How to Link Accounts

Quick Review

• What: Connect bank accounts to existing Quicken accounts

• Why: Prevents duplicate accounts when reconnecting or converting manual accounts

• When: Reconnecting disconnected accounts, converting manual to connected, or fixing connection issues

• How: Dashboard → + New → Enter credentials → Action dropdown → Link to existing

• Critical: Always choose "Link" not "Add as New"

Overview

Linking accounts is essential when connecting banks to existing accounts in Quicken. This process ensures your transaction history, categories, and settings remain intact while establishing or re-establishing the bank connection.

Without proper linking, you'll create duplicate accounts and split your financial history. Ashley learned this lesson after accidentally creating three duplicate credit card accounts before understanding the linking process.

When You Need to Link

Common Scenarios

Converting manual accounts:

• Making a manual account connected

• Finally connecting a previously unsupported bank

Fixing connection issues:

• Bank required reauthorization

• Connection expired or broke

• Bank changed systems

Account changes:

• New card number for same credit account

• Bank merger or name change

• Switching connection types (OAuth)

Accidental situations:

• Deleted connection by mistake

• Made account manual temporarily

The Linking Process

Before You Start

1. Identify which accounts need linking

2. Note account names and balances

3. Know which accounts are duplicates

4. Have bank credentials ready

Steps to Link

1. Start the Add Account process (click + New on the Dashboard)

2. Enter bank credentials

3. Critical moment: When accounts appear, look for the Action column

4. Click the Action dropdown for each account

5. Select the existing account to link to

6. Verify all accounts show correct linking

7. Complete the connection

Action Options Explained

• Link to [Account Name] - Connects to existing account

• Add as New (no link) - Creates duplicate (avoid!)

• Don't add - Skips this account entirely

Warning: Selecting "Add as New" creates a duplicate account with no transaction history. Always choose "Link to" for existing accounts.

Choosing the Right Account

Matching Accounts

Look for these indicators:

• Similar account names

• Matching account types

• Last four digits (if shown)

• Approximate balance

When Multiple Options Exist

If you have several similar accounts:

• Check account balances first

• Use transaction history as reference

• Pick the one with most complete data

• Consider which has proper categorization

Handling Ambiguity

When unsure which account to link:

• Cancel and check account details first

• Note distinguishing features

• Return to linking with clear targets

• Better safe than creating duplicates

Ashley now writes down account endings before linking: "When I have three savings accounts, knowing which ends in 1234 versus 5678 saves me from linking to the wrong one."

After Linking

What to Expect

• Existing transactions remain unchanged

• New transactions download going forward

• Bank provides available history (typically 90 days)

• Balance updates to current amount

• Categories and notes preserved

Verify Success

Check these items after linking:

• No duplicate accounts created

• Transactions downloading properly

• Balance matches bank

• Historical data intact

• Recurring transactions still set

If You Linked Wrong

1. Disconnect the account immediately

2. Make it manual

3. Re-attempt connection

4. Link to correct account

Preventing Duplicate Accounts

Best Practices

• Always review Action column before proceeding

• Never rush the linking process

• Double-check account selections

• Cancel if uncertain and gather information

• Document which accounts are which

Red Flags

Watch for these warning signs:

• All accounts show "Add as New"

• Can't find accounts to link to

• Balances don't match expectations

• Account types seem wrong

Recovery from Duplicates

If you create duplicates:

1. Identify which has history

2. Delete the empty duplicate

3. Continue with original account

4. Re-attempt linking if needed

Special Situations

Multiple Accounts at Same Bank

• Link each account individually

• Pay extra attention to account names

• Use balances to distinguish

• Consider linking one at a time

Credit Card Replacements

• Link new card to existing account

• Maintains payment history

• Preserves categorizations

• Shows continuous account history

Bank Mergers

• Account numbers may change

• Use balance and history to identify

• Link even if details differ

• Contact support if unsure

The Bottom Line

Proper account linking preserves your financial history while maintaining bank connections. Take time during the linking process to ensure each account connects to its existing counterpart in Quicken.

Remember Ashley's rule: "When in doubt, cancel out." It's better to restart the process than to untangle duplicate accounts later.