# What Is Banner Document Management (BDM)?

Source: https://www.itcadence.com/blog/what-is-banner-document-management-bdm
Category: Banner Technical | Published: 2026-10-07 | Updated: 2026-10-07 | Publisher: ITCadence

Banner Document Management stores scanned and electronic documents linked to Banner records such as student files and invoices. How it works and common use cases.

**Short answer:** Banner Document Management (BDM) is Ellucian's document imaging solution for Banner, built on OpenText ApplicationXtender. It lets offices scan or upload documents such as transcripts, application materials, financial aid forms and invoices, index them with Banner data such as ID and term, and retrieve them from the related Banner record.

## Overview

BDM puts the **paperwork next to the data**. Instead of a filing cabinet, staff see the student's documents from the student's record.

## Typical use cases

| Office | Documents |
|---|---|
| Admissions | Applications, transcripts, test scores, recommendations |
| Registrar | Graduation applications, grade change forms |
| Financial aid | Verification documents, appeals |
| HR | Contracts, employee forms |
| Accounts payable | Invoices, supporting documents |

## Keys to a good BDM setup

1. **Consistent indexing**: define which Banner fields index each document type.
2. **Retention rules**: decide how long each document type is kept.
3. **Security**: align document access with Banner roles.
4. **Capture workflow**: scanning, upload or automated import, with quality checks.

ITCadence supports Banner document workflows alongside Banner modules. [Talk to us](https://www.itcadence.com/#contact).

## Frequently asked questions

### Which offices use BDM most?

Admissions, registrar, financial aid, HR and accounts payable are typical heavy users.

### How are documents linked to Banner?

Documents are indexed with Banner keys such as ID, name, term or document number, which allows retrieval from related Banner pages.