Common renaming rules questions

When you download transactions from your financial institution, the payee names may not always look the way you expect. For example, a charge from Anytown Coffeehouse might appear as ATC LLC 005 PLEASANTON, making it harder to scan your register or run reports.

Renaming rules allow Quicken to automatically replace these long or inconsistent names with something more recognizable. This guide answers common questions about how renaming rules work and what to do when things don’t look right.

Note: Renaming rules only apply to new downloaded transactions. They don’t change names already recorded in your register.

Why does the payee name look wrong?

Downloaded transactions often include extra characters, store codes, or location details. These come directly from the merchant or bank. For example:

• ATC LLC 005 PLEASANTON

• ANYTWN COF#045-CA

These may refer to the same business but appear differently in your transactions. Renaming rules solve this by mapping those names to a cleaner, consistent version.

How do I create a renaming rule?

There are three ways to create a rule that standardizes future downloads.

From a transaction in your register

1. Edit the payee name directly in the register.

2. Save the transaction.

3. Quicken will ask whether to create a renaming rule for future downloads.

From the Renaming Rules dialog

1. Go to Tools > Renaming Rules.

2. Select Add a Rule.

3. Enter the name you want to use and define a match type:

   • Payee contains: Matches based on text in the payee and memo fields.

   • Quicken name is: Matches known merchant names from Quicken’s internal list.

From the Memorized Payee List

1. Go to Tools > Memorized Payee List.

2. Use CTRL+click or SHIFT+click to select similar payee names (e.g., Anytown Coffee 005, Anytown Coffee Pleasanton).

3. Click Merge/Rename.

4. Enter the standardized name you want to use.

5. Select Apply to future downloaded transactions.

6. Click OK to save the renaming rule.

Can I stop Quicken from renaming a specific payee?

Yes. If there’s a payee you don’t want renamed:

1. Go to Tools > Renaming Rules.

2. Open the Do-Not-Rename Rules tab.

3. Click Add a Rule and enter the payee details you want to exclude.

Why didn’t my renaming rule apply?

Check the following:

• The rule applies only to future downloads—it won’t change existing transactions.

• The downloaded payee must match the text or criteria you entered.

• If the payee name varies significantly, try using a broader match with Payee contains.

• Conflicting rules or Do-Not-Rename settings can override other rules.

How do I see or change my rules?

• Go to Tools > Renaming Rules to see all rules you've created.

• Use the Edit, Delete, or Add icons to update them.

• Use the Do-Not-Rename Rules tab to view payees you’ve excluded.

Can I reverse a renamed payee?

Yes. To see the original downloaded name for a transaction:

1. Right-click the renamed payee in your register.

2. Select Revert to [original name].

3. You can right-click again to switch back to the renamed version.

What types of accounts use renaming rules?

Renaming rules only apply to online-enabled accounts. They don’t work with manual accounts or online bill payees.