Adding Accounts in Quicken

Quick Review

What is account setup? The foundation of Quicken Simplifi, where you connect your financial accounts to get a complete picture of your finances in one place.

Why is it important? Without accounts connected, Simplifi can't track your spending, monitor bills, or calculate net worth automatically.

How to start:

Connected accounts: Dashboard → + New → Search for bank → Enter credentials
Manual accounts: Dashboard → + New → Add Manual Account
Additional accounts: Settings → Accounts → Three dots → Add a new account

Overview

Consolidating all of your finances in one place is a breeze with Quicken Simplifi! Adding your bank accounts is one of the first steps you will need to take to manage your finances in Quicken Simplifi.

When Ashley first opened Simplifi, they felt overwhelmed seeing the empty dashboard. But after adding their first account (checking), then their business account, savings, and credit cards, suddenly their financial life came into focus. Now they can't imagine managing money without seeing everything in one place.

Ashley's Account Setup Journey

Day 1: The Basics

Ashley started with their primary checking account at their local credit union. The connection went smoothly, and seeing three months of transactions appear instantly was eye-opening. They immediately noticed forgotten subscriptions they could cancel.

Week 1: Building the Foundation

Business checking: Essential for tracking consulting income
Personal savings: Including the emergency fund
Main credit card: Where most spending happens
PayPal business: For client payments

Month 1: Completing the Picture

IRA account: To track retirement progress
Inherited vacant lot: Added manually with Zillow integration
Old 401(k): From previous employer
Secondary credit card: Used only for business travel

Lessons Learned

Start simple with checking, then add complexity
Group similar accounts (all credit cards at once)
Name accounts clearly ("Business Checking - Tax Reserve")
Don't rush—take time to categorize as you go

Adding a Connected Account

Step-by-Step Process

On your Dashboard, click the + New button in the upper right of the Accounts List
Search for your bank's name in the Search bar
- If shown as a popular bank below, click the image
Once you've selected your bank, you'll see a consent message. Click Continue
Enter the User ID and Password you use for your bank's website, then click Connect
Simplifi locates accounts associated with your login and shows:
- Account name
- Account type
- Current balance
Customize before adding:
- Uncheck any accounts you don't want to add
- Rename accounts for clarity
- Change account type if needed
Click Add when done
Simplifi will scan for recurring transactions
Accounts appear in your Accounts List

Ashley's tip: "When I added my credit union, it found my old car loan I'd paid off. I unchecked it since I only wanted active accounts. You can always add accounts later!"

Note: You cannot modify the opening balance of connected accounts. Balances will always match your bank's website.

Adding Manual Accounts

Sometimes you need accounts that can't connect automatically. Ashley uses manual accounts for cash tracking and their inherited property.

When to Use Manual Accounts

Bank not supported by Simplifi
Cash on hand
Property or assets
Cryptocurrency
Small credit unions or regional banks

How to Add

On your Dashboard, click + New button
Select Add Manual Account
Choose Account Type and enter Account Name
Enter Opening Balance with as-of date
Click Continue

Your manual account appears in the Accounts List without transactions. You'll need to enter transactions manually.

Ashley's approach: "I created a 'Petty Cash' manual account for my wallet cash. I update it weekly when I review receipts. It's not perfect, but it catches those farmers market purchases!"

Note: Manual investment accounts don't start with an opening balance. You'll need to add holdings separately.

Adding Additional Accounts with Existing Banks

Already have one account connected? Adding more from the same bank is even easier.

Steps for Existing Banks

Hover over the left panel and select Settings
Select Accounts
Find your Financial Institution and click the three dots
Select Add a new account
Enter your credentials and click Connect
Select which new accounts to add
Rename and adjust types as needed
Click Add

Ashley's experience: "When I opened a business savings account at my credit union, adding it took 30 seconds since Simplifi already had my login saved."

Linking New Accounts to Existing Ones

Sometimes you need to re-link accounts, especially after getting a new credit card number or when connections need refreshing.

Common Scenarios

Replaced credit card (lost/stolen)
Bank changed their systems
Connection errors requiring reset

Re-linking Process

Reset the connection (Settings → Accounts → Three dots → Reset connection)
Re-enter credentials
When accounts appear, select Link instead of Add
Choose the existing account to link to
Complete the process

Ashley's story: "When my credit card was compromised and replaced, I panicked thinking I'd lose all my categorized transactions. But linking the new card to the existing account kept everything intact!"

Account Types Supported

Quicken Simplifi connects to virtually all financial institutions and account types:

Banking

Checking
Savings
Money Market
Cash Management

Credit

Credit Cards
Lines of Credit
Store Cards

Investments

Brokerage
IRA/Roth IRA
401(k)/403(b)
HSA

Loans

Mortgage
Auto Loans
Personal Loans
Student Loans

Assets

Real Estate
Vehicles
Other Property

Manual Only

Cash
Cryptocurrency
Collectibles

Best Practices

Name meaningfully: "Chase Checking" → "Monthly Bills Checking"
Start small: Add 2-3 core accounts first, then expand
Group by purpose: Add all credit cards together for easier setup
Review during setup: Check that transactions downloaded correctly
Set account types correctly: Affects how Simplifi treats transactions
Don't add inactive accounts: Skip closed accounts and paid-off loans
Use manual accounts wisely: Only for truly unconnectable assets

Common Issues & Solutions

"My bank isn't listed"

Try alternate names (full name vs. abbreviation)
Check for regional variations
Request your bank be added
Use manual account as temporary solution

"Connection failed"

Verify credentials on bank's website first
Check for special app passwords
Try during off-peak hours
Some banks require security questions answered

"Wrong balance showing"

Simplifi includes pending transactions
Check balance settings (with/without pending)
Allow 4-6 hours for full sync
Verify all transactions downloaded

"Missing transactions"

Most banks provide 90 days of history
Older transactions must be added manually
Check if bank limits transaction downloads

Security & Privacy

Ashley's initial concern was security. Here's what convinced them:

Bank-level encryption for all connections
Read-only access—Simplifi can't move money
No stored credentials on devices
Multi-factor authentication supported
Regular security audits

"I was nervous giving bank access, but learning it's read-only and seeing the security measures made me comfortable. Plus, it's the same system banks use for their own apps."

Maintenance & Updates

Automatic Updates

Balances refresh on login
Transactions update every 4-6 hours
Manual refresh available anytime

Manual Refresh

Web: Click refresh icon in left navigation
Mobile: Pull down on screen

Regular Maintenance

Review new accounts monthly
Update passwords when changed at bank
Re-authenticate when required
Clean up duplicate accounts

The Bottom Line

Adding accounts is the foundation of your Quicken Simplifi experience. Ashley's advice: "Don't try to perfect everything on day one. Add your main accounts, use Simplifi for a week, then add more as you get comfortable. It took me a month to add all 8 accounts, and that pace worked perfectly."

Remember, you can always add, remove, or modify accounts later. Start with what matters most for your daily financial life, then build from there.

Hint: Create a "financial inventory" list before starting setup. Ashley wishes they'd listed all their accounts, logins, and approximate balances first. This preparation would have made the initial setup smoother and ensured they didn't forget any accounts. Include dormant accounts too—you might discover forgotten money!