What does 'Bank Reconciliation' mean?

A bank reconciliation statement reconciles an entity's bank account with its financial records. The statement lists all deposits, withdrawals, and other transactions in a bank account over a specific time. A bank reconciliation statement is an important instrument for detecting and combating fraud in the financial system. According to bank reconciliation data, payments have been processed, and cash collections have been put into the bank. In addition, the reconciliation statement aids in identifying discrepancies between the bank and book balances so that appropriate changes or repairs can be made. Once a month, an accountant processes reconciliation statements. Therefore, a bank reconciliation statement needs the use of both the current and prior month's statements, as well as the account's closing balance.