diff --git a/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py b/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
index ecfbdcd..387c2f4 100644
--- a/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
+++ b/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ class ExpensesAgent(BaseAgent):
     required_odoo_module = 'hr_expense'
     system_prompt_file = 'expenses_system.txt'
     tools = EXPENSES_TOOLS
+    auto_rag = False  # Receipt processing needs no RAG docs; skip the 30s peer-bus call
 
     def __init__(self, odoo, llm, peer_bus=None):
         super().__init__(odoo, llm, peer_bus)
@@ -343,20 +344,9 @@ class ExpensesAgent(BaseAgent):
             logger.info('ocr filename=%r date_hint=%r ocr_len=%d text_preview=%r',
                         r.get('filename'), r.get('date_from_name'), ocr_len, ocr_preview)
 
-        # Parse all receipts concurrently.
-        # b64 + mimetype are forwarded so _parse_receipt_text can use the
-        # vision LLM path when RECEIPT_VISION_MODE=vision (the default).
-        parse_tasks = [
-            self._parse_receipt_text(
-                r.get('text', ''), r.get('filename', 'receipt'),
-                expense_products=expense_products,
-                date_hint=r.get('date_from_name'),
-                b64=r.get('b64'),
-                mimetype=r.get('mimetype'),
-            )
-            for r in unique_receipts
-        ]
-        raw_parsed = await asyncio.gather(*parse_tasks, return_exceptions=True)
+        # Parse all receipts: regex phase is instant; LLM phase is batched into
+        # a single call so N receipts cost 1 LLM round-trip instead of N.
+        raw_parsed = await self._batch_parse_receipts(unique_receipts, expense_products)
 
         paired: list[tuple[dict, dict]] = []
         for receipt, parsed in zip(unique_receipts, raw_parsed):
@@ -522,6 +512,164 @@ class ExpensesAgent(BaseAgent):
 
