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How to Edit Your Bank Account Names and Types

Quick Review

  • What: Customizing account names and types to match your financial system

  • Why: Clear naming helps track spending, especially with multiple accounts

  • How to access:

    • Settings → Accounts → Three dots → Edit account

    • Or click account name directly in Transactions view

  • Note: Investment accounts can only change to other investment types


Overview

Quicken Simplifi downloads account names directly from your bank, which often results in generic labels like "Checking ...1234" or "Savings ...5678." These default names make it difficult to quickly identify accounts, especially when managing multiple checking accounts or credit cards.

Customizing account names and types gives you instant clarity about each account's purpose. Instead of memorizing partial account numbers, you can see exactly which account pays bills, holds emergency funds, or tracks business expenses.

Ashley discovered this after accidentally using their emergency fund account for daily purchases - the generic names all looked the same in the dropdown menu.


Editing Account Names

Method 1: Through Settings

Best for updating multiple accounts at once:

  1. Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Settings

  2. Select Accounts

  3. Locate the account you'd like to edit and click the three dots at the end

  4. Select Edit account

  5. Enter your new Name (keep under 30 characters for best display)

  6. Click Update when done

Method 2: Quick Edit from Transactions

Ideal for renaming while reviewing transactions:

  1. Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Transactions

  2. Select the account you'd like to edit

  3. Hover over the account name in the upper left and click

  4. Type in the new name and hit Enter when done

Both methods update the name instantly across all areas of Quicken Simplifi.


Effective Naming Strategies

Clear Purpose Identification

Replace generic bank names with descriptive labels:

  • "Checking ...1234" → "Monthly Bills"

  • "Savings ...5678" → "Emergency Fund"

  • "Credit Card ...9012" → "2% Rewards Card"

Consistent Prefixes

Group similar accounts with prefixes:

  • Business accounts: "Business - Operating," "Business - Tax Reserve"

  • Joint accounts: "Joint - Household," "Joint - Vacation"

  • Savings goals: "Save - New Car," "Save - House Down Payment"

Include Key Information

Add helpful details without making names too long:

  • Interest rates: "HYSA 4.5%"

  • Payment dates: "Car Loan (2027)"

  • Card benefits: "Travel Card - No Fees"

Ashley uses "Business - Operating" and "Tax Reserve - Quarterly" to instantly distinguish between available funds and money set aside for taxes.


Changing Account Types

Banks sometimes miscategorize accounts, or you may need to adjust how Quicken Simplifi treats an account for reporting purposes.

Steps to Change Type

  1. Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Settings

  2. Select Accounts

  3. Locate the account and click the three dots

  4. Select Edit account

  5. Select the correct Type from the dropdown

  6. Click Update when done

Available Account Types

Banking

  • Checking

  • Savings

  • Cash

Credit

  • Credit Card

  • Line of Credit

Investment

  • Brokerage

  • IRA/Roth IRA

  • 401(k)/403(b)

  • HSA

Loan

  • Mortgage

  • Auto

  • Personal

  • Student

Property

  • Real Estate

  • Vehicle

  • Other

Important: Investment accounts can only be changed to other investment types. This restriction protects the integrity of investment tracking and performance calculations.


Renaming Financial Institutions

The institution name appears as a header above your accounts in the accounts list. Customizing these names helps organize accounts when you have multiple banks.

How to Rename

  1. Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Settings

  2. Select Accounts

  3. Find the financial institution (not individual account)

  4. Click the three dots at the end

  5. Select Edit institution

  6. Enter your preferred Name

  7. Click Update when done

This change only affects display names - it doesn't impact connections or transaction downloads.

Common uses:

  • Shortening long bank names

  • Grouping related institutions

  • Adding location identifiers for multiple branches


Best Practices

Keep Names Functional

  • Specific but concise: Long names get truncated in mobile view

  • Avoid special characters: Some may not display properly

  • Skip account numbers: Already shown separately for security

  • Update as needed: Change names when account purposes change

Organization Tips

  • Review names quarterly to ensure they still make sense

  • Mark closed accounts clearly: "CLOSED - Old Checking"

  • Use consistent formatting across all accounts

  • Consider how names appear in reports and spending plans

Common Pitfalls

  • Generic names like "Checking 1" and "Checking 2"

  • Including sensitive information in names

  • Making names too long for mobile displays

  • Forgetting to update after life changes


Troubleshooting

Changes not saving

  • Ensure you clicked Update or pressed Enter

  • Check for unsupported special characters

  • Try a shorter name

  • Refresh your browser

Can't find edit option

  • Some account types have limited editing

  • Verify you have owner permissions (not just viewing shared data)

  • Try the alternate editing method

Account type won't change

  • Investment accounts have type restrictions

  • Some connected accounts lock certain types

  • Consider creating a manual account if needed


The Bottom Line

Well-organized account names transform Quicken Simplifi from a transaction list into a clear financial command center. Taking 15-20 minutes to customize your account names and types pays dividends in daily use and prevents costly mistakes from using the wrong account.

Start with your most-used accounts and develop a naming system that makes sense for your situation. As Ashley learned, the difference between "Checking ...1234" and "Monthly Bills" can be the difference between financial clarity and confusion.


Hint: Before renaming accounts, screenshot your current setup. This creates a reference if you need to match statements or tax documents that use original bank names. Also, consider how account names will appear in your Spending Plan bubbles and Reports - test a few options to find the perfect balance between descriptive and display-friendly.

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