I took about 15 mins every day to update the info, but once you have all of the raw data inputted, it's very revealing. Unfortunately you can't customise the date period, and the data in inputted by the amount spent, starting with the largest, so I spent 10 mins today categorizing all of the €40 ATM transactions. It goes back 13 months, so it paints a fairly comprehensive picture of your spending once you have all of the transactions. Sometimes it can be hard to remember what type of a retailer you were with when you used your laser card 6 months ago, especially if it is a company name, and not a trading name for petrol stations, etc. One thing I did notice was how little we spent as a family of 5 on clothing and personal effects this year, and how much was spent in Smyths Toys for birthdays, and for presents for invitations to parties. I had no idea that these little party invitations that come home in the school bag could cost so much when you see it laid out as part of the monthly spend.
I can't see how BOI could need to use the data; if they need to, they can produce any amount of spreadsheets from their own processing centre in Cabinteely by simply running a report. Anyway, they don't have money to give out as personal loans like they used to....