If you’re trying to set up or use online banking in QuickBooks Desktop and you keep hitting a wall with an error message about branding and profile servers not being accessible, you’re dealing with QuickBooks Error OLSU 1013 one of the most common bank feed errors in QuickBooks Desktop.
This error shows up specifically during banking operations either when you’re setting up a bank account for bank feeds for the first time, or when QuickBooks is trying to connect to your financial institution’s servers. When it appears, you’re completely blocked from updating your account information or downloading transactions until it’s resolved.
The good news is that there are seven well-tested solutions for this error, covering everything from a quick FIDIR update to a TLS protocol fix and a create-and-merge account workaround. This article walks through all of them clearly. If you’d rather have a certified expert handle it, our team is available 24/7 at +1-888-510-9198.
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What is QuickBooks Error Code OLSU 1013?
While performing banking operations in QuickBooks Online users usually have to face technical error, it usually happens due to this bank feed error also known as QuickBooks Error Code OLSU 1013. And the error message of OLSU 1013 that appears on your desktop screen is stated as:
“An unexpected error occurred. The branding and profile servers could not be accessed”. There is a problem with your login. Please try again. At this point, you can click Cancel to discontinue setup and then retry setting up the account for online services again.
What are the reasons that Triggers this error?
There are several triggers of this bank feed OLSU Error Code 1013 in QuickBooks but one of the main reasons behind this OLSU error code 1013 is issue with the bank institution of the user also referred to as financial institution or FI. Though we have also listed below some more effective reasons behind the occurrence of these reasons and they are as follows:
- Using the outdated version of the QuickBooks Desktop can be one of the major flaws.
- Due to interruption in internet connectivity.
- By entering wrong login credentials.
- No response from the servers of the bank institution due to their undergoing maintenance or the update process.
- Probably using other mode instead of using Express mode or Side by Side mode.
- When the Internet Explorer configuration is not supporting QuickBooks Desktop’s connection with the browser.
- Also due to the outdated financial directory.
Few Points to keep in mind before performing troubleshooting steps to resolve OLSU Error 1013
- The very first step is to ensure that you are using the latest version of the QuickBooks software.
- Also, make sure that you are having proper internet connection so that you can easily access websites later.
- Use internet explorer as your default browser other than this updates your internet explorer to the latest version.
- Try to login to your online banking account so to check out that the bank credentials you are entering are correct.
- Ensure to check the backup of the company file.
- Always use QuickBooks in a single user mode not in a multi-user mode.
- Lastly it is also important to match any pending download transactions.
Handy Solutions to fix the error
After you are well versed about this QuickBooks OLSU Error 1013 now it’s time to perform fixation process of this error, for this carry out the below stated following solutions in sequence:
SOLUTION I: Generate a new company file
Following these steps to generate a new company file:
- Initially, move to the File menu and then select New Company.
- Now click on Express start option.
- Add the bank account that is having the issues
- Once done now set up the account for bank feeds on the new test company.
- Lastly you have to download the bank feed transactions to test the account.
Read Also: How to Solve QuickBooks Bank Reconciliation?
SOLUTION II: Update the Financial Institution Directory (FIDIR)
In this method you have to update the Financial Institution Directory which is an online directory by making changes on it using Bank tab in QuickBooks.
- At first, open your QuickBooks desktop
- Then move to the Banking tab,
- Now opt for the Bank Feeds option
- And hit a click on Bank Feeds Center in this step.
- Now from the options available in the drop-down bar, Choose Sync all for this Bank.
- This will update your FIDIR which in turn will fix the problem of OLSU 1013 error in QuickBooks software.
SOLUTION III: Enable TSL1.2 Internet protocol
If somehow the above solutions didn’t work out, we would recommend you to try this solution using TSL1.2 Internet protocol. Following steps of this method are given below:
- Initially, go to Internet explorer 11 and also verify the current version and if not update to it to the latest one.
- Hit a click on the Gear icon located on the upper right section of the browser.
- Now you need to Go to the internet option then choose and click on Advanced tab.
- After that scroll down to the Security section and un-mark the Use TLS 1.0 and Mark Use TLS 1.2.
- Next click on Apply option and OK tab to save the applied actions.
- At last close all the running programs and reboot the system.
SOLUTION IV: Create and Merge accounts
Another solution is to create accounts and merge them. Do follow the steps in the same way as mentioned below:
- Initially, right click on the Accounts in which you are facing issues and then choose Edit account.
- After that highlight the Account name and then click on the Copy button.
- Also, you need to add an Asterisk (*) at the end of the account name.
- Once done with that hit a click on the Bank feed settings tab and then go to Deactivate the All-online services option.
- Moving ahead, click on Save and close option.
- Now Click on the Chart of accountants and make a new account.
- Thereafter you need to paste the Account name by removing the Asterisk (*) mark.
- After that close the File and open it again then hit a click on the Chart of accountants with asterisk.
- Now right click on the Account and hit click on Edit option.
- Next, eliminate the asterisk (*) and click on Save and Close button.
- Then Click on Yes when the merge warning message appears on your screen.