         return None
 
+    async def _batch_parse_receipts(self, receipts: list, expense_products: list) -> list:
+        """Parse all receipts with a single LLM call instead of one per receipt.
+
+        Phase 1 — regex (no LLM, instant):
+          • amount        : _extract_amount_from_text
+          • date          : filename hint > OCR regex > today
+          • skip flag     : bank/card statement detection
+
+        Phase 2 — one batched LLM call:
+          • vendor + product_name for all non-skipped receipts in one prompt
+          • Vision mode (RECEIPT_VISION_MODE=vision): falls back to individual
+            calls because images can't be batched in a single Ollama message
+          • Falls back to individual _parse_receipt_text calls on any failure
+
+        Returns a list of parsed dicts in the same order as `receipts`.
+        Each dict: {vendor, amount, date, time, product_name, skip?}
+        """
+        today = _date.today().isoformat()
+        results: list[dict] = []
+        needs_llm: list[int] = []   # indices into results that need vendor/cat
+
+        # ── Phase 1: fast per-receipt regex ──────────────────────────────────
+        for r in receipts:
+            filename = r.get('filename', 'receipt')
+            stripped = (r.get('text', '') or '').strip()
+            ocr_failed = not stripped or stripped.startswith('[')
+
+            if not ocr_failed and _is_likely_bank_statement(stripped):
+                n = sum(1 for line in stripped.splitlines() if _ANY_DOLLAR_RE.search(line))
+                logger.warning('receipt %s: bank statement (%d amount lines) — skip', filename, n)
+                results.append({'vendor': filename, 'amount': 0.0,
+                                 'date': r.get('date_from_name') or today, 'time': None,
+                                 'product_name': '', 'skip': True})
+                continue
+
+            amount = _extract_amount_from_text(stripped) if not ocr_failed else 0.0
+            date_hint = r.get('date_from_name')
+            date = (date_hint or
+                    (_extract_date_from_text(stripped) if not ocr_failed else None) or
+                    today)
+
+            results.append({'vendor': filename, 'amount': amount, 'date': date,
+                            'time': None, 'product_name': '',
+                            # internal keys stripped before returning
+                            '_ocr_failed': ocr_failed, '_stripped': stripped,
+                            '_b64': r.get('b64'), '_mimetype': r.get('mimetype'),
+                            '_filename': filename})
+            needs_llm.append(len(results) - 1)
+
+        product_list = ', '.join(f'"{p["name"]}"' for p in expense_products)
+        if not needs_llm or not product_list:
+            for entry in results:
+                for k in list(entry):
+                    if k.startswith('_'):
+                        del entry[k]
+            return results
+
+        # ── Phase 2a: vision mode → individual calls (can't batch images) ────
+        use_vision = (
+            _get_vision_mode() == 'vision'
+            and any(results[i].get('_b64') and
+                    results[i].get('_mimetype') in _VISION_MIMETYPES
+                    for i in needs_llm)
+        )
+        if use_vision:
+            tasks = [
+                self._parse_receipt_text(
+                    results[i]['_stripped'], results[i]['_filename'],
+                    expense_products=expense_products,
+                    b64=results[i].get('_b64'),
+                    mimetype=results[i].get('_mimetype'),
+                )
+                for i in needs_llm
+            ]
+            individual = await asyncio.gather(*tasks, return_exceptions=True)
+            for i, parsed in zip(needs_llm, individual):
+                if isinstance(parsed, Exception) or not isinstance(parsed, dict):
+                    continue
+                results[i]['vendor'] = parsed.get('vendor', results[i]['_filename'])
+                results[i]['product_name'] = parsed.get('product_name', '')
+            for entry in results:
+                for k in list(entry):
+                    if k.startswith('_'):
+                        del entry[k]
+            return results
+
+        # ── Phase 2b: text mode → single batched LLM call ────────────────────
+        _cat_guide = (
+            'restaurant/cafe/food court/bar → food/meal product; '
+            'airline/airport/transit/taxi/parking/rental car → travel product; '
+            'gas station/petrol/fuel → fuel product; '
+            'hotel/motel/lodging → accommodation product; '
+            'hardware/home improvement/tech/office supply → supplies product; '
+            'return "" if nothing fits'
+        )
+        receipts_block = ''
+        for seq, i in enumerate(needs_llm, 1):
+            entry = results[i]
+            if entry['_ocr_failed']:
+                excerpt = f'[filename: {entry["_filename"]}]'
+            else:
+                excerpt = entry['_stripped'][:300]
+            receipts_block += f'\n=== Receipt {seq} ({entry["_filename"]}) ===\n{excerpt}\n'
+
+        n = len(needs_llm)
+        batch_prompt = (
+            f'Return ONLY a JSON array with exactly {n} objects, one per receipt below.\n'
+            f'Each object must have exactly two keys:\n'
+            f'"vendor": business name from the receipt header '
+            f'(first 1-3 lines; ignore slogans and item names; '
+            f'do NOT substitute a brand not clearly present).\n'
+            f'"product_name": single best match from [{product_list}].\n'
+            f'Category guide: {_cat_guide}\n'
+            f'JSON array only:\n{receipts_block}'
+        )
+        try:
+            resp = await self._llm.submit(
+                [{'role': 'user', 'content': batch_prompt}],
+                caller='expenses_agent_receipt_parser',
+            )
+            raw = (resp.content or '').strip()
+            first, last = raw.find('['), raw.rfind(']')
+            if first == -1 or last <= first:
+                raise ValueError(f'No JSON array in response: {raw[:200]}')
+            batch_data = json.loads(raw[first:last + 1])
+            if len(batch_data) != n:
+                raise ValueError(f'Expected {n} items, got {len(batch_data)}')
+            for i, item in zip(needs_llm, batch_data):
+                v = str(item.get('vendor', '') or '').strip()
+                if v:
+                    results[i]['vendor'] = v
+                results[i]['product_name'] = str(item.get('product_name', '') or '').strip()
+            logger.info('expenses_agent: batch LLM parsed %d receipts in 1 call', n)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning('expenses_agent: batch LLM failed (%s) — falling back to individual calls', exc)
+            fallback_tasks = [
+                self._parse_receipt_text(
+                    results[i]['_stripped'], results[i]['_filename'],
+                    expense_products=expense_products,
+                )
+                for i in needs_llm
+            ]
+            fallback = await asyncio.gather(*fallback_tasks, return_exceptions=True)
+            for i, parsed in zip(needs_llm, fallback):
+                if isinstance(parsed, Exception) or not isinstance(parsed, dict):
+                    continue
+                v = str(parsed.get('vendor', '') or '').strip()
+                if v:
+                    results[i]['vendor'] = v
