
Check Your Bank's Website First
Do this before anything else
Since most Error 105 cases are bank-side issues, the very first step is to confirm whether your bank is actually experiencing a problem. This takes two minutes and will tell you immediately whether any further action on your end is even needed.
1
Open a separate browser tab and go directly to your bank's website using your normal login. Check for any banner alerts, maintenance notices, or service interruption messages on the login page or your account dashboard.
2
Check your account history and transaction list — if pages are loading slowly or data is missing even on the bank's own site, the server issue is confirmed on their end.
3
If the bank site looks fine — move to Method 2. The issue is on the QuickBooks connection side.
If the bank site has issues — wait 24 hours and try updating QuickBooks again. Banks typically resolve server issues within one business day. No further action needed on your end.
QuickFix tip: If the error has persisted for more than 48 hours and your bank's site works fine, do not keep waiting. At that point it is a connection issue that requires active troubleshooting — move to the methods below.
METHOD 2
Run a Manual Update in QuickBooks Online
Clears most temporary connection issues
Sometimes Error 105 is triggered by a single failed sync attempt that gets stuck. A manual update forces QuickBooks to re-initiate the connection from scratch — clearing the error in many cases.
1
In QuickBooks Online, go to Transactions → Bank Transactions (or Banking, depending on your version).
2
Click the Update button in the top right of the page. Select the accounts you want to refresh and deselect any accounts that are not affected.
3
If prompted for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) credentials — enter the code sent to your phone or email. This is your bank requiring an additional security verification.
4
If the error persists after the first manual update, wait 2 to 3 hours and try again. Repeat this up to three times before moving to Method 3.
METHOD 3
Update Your Bank Login Credentials in QuickBooks
Essential if password has changed
If your bank login details have changed at any point — even a password reset months ago — QuickBooks is still using the old credentials to attempt connection. This fix updates what QuickBooks has stored and re-establishes the link.
1
Go to Transactions → Bank Transactions. Find the affected bank account and click the pencil / edit icon next to it.
2
Select Edit sign-in info. Update your User ID and password to exactly match what you currently use to log into your bank's website.
3
Save the updated credentials and then immediately run a manual update to test the connection. QuickBooks will attempt to reconnect using the new details.
QuickFix tip: Make sure you are using the URL your bank specifically uses for online banking — not a mobile app URL or a general bank website address. Some banks have different login portals for business vs personal accounts. Using the wrong one will keep producing Error 105 regardless of how many times you update the credentials.
METHOD 4
Disconnect and Reconnect the Bank Account
Fresh start for broken connections
If updating credentials did not help, the connection itself may be corrupted. Disconnecting and reconnecting forces QuickBooks to build a fresh link to your bank — clearing whatever is causing the persistent error.
Before you disconnect: Categorise any uncategorised transactions currently in your bank feed. Disconnecting will pause the feed and you do not want to lose track of anything already downloaded.
1
Go to Transactions → Bank Transactions. Click the pencil icon on the affected account → select Edit account info.
2
Tick the box that says Disconnect this account on save. Click Save and close. The account is now disconnected from the bank feed.
3
Wait 5 minutes. Then go back to the Banking tab → click Add Account → search for your bank by name → enter your credentials and reconnect.
4
QuickBooks will offer to download the last 90 days of transactions. Review them carefully to make sure nothing is duplicated before accepting.
METHOD 5
Manually Import Transactions via CSV
Keep your books moving while you wait
If none of the above has resolved the issue and you cannot afford to wait for the bank to fix their server — you can keep your books up to date by importing transactions manually. This is a workaround, not a permanent fix, but it keeps your reconciliation on track.
1
Log into your bank's website and download your recent transactions as a CSV or QBO file — most banks offer this under Statements or Transaction History.
2
In QuickBooks Online, go to Transactions → Bank Transactions → click Upload transactions (the link next to the Update button).
3
Select your bank account, upload the file, map the columns (date, description, amount), and import. QuickBooks will match what it can automatically.
QuickFix tip: Once the bank connection is restored, QuickBooks will try to download the same period again. Be careful to check for duplicates before accepting the automatic import — or contact us and we will handle the reconciliation cleanly for you.
Which Fix Applies to Your Situation?
| What you are seeing |
Most likely cause |
Go to |
| Error appeared suddenly today, bank site is slow too |
Bank server maintenance |
Method 1 — wait |
| Error persists, bank site works fine |
Stuck connection |
Method 2 — manual update |
| You changed your bank password recently |
Stale credentials in QBO |
Method 3 — update creds |
| Error has been there for weeks, nothing clears it |
Broken connection |
Method 4 — reconnect |
| Books need to be up to date right now |
Cannot wait for fix |
Method 5 — CSV import |
Frequently Asked Questions About Bank Error 105
How long does Error 105 usually last?
If the cause is bank-side maintenance, most cases resolve within 24 hours. If it has persisted beyond 48 hours and your bank's website is fully functional, it is no longer a waiting game — you need to take action. In our experience at QuickFix Bookkeeping, cases that go beyond 48 hours are almost always credential or connection issues that respond immediately once the right fix is applied.
Will I lose any transactions because of Error 105?
No transactions are lost. Error 105 only affects the download of new transactions — your existing QuickBooks data is completely untouched. When the connection is restored, QuickBooks will pick up where it left off and download any transactions from the period the feed was broken. The only risk is duplicates if you also manually imported during the outage, which is easy to clean up.
Why does Error 105 keep coming back every few weeks?
Recurring Error 105 usually means one of two things: your bank runs frequent maintenance windows that consistently break the feed, or your bank uses a connection method that QuickBooks does not fully support. Some banks — particularly credit unions and smaller regional institutions — have known compatibility issues with QuickBooks Online's bank feed system. If this is your situation, the CSV import method combined with a regular reconciliation schedule is a more reliable long-term approach than fighting a recurring connection error.
Does Error 105 affect my bank account balance in QuickBooks?
It can make your QuickBooks balance appear outdated since new transactions are not downloading — but it does not alter or corrupt any existing balance data. Think of it as the feed being paused, not broken. Your actual bank balance is unaffected and your historical QuickBooks records remain intact.
Can Error 105 appear on multiple bank accounts at the same time?
Yes — and when it does, it almost always points to a bank-side issue rather than a QuickBooks configuration problem. If you have multiple accounts at the same bank all showing Error 105 simultaneously, the bank is experiencing a server issue affecting all third-party connections. Check their status page and wait it out. If only one account is affected while others at the same bank are fine, it is specific to that account's credentials or connection settings.
Related QuickBooks Banking Errors
Bank Error 105 often appears alongside or is confused with other banking connection errors in QuickBooks Online. These guides cover the most closely related ones:
Bank Feed Still Not Working?
Let QuickFix Bookkeeping Sort It Out
Certified Intuit ProAdvisors · QuickBooks Online Specialists
We have reconnected bank feeds, cleared duplicate transactions, and untangled broken connections for businesses across the US — usually resolving bank feed issues within a single session. If Error 105 is holding up your reconciliation, do not spend another day working around it.
Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation
No obligation. Same-day response. We handle QuickBooks Online banking issues daily.
