How to Import Your Account Data into M2R

If you're managing more than a handful of accounts, entering them one at a time in M2R isn't realistic. Whether you're migrating from another system, onboarding a new client, or just doing a monthly bulk update, M2R's Import feature lets you bring in your accounts from Excel, CSV, or text files — no manual re-entry required.

Why Use Import Instead of Manual Entry

Manually entering accounts works fine for one or two new tradelines. But if you're bringing in a batch of accounts — say, from a legacy system, a spreadsheet a client sent over, or a monthly data refresh — importing saves hours of repetitive data entry and reduces the risk of typos creeping into fields that matter for accurate Metro 2^® reporting.

The Four-Step Import Process

M2R's Import wizard breaks the process into four clear steps: Upload, Map Fields, Preview, and Import.

1. Upload Your File
Start by selecting your file — M2R supports Excel (.xlsx, .xls), CSV, and delimited text files. Before uploading, you'll choose your Import Mode:

• Insert New Only — adds accounts that don't already exist, skips duplicates
• Update Existing — only updates accounts already in your database
• Insert & Update — does both in a single pass

You'll also set your Match By field — usually Account Number — which tells M2R how to identify whether a record already exists.

Don't have your data formatted yet? Click Download Template to get a blank Excel file with all the right columns already in place.

2. Map Your Fields
This is where your spreadsheet columns get connected to M2R's Metro 2^® fields. The Auto-Map button will handle most of this automatically by matching similar column names, but it's worth reviewing each category — Account Information, Terms & Payment, Primary Consumer, and so on — to make sure nothing required is left unmapped.

If you're going to be importing a similar file format regularly, save your mapping as a template once it's dialed in. Next time, you'll skip straight past this step.

3. Preview Your Data
Before anything actually gets imported, M2R shows you a preview of your first five records, formatted exactly as they'll appear once imported. This is your last chance to catch a mapping error — check that names, account numbers, and addresses look right, and that any co-signers or joint account holders (J1/J2 segments) are showing up correctly.

4. Review Your Results
After the import runs, you'll see four numbers: Imported, Updated, Skipped, and Errors. If you see warnings — like an adjusted terms duration or a flagged SSN — these are usually automatic corrections M2R made on your behalf. If you're seeing the same warning repeated across many rows, it's worth reviewing your source file before your next import.

A Few Things Worth Remembering

• Imported accounts are automatically tagged for reporting — check Search Accounts before your next Metro 2^® file generation to confirm everything looks right.
• Save your field mapping templates for recurring import formats — it's one of the biggest time-savers in the whole workflow.
• When in doubt about a warning, use View Error Report to see exactly which rows were affected and why.