- Thereafter Go for Setup an account for bank feeds.
- Finally download all the transactions to the newly merged account.
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SOLUTION V: Deactivate the Account’s having online services
In order to fix the OLSU error 1013 in QuickBooks, you need to deactivate the account’s having online services. The steps to be followed are:
- In this solution, first check the Include inactive option located at the bottom of the Chart of Accountants.
- After that, you are required to deactivate bank feeds for the inactive account.
- Now you need to close the file and then open it again.
- Finally, you can set up every account for Bank Feeds.
SOLUTION VI: Refresh the bank connection with the account
To avoid this OLSU 1013 error it is important to refresh the bank connection with the account facing issues and the steps to be performed to carry out this process are:
- First of all, check all Inactive bank accounts and turn off online banking in them.
- After that navigate to the company file.
- Now Select the chart of accounts.
- After that select the include inactive box. Mark the inactive account with the lightning bolt.
An important point to be noted here is that while setting up, hold the Ctrl key each time you have to select a tab. The exception is while entering the information; it will refresh the connection with the bank.
SOLUTION VII: Setting QuickBooks to be Used in Express Mode
- At first, open the QuickBooks Desktop in your system.
- Now you are required to Sign into the company file as an admin.
- Next, Click on the Preferences under the Edit tab in QuickBooks Desktop.
- Then from the left side of the dashboard click on Checking tab.
- After that click on the Company Preferences tab and choose Express Mode in the Bank Feed window.
- Press the OK tab in order to save the changes.
Summing up
Once you’ve cleared QuickBooks Error OLSU 1013 and your bank feed connection is working again, take a moment to download any pending transactions that were blocked during the error period and match them against your bank records. If you went through the Create and Merge account process (Solution IV), also verify that all your previous transactions carried over correctly to the merged account before adding new ones.
Going forward, keeping QuickBooks updated, maintaining correct TLS settings in Internet Explorer, and periodically syncing your FIDIR from the Bank Feeds Center will prevent most recurrences of this error. If the error comes back after your next QuickBooks or Windows update, re-check your TLS 1.2 settings first that’s the most common post-update trigger.
If OLSU 1013 is still appearing after working through all seven solutions, or if you’re not comfortable making changes to IE security settings or merging accounts on your own, our certified QuickBooks customer support team at +1-888-510-9198 is available 24/7. We handle bank feed errors like this one regularly and can usually get your connection restored in a single session.
FAQs related to OLSU 1013 Error in QuickBooks
QuickBooks Error OLSU 1013 is a bank feed error that appears when QuickBooks Desktop cannot connect to your financial institution’s branding and profile servers during online banking setup or operation. The error message reads: “An unexpected error occurred. The branding and profile servers could not be accessed.” It prevents you from updating account information or downloading bank transactions until the connection issue is resolved.
The most common causes are: an issue with the financial institution’s servers (maintenance or outages), an outdated Financial Institution Directory (FIDIR), incorrect bank login credentials, using QuickBooks in Classic Mode instead of Express Mode, outdated QuickBooks Desktop version, and Internet Explorer not configured to use TLS 1.2 for secure connections.
The fastest first step is to update the Financial Institution Directory by going to Banking > Bank Feeds > Bank Feeds Center and selecting “Sync all for this Bank.” If that doesn’t work, enable TLS 1.2 in Internet Explorer Advanced settings, switch QuickBooks to Express Mode under Edit > Preferences > Checking > Company Preferences, or create a test company file to isolate whether the issue is account-specific. For persistent cases, call +1-888-510-9198 for expert assistance.
Not necessarily. OLSU 1013 is a connection error it means QuickBooks couldn’t reach your bank’s servers at that moment, not that the account itself has been disconnected or changed. In many cases, the account link is still intact and the error clears once the FIDIR is updated, TLS settings are corrected, or the bank’s servers come back online after maintenance.
Windows updates sometimes reset Internet Explorer’s TLS settings, re-enabling TLS 1.0 or disabling TLS 1.2. Since QuickBooks uses IE’s engine for bank feed connections, this change breaks the secure connection with financial institution servers and triggers OLSU 1013. After any major system update, check Internet Explorer’s Advanced settings and confirm TLS 1.2 is checked and TLS 1.0 is unchecked under the Security section.
The Financial Institution Directory (FIDIR) is an internal database that QuickBooks maintains to store connection data for all supported banks and financial institutions. When a bank updates its server information or connection protocols, the FIDIR needs to be refreshed to reflect those changes. If QuickBooks is working from outdated FIDIR data, it can’t establish a correct connection triggering OLSU 1013. Syncing the FIDIR from the Bank Feeds Center updates this data and restores the connection.
Yes, creating a test company file (Solution I) is a useful diagnostic step rather than a permanent fix. If setting up the bank account in a new test company file works without triggering OLSU 1013, it confirms that the issue is specific to a setting or configuration in your main company file, not a system-wide problem. You can then use that knowledge to narrow down which setting in your main file needs to be corrected typically through Solutions IV, V, or VI above.
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