Is there any way to import bank transactions (CSV or Excel) into VT or Quickbooks (or any other similar package)?

I have a client with numerous bank transactions where I currently use an excel approach for bookkeeping and VAT returns. This works nicely with the bank entries as the client emails me a CSV file which I can simply copy/paste and then do a quick analysis.

I'm now looking to transfer the client into either VT or Quickbooks for ease of reporting - but I really don't want to manually key-in hundreds of transactions so ideally would want to be able to import the data in from the CSV/excel file.

(I think I've seen that Sage can do this but I hate Sage with a passion so would prefer to use an alternative).