Bank Reconciliation Statement: Stages and Advantages

CONTENTS

1. STAGES OF BANK RECONCILIATION
2. WORKING EXERCISES
3. ADVANTAGES/PURPOSE OF BANK RECONCILIATION

When the entries on a bank statement are compared to those in the bank account in the cash book it will be found that they are recorded on opposite sides of the account.

It is important to compare the Bank Statement and the bank account in the Cash Book.  The balance on the bank account may not agree with the balance on the Bank Statement at any particular date.

When the balances in the Cash Book and Bank Statement do not agree, it is necessary to reconcile them to explain why the difference have arisen . The bank reconciliation will show the correct balance to be used as the figure for cash at bank.

HOW TO PREPARE A BANK RECONCILIATION STATEMENT

STEP 1 :   Compare the entries in the bank account in the Cash Book with the Bank Statement. The debit side of the bank account should be compared with the credit side of the Bank Statement and the credit side of the bank account compared with the debit side of the Bank Statement. Put a tick ( ) against those items that appear in both the Cash Book and the Bank Statement.

STEP 2:   Update the Cash Book (i.e. prepare an Adjusted Cash Book)

1.  Enter in the Cash Book any item which appear on the Bank Statement but which have not yet been entered in the Cash Book.
2. Correct any error in the Cash Book
3. Balance the Cash Book and carry down the balance.

NB:   This new Cash Book balance is the correct bank balance. If it is the end of the financial year, this is the balance which should appear in the Balance Sheet.

STEP  3 :   Prepare a Bank Reconciliation Statement.

This should show why the balance on the up-dated Cash Book does not agree with the balance shown on the Bank Statement.

1. Start with the balance as per Adjusted Cash Book
2. Add the unpresented cheques
3. Deduct the uncredited cheques
4. Make any adjustment for bank errors by adding amounts credited in error by the bank and deducting amounts debited in error by the bank
5. The total of this calculation above should be equal to the balance as per the Bank Statement

NB:     It is possible to start the bank reconciliation statement with the balance as per the Bank Statement. In this case, it is necessary to reverse the items (b), (c) and (d) listed above.

A bank reconciliation statement does not form part of the double entry records of the business. It is a statement which shows that, on a certain date, the bank account and the bank statement were reconciled.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. State five items of information given in a bank statement
2. What Is the purpose of bank reconciliation

ADVANTAGES / PURPOSE / USES OF BANK RECONCILIATION

1. It reveals items that cause the discrepancy (disagreement) between the Cash Book balance and the Bank Statement balance
2. It harmonizes (reconciles or agrees)the balances of the Cash Book and the Bank Statement
3. After updating the Cash Book, an accurate bank balance is available
4. It enables a customer to update his Cash Book regarding those items debited or credited in the Bank Statement which have not been entered in the Cash Book
5. Unpresented cheques and uncredited cheques will be identified

•  It assists in discovering fraud and embezzlement either from the bank or office
• It helps to identify errors in the Cash Book (bank account) and in the Bank Statement
• Any stale cheque (cheques over six months old, which will not be paid by the bank )can be identified and written back into the bank account
• Where the bank reconciliation statement is prepared regularly, (especially by somebody other than the cashier), it helps to reduce /prevent/deter  fraud
• It ensures that the correct bank balance is shown in the Balance Sheet i.e. it reveals the correct amount of cash at bank
• Bank reconciliation is an important system of control:
• Unintended overdrawing on the bank account can be avoided
• A surplus of cash at bank can be highlighted and invested to earn interest.

                                     EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between a bank statement and a bank reconciliation statement
2. List five features of a cheque

READING ASSIGNMENT

1. Simplified and Amplified Financial Accounting Page 95 – 114
2. Business  Accounting 1 Page 209 –  225

GENERAL EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. List four ledger accounts that have credit balances
2. State five reasons for keeping accounting records
3. List eight books of account that are used in keeping account records
4. State four features of the Cash Book
5. State four differences between trade discounts and cash discounts