How Does Rankk Identify Merchants?

Rankk receives transaction information through Plaid or another supported direct connection service.

The available details may include:

• The merchant name
• The transaction description
• The payment processor
• The merchant category
• The location
• The website
• The account used for the purchase

Rankk reviews the available details and shows the merchant name that appears to be the best match.

The exact information available depends on your financial institution and the transaction.

The name shown on a transaction may not match the name on the store, website, or receipt.

A transaction may appear under:

• The merchant’s legal business name
• A parent company
• A payment processor
• A shortened or coded name
• A local franchise owner
• The company that handles online payments

For example, a local restaurant may appear under the name of the company that owns it instead of the restaurant name shown outside.

Some merchants use companies such as Square, Stripe, PayPal, or another payment service to process purchases.

Because of this, the transaction description may include the payment processor before the merchant name.

For example:

• SQ *JOE’S COFFEE
• PAYPAL *ONLINESTORE
• TST* LOCAL PIZZA

Rankk may remove the extra payment details when the actual merchant can be identified.

The same business can sometimes appear under different names.

This may happen when:

• You visit different locations
• One purchase is made online and another in person
• The business changes its payment processor
• A franchise location uses a separate legal name
• Your financial institution sends different transaction details

For example, purchases from the same restaurant chain may appear under the restaurant name, a franchise company, or an online ordering service.

Purchases made through a marketplace may show the marketplace instead of the individual seller.

For example, a purchase may appear as:

• Amazon
• Apple
• Google
• PayPal
• DoorDash
• Uber

The transaction information may not always include the exact product, restaurant, or seller involved.

Check your receipt or order history when you need more detail about the purchase.

A pending transaction may first appear with a general or unclear merchant name.

The name may become more accurate after the transaction is completed and your financial institution sends the final details.

For example, a pending transaction may first appear as a payment processor and later update to the restaurant’s name.

Learn more about pending and completed transactions.

Recognizable merchant names make it easier to understand:

• Where you spend the most
• Which businesses you use often
• How much you spend with one merchant
• Whether your spending at a merchant increased
• Which purchases are part of the same pattern

For example, Rankk may show that one delivery service made up most of your dining spending this month.

Learn more about understanding your spending.

Start by opening the transaction and checking:

1. The amount
2. The date
3. The connected account
4. The location, if available
5. Whether the transaction is pending
6. Recent receipts or online orders

You should also check whether another person with access to the account made the purchase.

The merchant name may become clearer after the transaction is completed.

If you still do not recognize the transaction, contact your financial institution. Rankk cannot cancel, block, refund, or dispute a charge.

Compare the transaction in Rankk with the same transaction in your financial institution’s app or website.

If the financial institution also shows the unclear name, Rankk may not have enough information to identify it differently.

If your financial institution shows the correct merchant but Rankk does not, contact Rankk support.

Include:

• The merchant name shown in Rankk
• The merchant name you expected
• The transaction amount and date
• The connected account type
• A screenshot, if helpful

Do not include your password, verification code, or full account number.