How to Redact an Account Number from a Bank Statement

Drawing a black shape over an account number leaves the text in the file; use a real redaction tool such as Preview's Redaction Selection on Mac, Acrobat Pro's Redact tool or UnKey Pro, then check you can't copy or search the hidden text.

To hide your account number, card number or balance before sharing a bank statement, use a real redaction tool, not a black box or highlighter. Drawing a shape on a PDF only adds a layer on top. The original text is still there and can often be copied, searched or revealed by removing the shape. Proper redaction removes the text itself.

Why a black rectangle isn't enough

PDF markup tools (shapes, highlights, signatures) add annotations that sit above the page. Anyone can select the text under them, search for it, or delete the annotation in another app. Redaction tools are different: they remove the content and leave a black area in its place.

Mac: Preview's Redaction Selection

1. Unlock the statement first, then make a copy (File > Duplicate) so the original stays intact.
2. Open the copy in Preview and show the Markup toolbar.
3. Choose the Redaction Selection tool and select the account number and anything else to hide.
4. Save and close the document.

Apple describes the tool as “Select text to remove it from view”, and adds: “You can change the redaction as you edit, but once you close the document, the redaction becomes permanent.” Apple also warns that table-of-contents entries linking to redacted text aren't removed (Apple: Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac). Statements rarely have one, but check.

Windows or Mac: Adobe Acrobat Pro

Acrobat Pro has a dedicated Redact tool, plus a sanitise option that removes hidden information such as metadata (Adobe: Redact and sanitize PDFs in Acrobat Pro). It's a paid feature. The free Acrobat Reader doesn't redact.

iPhone, iPad and Mac: UnKey Pro

UnKey Pro has a Redact tool. Type what to hide, such as the account number or your name, and it finds every match, including on statements that space letters out oddly. When you apply it, each page with a mark is flattened into an image with the marks painted black, so no text survives underneath. Pages without marks are kept as they were. It works offline. Redact is part of the one-time Pro purchase.

On iPhone, the built-in Markup and Preview tools add shapes and signatures but aren't documented by Apple as redaction tools, so treat a black shape there as a cover, not a removal.

What to hide on a statement

• Full account number and card numbers (often you can leave the last 4 digits).
• Customer ID, CRN or CIF number, which is also part of some statement passwords.
• Address, mobile number and email, if the recipient doesn't need them.
• Transactions unrelated to the purpose, if the recipient agrees. Some lenders and embassies want a complete statement, so ask first.

Check the redacted copy

1. Open the new file and search for the account number. It shouldn't be found.
2. Try to select and copy text in the black area, then paste it somewhere. Nothing should come out.
3. Look at the file name and document properties. They sometimes include the account number.

If someone needs to verify the statement is genuine, redaction may not be acceptable, because it changes the document. Ask what they need. For sharing safely, see is it safe to remove a PDF password.

Questions

Sources

• Apple – Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac (Redaction Selection)
• Adobe – Redact and sanitize PDFs in Acrobat Pro

Formats can change. If a password doesn't work, check the email the document came with or contact the issuer. UnKey isn't affiliated with any bank, employer or authority named here.