Transaction rules
A rule says "if a transaction matches these conditions, change it like this". FIYR applies it right away to matching transactions you already have, then to every new one as it syncs.
2 existing transactions would change out of 2 matching.
Create a rule
- Open Settings > Transaction Rules (on a phone, More > Settings > Transaction Rules) and click + Create Rule.
- Under If transaction has:, switch on the conditions you want and fill them in.
- Under Update to:, switch on the changes you want.
- Check "N matching transactions found". Click View to see them listed as name, date, amount and category.
- Click Create Rule. It stays grey until you have at least one condition and one change.
FIYR then shows "Applying rule to N matching transactions" while it updates them.
Conditions
Every condition you switch on must match (they are combined with AND).
| Condition | Options | How it matches |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Exact Match, Contains | Capital letters are ignored. It looks at the name as FIYR first shows it, which is usually the merchant name your bank provides. |
| Amount | Equals, More than, Less than, Within | Amounts have a sign: purchases are positive, money in is negative ("Negative amounts (e.g., -100) represent income/credits"). Within includes both ends. Equals must match to the cent. |
| Category | Pick one | The category the transaction has when the rule runs. For new bank transactions that is the category FIYR picked from your bank's. |
| Account Holder | You, your spouse or Both (you and your spouse are shown by name) | Shown when your profile includes a spouse. |
Changes
| Change | What it does |
|---|---|
| New Name | Replaces the name. The original stays in History. |
| New Amount | Sets the amount to the number you type. Use a negative number for money in. |
| New Category | Moves it to the category you pick. |
| New Account Holder | Sets the owner (spouse profiles only). |
| Add Label | Adds one label, keeping any it already has. The label must already exist (create it in Settings > Labels). |
When rules run
- When you save it: FIYR updates every matching transaction that is loaded in the app (the last 3 years, or your full history if Load All Transactions is on in Settings > Preferences), up to the first 500 matches. Each change is marked with a rule badge in the transaction's History.
- When you edit it: the new version is applied to everything it now matches.
- From then on: every new bank transaction is checked before it is saved, and so is every transaction you add by hand.
- Not again later: rules do not re-run on transactions you already have, for example when a pending transaction posts.
- When you delete it: it stops applying to new transactions. Changes it already made stay.
When two rules match
A new transaction gets one rule: the first one that matches. You cannot set the order, and the list in Settings is sorted by name, which is not the order rules run in. So keep rules from overlapping.
- While you build a rule, FIYR warns "Potential Conflicts Found" if its name condition overlaps an existing rule, and asks before saving ("Create anyway?").
- With two or more rules, click Check Conflicts to list every overlapping pair and why they clash.
- If two rules would overlap, combine them into one rule with both changes, or make the conditions narrower (add an amount or category).
Manage your rules
Each rule shows as a card with its CONDITIONS and ACTIONS, plus Edit and Delete. The top of the page counts your active rules, conditions and actions.
What rules cannot do
- Match one condition or another. Make two rules instead.
- Match "starts with", wildcards, the account or the date.
- Remove a label, or add more than one label.
- Run in an order you choose.
For worked examples, see Rule recipes.
Common questions
Will a new rule fix my old transactions?
Yes. When you save it, FIYR updates every matching transaction loaded in the app, up to the first 500 matches. Turn on Load All Transactions in Settings > Preferences first if you need to reach more than 3 years back.
Which rule wins if two match?
Only the first matching rule is applied to a new transaction, and the order cannot be set. Use Check Conflicts and keep your rules from overlapping.
Is the name match case-sensitive?
No. "netflix", "Netflix" and "NETFLIX" all match.
If I delete a rule, are its changes undone?
No. Deleting a rule only stops it applying to new transactions.
How do I make a rule on my phone?
Edit a transaction and tap Create Rule in the message that appears, or open More > Settings > Transaction Rules.
Still stuck?
Email us. A real person who builds FIYR reads every message.