Question 1

Why does NBU use CSV files instead of just linking to my bank?

Accepted Answer

Because linking to your bank means handing your login to a third party that signs in as you and scrapes your data. We're not comfortable asking you to do that, so we don't. You export a CSV (every major Canadian bank offers it, and it takes about 30 seconds) and upload it here. Your banking credentials stay between you and your bank. It's slightly more manual, and that's the whole trade: a little effort for a lot of privacy.

Question 2

Can I bring in accounts from different banks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It's the main reason NBU exists. Import a statement from each bank or card and NBU brings them into one view: total spending across everything, plus a net worth figure that counts your savings and investments. Your bank can't show you accounts held at other banks. NBU can, because you bring the data together yourself.

Question 3

How do I export a CSV from my bank?

Accepted Answer

Most Canadian banks put this under Account History or Statements. Look for a Download or Export button, choose CSV, and pick your date range. Takes about 30 seconds. If your bank only offers PDF, that works too, though it costs a few Sparks to process since reading a PDF takes AI.

Question 4

Do I need to create an account to try NBU?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You need a free account, just an email address. No credit card required.

Question 5

Is there a mobile app?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. NBU works in your mobile browser, but a native app is on the roadmap.

Question 6

Will NBU support open banking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Canada is still rolling out open banking, and when it's available we'll add it as an option. Until then, CSV import is the safe bridge: you get your accounts in one place without handing your bank login to anyone. We see open banking as something to adopt on your terms, not a reason to start scraping your credentials now.

Question 7

Does NBU connect to my bank?

Accepted Answer

No. We never ask for your banking credentials. You export a CSV or PDF from your bank and upload it here. Your login stays yours. See the full story on our Privacy-first page.

Question 8

Why not just use a spreadsheet for all this?

Accepted Answer

Honestly, you can. The founder did for years, and it works fine if you enjoy maintaining scripts and mapping every bank's format by hand. NBU is that spreadsheet rebuilt so you don't have to: AI categorization instead of manual sorting, multiple banks in one view automatically, and a net worth figure that updates itself. Same privacy as a spreadsheet (your data, no bank login), far less of the work.

Question 9

How does Valerie handle sensitive information in my transactions?

Accepted Answer

Identifying details like names and account numbers, anything that could single you out, are scrubbed before your transactions reach the AI model. Valerie sees "grocery store, $87," not who you are.

Question 10

I'm in Québec. Does anything specific apply to me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's good for you. NBU is built by a Québec company and complies with Law 25, the province's privacy law. You have a named Privacy Officer to contact (privacy@quantumize.ai), the right to access and delete your data, and a fully French version of the product. Your financial data is never sold.

Question 11

Can I delete my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at any time. You can export your data as a CSV from the Data Management page, or delete your account entirely. Deleting your account permanently removes your data from our systems.

Question 12

What is Law 25 and how does it apply to NBU?

Accepted Answer

Law 25 is Québec's provincial privacy legislation. As a Québec company, Quantumize AI is subject to it. It gives you the right to access, correct, and delete your personal data. You may also file a complaint with the Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI). See our Privacy Policy for details.

Question 13

Who is NBU's Privacy Officer?

Accepted Answer

Our Privacy Officer can be reached at privacy@quantumize.ai. Quantumize AI Inc., Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Question 14

Do I have to use NBU every day?

Accepted Answer

No, and we'd rather you didn't. NBU is built around a once-a-month review: import your statements, see where you stand, and get on with your life. There are no streaks or daily reminders. Stay away five days or more and you'll come back to a discount on AI actions. The whole thing is built around occasional use.

Question 15

What's credit card churning, and how does NBU help?

Accepted Answer

Churning is opening credit cards, and sometimes bank accounts, to earn welcome bonuses and rewards, then moving on. It's lucrative if you're disciplined and a headache to track if you're not. NBU watches your spend targets and deadlines, alerts you before annual fees hit, tracks cooldowns, and checks every reward chase against your real spending so you don't overspend to earn a bonus. Churning only pays off on a solid foundation, so NBU measures each card against your real numbers instead of the ones the offer assumes.

Question 16

Can I create my own categories?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can create custom categories and set monthly budgets per category. Valerie will track your spending against them.

Question 17

How does NBU keep churning from wrecking my budget?

Accepted Answer

NBU checks every reward chase against your real spending. It compares a card's welcome-bonus spend target to what you actually spend in a month, so you can see whether you'd hit it on normal purchases or have to invent expenses to get there. It also tracks the deadline, the annual fee, and the cooldown, so you know the cost side before you apply.

Question 18

What can I ask Valerie?

Accepted Answer

Anything about your spending, budgets, or financial habits. You can also ask general financial questions about RRSPs, TFSAs, debt payoff strategies, and similar topics. She'll be clear when you're better off talking to a registered professional.

Question 19

Is Valerie a financial advisor?

Accepted Answer

No. Valerie is an AI assistant. She's not registered with the AMF and nothing she says should be treated as professional financial advice. Use her as a thinking partner, not the final word.

Question 20

Can I track multiple accounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Import a statement from each bank or card and NBU brings them all into one view: total spending across everything, plus net worth. That's the main reason NBU exists.

Question 21

How do I set a monthly budget?

Accepted Answer

Go to the Budget section in your dashboard and set a monthly limit per category. Valerie will track your spending against it and flag when you're getting close.

Question 22

Is NBU free, and what are Sparks?

Accepted Answer

Every feature is free during the beta, no credit card. Sparks are small credits that power Valerie's AI work, like categorizing a tricky import or answering a question. A standard action is about 10 Sparks, a plain CSV import is free, and a PDF costs a few since it takes AI to read. You get a monthly allowance, with discounts for occasional use and for contributing. Paid plans (Plus at $6/mo and Household at $12/mo CAD) are available now: they add more monthly Sparks and waive the 100-Spark community contribution. You'll get plenty of notice before anything you're using changes.

Question 23

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

You can export all your data as a CSV at any time from the Data Management page. If you delete your account, your data is permanently removed from our systems.

Question 24

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Go to Account Settings and select Delete Account. You'll be asked to confirm. Deletion is permanent and removes all your data from our systems.

Question 25

Will prices change for current beta users?

Accepted Answer

Paid plans are available now, and if you subscribe during the beta you keep your plan and price. As we finalize what's in each plan, we won't just flip a switch. You'll have plenty of notice and time to decide.

Question 26

What file formats does NBU accept?

Accepted Answer

CSV is the primary format and costs nothing to process. PDF is also supported and costs a few Sparks, since reading a PDF requires AI. Some banks also offer OFX or QFX exports, which NBU can read.

Question 27

My transactions are showing wrong dates. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

This is usually a date format mismatch (DD/MM/YYYY vs MM/DD/YYYY). Go to Import Settings and check your date format, or re-map the date column. If the problem persists, contact us at hello@quantumize.ai.

Question 28

A transaction imported twice. How do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

Find the duplicate in your transaction list, select it, and delete it. If you're seeing many duplicates, check whether you imported overlapping date ranges.

Question 29

Is NBU available in French?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NBU is fully bilingual. Toggle the language using the EN/FR switch in the top navigation.

Frequently asked questions

Getting Started

Privacy & Security

Using NBU

Billing & Account

Technical

Your money's been talking. Once a month is enough to listen.