Vendor Normalization

Banking CSV files contain messy merchant names with store numbers, codes, and processing information. CshFlow's vendor normalization automatically cleans these into readable, consistent names.

The Problem

Raw transaction descriptions from banks look like this:

VISA DEBIT STARBUCKS #12345 TORONTO ON
E-TRANSFER TO JOHN SMITH REF#ABC123
WALMART SUPERCENTER #3456 TXN#789012
NETFLIX.COM 866-716-0414 CA

These aren't useful for:

• Grouping transactions by merchant
• Identifying recurring expenses
• Analyzing spending patterns
• Understanding where money goes

What Normalization Does

CshFlow transforms messy names into clean, consistent vendor names:

Raw Description	Normalized Vendor
VISA DEBIT STARBUCKS #12345	Starbucks
E-TRANSFER TO JOHN SMITH	John Smith
WALMART SUPERCENTER #3456	Walmart
NETFLIX.COM 866-716-0414	Netflix

How It Works

CshFlow automatically:

1. Removes unnecessary prefixes like "VISA DEBIT" and "E-TRANSFER"
2. Strips store numbers and codes that clutter the name
3. Recognizes common vendors and uses their proper names
4. Formats consistently with proper capitalization

All of this happens automatically when you upload your transactions.

Examples

Fast Food

Raw: VISA DEBIT MCDONALD'S #3456 123 MAIN STResult: McDonald's

Online Subscription

Raw: NETFLIX.COM 866-716-0414 CA DATE 11/15/24Result: Netflix

E-Transfer

Raw: E-TRANSFER TO JOHN SMITH REF#ABC123XYZResult: John Smith

Retail Store

Raw: WALMART SUPERCENTER #3456 TXN#789012Result: Walmart

Benefits

Accurate Grouping

All transactions from the same vendor are grouped together, even if they came from different store locations:

STARBUCKS #101 → Starbucks
STARBUCKS #205 → Starbucks
STARBUCK'S COFFEE → Starbucks

Result: Accurate total spending per vendor

Better Recurring Detection

Consistent names enable CshFlow to identify your subscriptions:

Month 1: Netflix → $16.99
Month 2: Netflix → $16.99
Month 3: Netflix → $16.99

Result: High confidence subscription detection

Cleaner Analysis

Clean vendor names improve readability throughout CshFlow, from spending breakdowns to recurring expense lists.

Limitations

Some Names Can't Be Normalized

• Ambiguous names: Generic names like "CAFE 123" can't be matched to a specific business
• Local businesses: Small businesses may not be in our recognition system
• New merchants: Recently opened stores may not yet be recognized

Original Names Preserved

CshFlow always keeps your original transaction description, so you can see exactly what your bank provided if needed.

Privacy

• All normalization happens in your database
• No vendor names are sent to external services
• Your transaction data is never shared
• No training on your personal data

Related Features

• CSV Upload - Where normalization happens
• Vendor Analysis - Uses normalized names
• Recurring Expenses - Relies on consistent naming

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Vendor normalization is invisible but essential. It transforms messy banking data into actionable insights without any manual effort from you.