To redact a bank statement, open the PDF or photo with Document selected and draw a Blur box over each detail the recipient agrees is unnecessary. Keep required name, address, dates and financial evidence readable. Download the free copy and inspect every page and repeated identifier before sharing.
How to redact a bank statement
- Confirm what the recipient needs and whether an edited sharing copy is accepted. Keep the complete issued statement separately.
- Open the PDF, scan or photo. Document is selected for a full-page statement; choose Driving licence or UK passport when editing a card or passport-page copy instead.
- With Blur selected, draw a box over each agreed unnecessary field or transaction. Check the automatic crop, every processed page and repeated account details.
- Download the PDF, reopen it and check the result. The replacement is painted into the saved page image rather than left as a removable overlay.
Decide what the recipient may accept
There is no universal set of bank-statement fields that can be hidden. Ask whether a particular account number or unrelated transaction is unnecessary for this request. Keep required name, address, statement dates, balances and income entries readable. Do not change financial amounts or create replacement evidence.
For example, the ICO's subject-access helper lists a bank statement as one possible address document, alongside passport or driving licence identity evidence. It does not authorise particular redactions. Ask the organisation what it needs for its identification process; its guidance is currently under review.
For a licence or passport copy, confirm whether an identifier is needed before covering it. A passport number may also appear in the machine-readable lines. Check both locations and all other repeated fields. A personal edited copy cannot replace an original or prescribed identity check.
What the saved redaction removes
The tool replaces selected regions with paper-like texture. It does not blur the original characters or draw a black bar. The exported region has no removable overlay or original text layer beneath it; information outside the selected boxes can still reveal the same details.
Open JPG, PNG, supported HEIC or PDF up to 25 MB. Only the first ten PDF pages are processed. The exported PDF contains page images and loses selectable text, digital signatures and interactive fields. Keep the issued original when those properties matter.
Processing stays in your browser, without a document upload or account. The source stays unchanged and the download excludes camera metadata. You can label an accepted copy for its recipient, reduce the attachment size or put requested ID sides into PDF. Read the UK ID-sharing guide before sending a separate identity attachment.
Common questions
How do I redact a bank statement for free?
Open the statement with Document selected, use Blur to cover agreed unnecessary details, then download and inspect the PDF. Confirm that the recipient accepts the edited copy and keep all required evidence readable.
What should I redact on a bank statement?
Ask the recipient which details it does not need. There is no universal list. Keep required identity, address, statement dates and financial evidence visible, and check repeated information on every page.
Can I redact a passport or driving licence copy?
Yes, if the recipient accepts that edited copy. Choose the matching document type, keep required fields visible and check repeated passport numbers in the machine-readable lines. Keep the unchanged original.
Can I black out text in a PDF here?
Select the area with Blur. The tool fills it with paper-like texture rather than a black bar. The original selected pixels and text are absent from the exported page image.
Will the saved PDF keep its text or signatures?
No. It contains page images and loses selectable text, interactive fields and digital signatures. Only the first ten PDF pages are processed, so check the page count before sharing.
Is my document uploaded to redact it?
No. The copy is processed in your browser on your device, without an account or document upload. Your original file stays unchanged.
