diff --git a/fava_client.py b/fava_client.py
index dd83699..76aa022 100644
--- a/fava_client.py
+++ b/fava_client.py
@@ -1191,6 +1191,151 @@ class FavaClient:
             logger.error(f"Fava connection error: {e}")
             raise
 
+    async def get_unsettled_entries_bql(
+        self,
+        user_id: str,
+        entry_type: str = "expense"
+    ) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """
+        Get unsettled expense or receivable entries for a user using BQL.
+
+        Uses BQL queries to efficiently find entries with exp-{id} or rcv-{id}
+        links that don't have a corresponding settlement entry.
+
+        This is significantly more efficient than the legacy method as it:
+        - Queries only relevant entries (not ALL journal entries)
+        - Uses weight column for SATS amounts (no string parsing)
+        - Filters by tags and account patterns in the database
+
+        Args:
+            user_id: User ID (first 8 characters used for account matching)
+            entry_type: "expense" (payables - castle owes user) or
+                       "receivable" (user owes castle)
+
+        Returns:
+            List of unsettled entries with:
+                - link: The entry's unique link (exp-xxx or rcv-xxx)
+                - date: Entry date
+                - narration: Description
+                - fiat_amount: Amount in fiat currency (absolute value)
+                - fiat_currency: Currency code
+                - sats_amount: Amount in SATS (absolute value, from weight)
+                - entry_hash: For potential updates
+                - flag: Transaction flag
+        """
+        from decimal import Decimal
+
+        user_short = user_id[:8]
+        link_prefix = "exp-" if entry_type == "expense" else "rcv-"
+        entry_tag = "expense-entry" if entry_type == "expense" else "receivable-entry"
+
+        # Determine account pattern based on entry type
+        if entry_type == "expense":
+            account_pattern = f"Liabilities:Payable:User-{user_short}"
+        else:
+            account_pattern = f"Assets:Receivable:User-{user_short}"
+
+        try:
+            # Query 1: Get all original expense/receivable entries for this user
+            # These are entries with the expense-entry or receivable-entry tag
+            original_query = f"""
+                SELECT date, narration, account, number, weight, links,
+                       any_meta('entry-id') as entry_id
+                WHERE account ~ '{account_pattern}'
+                  AND '{entry_tag}' IN tags
+                  AND flag = '*'
+                ORDER BY date
+            """
+
+            original_result = await self.query_bql(original_query)
+
+            # Query 2: Get all settlement entries for this user
+            # These are entries with the settlement tag
+            settlement_query = f"""
+                SELECT links
+                WHERE account ~ '{account_pattern}'
+                  AND 'settlement' IN tags
+                  AND flag = '*'
+            """
+
+            settlement_result = await self.query_bql(settlement_query)
+
+            # Build set of settled links from settlement entries
+            settled_links: set = set()
+            for row in settlement_result["rows"]:
+                links = row[0] if row else []
+                if isinstance(links, list):
+                    for link in links:
+                        if link.startswith(link_prefix):
+                            settled_links.add(link)
+
+            # Process original entries and find unsettled ones
+            entries_by_link: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+            for row in original_result["rows"]:
+                date_val, narration, account, number, weight, links, entry_id = row
+
+                # Skip if no links
+                if not links or not isinstance(links, list):
+                    continue
+
+                # Find the exp-/rcv- link
+                entry_link = None
+                for link in links:
+                    if link.startswith(link_prefix):
+                        entry_link = link
+                        break
+
+                if not entry_link:
+                    continue
+
+                # Skip if already settled
+                if entry_link in settled_links:
+                    continue
+
+                # Skip if we already have this entry (BQL returns one row per posting)
+                if entry_link in entries_by_link:
+                    continue
+
+                # Parse amounts
+                fiat_amount = abs(float(number)) if number else 0.0
+                fiat_currency = "EUR"  # Default, could be extracted from posting
+
+                # Parse SATS from weight column
+                sats_amount = 0
+                if isinstance(weight, dict) and "SATS" in weight:
+                    sats_value = weight["SATS"]
+                    sats_amount = abs(int(Decimal(str(sats_value))))
+
+                # Format date as string
+                date_str = str(date_val) if date_val else ""
+
+                entries_by_link[entry_link] = {
+                    "link": entry_link,
+                    "date": date_str,
+                    "narration": narration or "",
+                    "fiat_amount": fiat_amount,
+                    "fiat_currency": fiat_currency,
+                    "sats_amount": sats_amount,
+                    "entry_hash": "",  # Not available from BQL, use entry_id instead
+                    "entry_id": entry_id or "",
+                    "flag": "*"
+                }
+
+            # Convert to list and sort by date
+            unsettled = list(entries_by_link.values())
+            unsettled.sort(key=lambda x: x.get("date", ""))
+
+            logger.info(
+                f"BQL: Found {len(unsettled)} unsettled {entry_type} entries for user {user_short} "
+                f"(settled: {len(settled_links)})"
+            )
+
+            return unsettled
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error getting unsettled entries via BQL: {e}")
+            raise
 
     async def get_unsettled_entries(
         self,
diff --git a/views_api.py b/views_api.py
index cc1b614..86b96e6 100644
--- a/views_api.py
+++ b/views_api.py
@@ -2264,7 +2264,7 @@ async def api_get_unsettled_entries(
         )
 
     fava = get_fava_client()
-    unsettled = await fava.get_unsettled_entries(user_id, entry_type)
+    unsettled = await fava.get_unsettled_entries_bql(user_id, entry_type)
 
     # Calculate totals
     total_fiat = sum(e.get("fiat_amount", 0) for e in unsettled)