Transaction categories let you label your spending and income so it's easier to track trends, review your finances, and stay organized. This article explains how to manage your categories and apply them to transactions.
Managing your categories
Mercury Personal includes a default list of categories you can use as-is or customize to fit your needs. You can add new categories, edit existing ones, or delete any you don't need.
To access your categories:
- Click your name in the top-left corner of your dashboard
- Select Settings
- Choose Categories from the left-hand sidebar
From here, click Create category to add a new one, or use the pencil and trash icons to edit or delete existing ones.
- Edited category names will update across all previously categorized transactions
- Deleted categories won't be available for future transactions, but will remain assigned to historical transactions
Categorizing transactions
You can categorize transactions from two places: inline on the Transactions page or by clicking into a transaction and opening the detail panel.
From the transactions table
- Navigate to the Transactions page
- Click the dropdown on the transaction you want to categorize
- Select a category from the list
- If you don’t see a category available, create a new one by clicking Add category from the dropdown
Automated categorization (Beta)
Mercury automatically suggests categories for your transactions using AI. If you notice a category applied to a transaction that you didn't set, automated categorization added it to help you organize and track spend.
You can override suggestions at any time using the category dropdown. The system learns from your selections and improves over time.
FAQs
Can I apply more than one category to a transaction?
Each transaction can have one category applied at a time.
Will editing a category name change it on past transactions?
Yes. When you edit a category name, it updates across all transactions that were previously labeled with that category.
What happens to transactions if I delete a category?
Deleted categories are removed from your category list and won't be available for new transactions. However, they will remain visible on any transactions they were previously applied to.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.