+                results[i]['product_name'] = str(parsed.get('product_name', '') or '').strip()
+
+        # Strip internal bookkeeping keys before returning
+        for entry in results:
+            for k in list(entry):
+                if k.startswith('_'):
+                    del entry[k]
+        return results
+
     async def _parse_receipt_text(self, text: str, filename: str,
                                    expense_products: list = None,
                                    date_hint: str = None,
diff --git a/tests/test_expenses_agent.py b/tests/test_expenses_agent.py
index 240093d..58d7e23 100644
--- a/tests/test_expenses_agent.py
+++ b/tests/test_expenses_agent.py
@@ -856,6 +856,190 @@ async def test_non_image_mimetype_uses_text_path_in_vision_mode():
     )
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _batch_parse_receipts — batched LLM call for vendor + product_name
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _make_receipt(filename='receipt.jpg', text='Acme\nTotal: $10.00',
+                  b64='', mimetype='image/jpeg', date_from_name=None):
+    """Build a minimal receipt dict as produced by parse_upload."""
+    return {'filename': filename, 'text': text, 'b64': b64,
+            'mimetype': mimetype, 'date_from_name': date_from_name,
+            'sha256': 'abc'}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_single_llm_call_for_multiple_receipts():
+    """N text receipts must result in exactly 1 LLM call (batched prompt)."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [
+        _make_receipt('a.txt', 'Shell Gas\nTotal: $45.00'),
+        _make_receipt('b.txt', 'Marriott Hotel\nAmount Due: $180.00'),
+        _make_receipt('c.txt', 'Chipotle\nTotal: $12.75'),
+    ]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Meals'}, {'id': 2, 'name': 'Travel'}, {'id': 3, 'name': 'Fuel'}]
+
+    llm_resp = MagicMock()
+    llm_resp.content = (
+        '[{"vendor":"Shell","product_name":"Fuel"},'
+        '{"vendor":"Marriott","product_name":"Travel"},'
+        '{"vendor":"Chipotle","product_name":"Meals"}]'
+    )
+    agent._llm.submit = AsyncMock(return_value=llm_resp)
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    agent._llm.submit.assert_called_once()
+    assert len(results) == 3
+    assert results[0]['vendor'] == 'Shell'
+    assert results[1]['vendor'] == 'Marriott'
+    assert results[2]['vendor'] == 'Chipotle'
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_amounts_from_regex_not_llm():
+    """Amounts must come from regex (Phase 1), not from the LLM batch response."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [_make_receipt('r.txt', 'Acme Store\nTotal: $99.99')]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Supplies'}]
+
+    llm_resp = MagicMock()
+    llm_resp.content = '[{"vendor":"Acme","product_name":"Supplies"}]'
+    agent._llm.submit = AsyncMock(return_value=llm_resp)
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    assert results[0]['amount'] == 99.99
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_no_private_keys_in_results():
+    """Internal _-prefixed keys must be stripped from every result dict."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [_make_receipt('r.txt', 'Acme\nTotal: $10.00')]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Meals'}]
+
+    llm_resp = MagicMock()
+    llm_resp.content = '[{"vendor":"Acme","product_name":"Meals"}]'
+    agent._llm.submit = AsyncMock(return_value=llm_resp)
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    for entry in results:
+        private = [k for k in entry if k.startswith('_')]
+        assert private == [], f'Private keys not cleaned up: {private}'
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_bank_statement_skipped_no_llm():
+    """Bank statements inside a batch must be skipped; no LLM call for them."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    # 12 transaction lines → flagged as bank statement
+    stmt = '\n'.join(f'05/{i+1:02d}  MERCHANT {i}  ${10 + i}.99' for i in range(12))
+    receipts = [
+        _make_receipt('stmt.pdf', stmt),
+        _make_receipt('real.txt', 'Shell Gas\nTotal: $45.00'),
+    ]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Fuel'}]
+
+    llm_resp = MagicMock()
+    llm_resp.content = '[{"vendor":"Shell","product_name":"Fuel"}]'
+    agent._llm.submit = AsyncMock(return_value=llm_resp)
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    # Only 1 item sent to LLM (the real receipt, not the statement)
+    agent._llm.submit.assert_called_once()
+    # Statement entry has skip=True
+    assert results[0].get('skip') is True
+    assert results[0]['amount'] == 0.0
+    # Real receipt parsed normally
+    assert results[1]['vendor'] == 'Shell'
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_falls_back_on_malformed_json():
+    """When the batch LLM returns malformed JSON, falls back to individual calls."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [
+        _make_receipt('a.txt', 'Shell\nTotal: $45.00'),
+        _make_receipt('b.txt', 'Marriott\nTotal: $180.00'),
+    ]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Travel'}]
+
+    call_count = [0]
+    individual_resp = MagicMock()
+    individual_resp.content = '{"vendor":"Shell","product_name":"Travel"}'
+
+    async def _side_effect(messages, caller=None):
+        call_count[0] += 1
+        if call_count[0] == 1:
+            bad = MagicMock()
+            bad.content = 'not valid json at all'
+            return bad
+        return individual_resp
+
+    agent._llm.submit = _side_effect
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    # 1 batch attempt + 2 individual fallback calls = 3
+    assert call_count[0] == 3
+    assert len(results) == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_falls_back_on_wrong_item_count():
+    """When the LLM returns a JSON array with wrong length, falls back."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [
+        _make_receipt('a.txt', 'Shell\nTotal: $45.00'),
+        _make_receipt('b.txt', 'Marriott\nTotal: $180.00'),
+    ]
+    products = [{'id': 1, 'name': 'Travel'}]
+
+    call_count = [0]
+    fallback_resp = MagicMock()
+    fallback_resp.content = '{"vendor":"Shell","product_name":"Travel"}'
+
+    async def _side_effect(messages, caller=None):
+        call_count[0] += 1
+        if call_count[0] == 1:
+            # Returns only 1 item, expected 2
+            wrong = MagicMock()
+            wrong.content = '[{"vendor":"Shell","product_name":"Travel"}]'
+            return wrong
+        return fallback_resp
+
+    agent._llm.submit = _side_effect
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, products)
+
+    # 1 batch attempt + 2 individual fallback calls = 3
+    assert call_count[0] == 3
+    assert len(results) == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_batch_parse_no_products_skips_llm():
+    """When there are no expense products, the LLM is not called."""
+    agent = _make_agent()
+    receipts = [_make_receipt('r.txt', 'Acme\nTotal: $10.00')]
+    agent._llm.submit = AsyncMock()
+
+    with patch('agent_service.agents.expenses_agent._get_vision_mode', return_value='text'):
+        results = await agent._batch_parse_receipts(receipts, [])
+
+    agent._llm.submit.assert_not_called()
+    assert len(results) == 1
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # parse_upload — receipt_parser.py
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------