Build a Credit Card Statement Analyzer in 45 Minutes
Use Cursor AI and Python to parse PDF statements, categorize transactions, and surface spending insights.
Companion Video
What you’ll build
A Python script that reads credit card statement PDFs, extracts transactions, categorizes spending, and prints a summary report. Perfect for understanding where your money goes.
Prerequisites
- Cursor installed
- Python 3.10+
- A sample credit card statement PDF (redact sensitive info)
Set up your project
Create a new folder and open it in Cursor:
mkdir statement-analyzer
cd statement-analyzer
cursor .Ask Cursor to create a requirements.txt with pypdf, pandas, and python-dotenv.
Extract text from the PDF
Create extract.py and prompt Cursor:
Write a function that reads a PDF file path and returns all text content using pypdf.
Test with your sample statement:
python extract.py sample-statement.pdfParse transactions with AI
Paste a chunk of extracted text into Cursor and ask:
Parse this credit card statement text into a list of transactions with date, description, and amount. Return as JSON.
Save the parsing logic in parse.py.
Categorize and summarize
Add simple category rules (groceries, dining, transport) or ask Cursor to classify merchants. Build a summary:
# Example output
# Groceries: $342.18
# Dining: $189.50
# Transport: $67.00Run the full pipeline
Wire everything together in main.py:
python main.py sample-statement.pdfYou should see a categorized spending breakdown in your terminal.
Next steps
- Export results to CSV
- Add month-over-month comparison
- Build a simple Streamlit dashboard
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