> Exactly same as with paper ones, but with fewer steps.
Actually with more steps.
Paper statements:
Bank generates paper statement on appointed day (work/time input by bank)
Bank packages paper statement in envelope and mails it (work/time input by bank)
Postal service delivers paper statement to my mailbox (work/time input by postal service)
I open paper statement (work/time input by me)
I scan paper statement (work/time input by me) (also can be optional if one prefers simply filing paper statements)
Electronic statement PDF's on bank website:
Bank (maybe) sends an email saying "your statement is ready"
I receive the email
I have to now open my password manager (work/time by me)
I have to log into bank website (work/time input by me)
I have to navigate to the "download your statement area" (which was designed to make the process of accessing the electronic statement as obtuse as possible) (work/time input by me)
I have to download the pdf (hopefully one click for me, but still a bit of work/time by me)
I have to rename the downloaded pdf to fit my filing convention (since, at best, it downloads as "statement.pdf" from the bank)
The major time input on my part with paper statements is the "scan" part, all the rest happens without any involvement of time, energy, or remembering it is "time" on my part.
The electronic statement download requires I actively expend time and effort to "go to their website, log in, find the download section, find the statement, and initiate the download".
What I want to see, but no bank offers it, is exactly the same flow as the paper/postal service, but substituting "email" for "postal service" and "pdf" for "paper". I upload a GPG public key, bank does the work of encrypting the pdf using my key and emailing me a copy (which makes "electronic statement" the same as paper, they do the work of remembering it is time and initiating the transmission). Then I save the pdf attachment from the email, decrypt it, and file it (saving the "scan" step from the paper copy flow).
On the bright side, now that you have step by step instructions for what needs to be done, you can hack together a script that will take you more time than doing that process manually would have for the rest of your life, but once you do you won't have to do it ever again.*
*unless the bank changes something about their email/website/pdf and that breaks the script
Or, perhaps more likely, a third party "security" department contacted by the bank implements some AI-backed system that notices your program scraping data and freezes your account.
Actually with more steps.
Paper statements:
Bank generates paper statement on appointed day (work/time input by bank)
Bank packages paper statement in envelope and mails it (work/time input by bank)
Postal service delivers paper statement to my mailbox (work/time input by postal service)
I open paper statement (work/time input by me)
I scan paper statement (work/time input by me) (also can be optional if one prefers simply filing paper statements)
Electronic statement PDF's on bank website:
Bank (maybe) sends an email saying "your statement is ready"
I receive the email
I have to now open my password manager (work/time by me)
I have to log into bank website (work/time input by me)
I have to navigate to the "download your statement area" (which was designed to make the process of accessing the electronic statement as obtuse as possible) (work/time input by me)
I have to download the pdf (hopefully one click for me, but still a bit of work/time by me)
I have to rename the downloaded pdf to fit my filing convention (since, at best, it downloads as "statement.pdf" from the bank)
The major time input on my part with paper statements is the "scan" part, all the rest happens without any involvement of time, energy, or remembering it is "time" on my part.
The electronic statement download requires I actively expend time and effort to "go to their website, log in, find the download section, find the statement, and initiate the download".
What I want to see, but no bank offers it, is exactly the same flow as the paper/postal service, but substituting "email" for "postal service" and "pdf" for "paper". I upload a GPG public key, bank does the work of encrypting the pdf using my key and emailing me a copy (which makes "electronic statement" the same as paper, they do the work of remembering it is time and initiating the transmission). Then I save the pdf attachment from the email, decrypt it, and file it (saving the "scan" step from the paper copy flow).