- Created by John Hewitt , last modified on Sept 18, 2024
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This page is a general guide to adding accounts. If you are having issues/errors adding an account you should visit the Quicken Support Page or contact Quicken Support directly.
To use Quicken you must start by adding your financial accounts. It's easy to add the accounts you want to track in Quicken. The more accounts you add the more closely Quicken reflects your true financial situation, which can assist you in short- and long-term financial planning.
Add an online account
With online accounts, you download your transactions directly from the financial institution. If you do prefer to enter your transactions manually, see Add an offline spending account below.
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
You can also add a new account by selecting Tools → Add Account from the top menu.Start typing the name of your financial institution, such as your bank or credit card provider. Quicken will filter the results based on what you type. When you see your financial institution in the panel below, select it and click Next.
For online accounts, Quicken finds accounts based on the financial institution. This way, if you have multiple accounts at the same bank, you can add them all at once. You will have a chance to select the type of account later.
Enter your account/user information. This is the information you use to sign in to your online account, such as a user name and password. you may be asked for additional information, such as a challenge question or a code that is sent to your email or phone.
Review your accounts. Quicken will find all the accounts associated with your login. On this screen, you can make any adjustments, then click Next.
Type: Your options will vary according to the financial institution but Checking and Savings are the standard types.
Nickname: Enter any name that helps you easily identify the account.
Used for: Most accounts will be Personal, but depending on your versions you may have the option of Business and Rental.
Action: Select Add to Quicken if you want to add an account.
Quicken now adds your accounts. You'll see a message letting you know what accounts were added. You can choose to either Add Another Account or Finish.
Add an offline account
Offline accounts (sometimes called manual accounts) don't connect to a financial institution. It is your responsibility to enter all the information and track your transactions accurately. In most cases, it is preferable to use an online account, but you may choose this for security, control, or because the account is not with an institution Quicken can connect to.
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
You can also add a new account by selecting Tools → Add Account from the top menu.
Select Offline Account.
Select the account type. Spending accounts include Checking, Savings, and Credit Card.
Name your account and select Next. Depending on your version of Quicken, you may also have options for selecting how your account is used.
Enter your Statement ending date (The date you want to start tracking from) and your Statement ending balance (how much was in your account that day). Select Next.
Your account will be added. Select Finish. You can also choose to Add Another Account.
Add other account types
Note: The loan feature is not available for Quicken Starter.
When you set up a loan, Quicken creates a loan account that tracks the amount you owe, the length of the loan, the current interest rate, and your chosen method of payment. After it's set up, click the loan name in the Account Bar to use the Quicken loan feature. It provides some great tools for managing your loans and figuring out where you stand.
Looking for the loan calculator?
To use the Loan Calculator go to the Planning tab. Select the Planning Tools menu, then Loan Calculator.
For more information, see How do I find out what a loan would cost before I take it out?.
Set up an online loan account
An online loan account accesses your loan information through your financial institution's website, providing you with the most up-to-date and accurate loan information.
Click the Add Account plus sign icon at the top right of the Account Bar.
During the setup process, you’ll be asked a few questions:
What is the name of your bank or brokerageIf your bank or brokerage is listed on the screen, click it.
If your bank or brokerage is not listed on the screen, start typing its name. After you type a few characters Quicken displays a list of possible matches. If you see what you are looking for, go ahead and click the name of your bank or brokerage. If you don't see what you are looking for, click Back and try again.
What if I can’t find it in the list, or I want to enter transactions manually?
Use Manual Loan Account Setup.
Why does Quicken want to know my bank name?
Quicken needs to know your bank or brokerage name to find out if it can download transactions for you.
Downloading transactions will:
- Save you from manually entering your data
- Ensure data accuracy
- Help you detect invalid or fraudulent transactions
What if I don’t enter the name of my bank? (Keep the info that’s already here?
If you don't enter the name of your bank or brokerage, Quicken won't be able to download transactions for you. You will therefore have to manually enter your transactions into Quicken. See Manual Loan Account Setup.
- Select a currency for the account (Optional)
If you have set up Quicken to track multiple currencies, select one from the list. If you decide you need to change the currency for the account, you can do so only if you haven't entered any transactions except the opening balance. What is your financial institution User ID (user name) and password?
Information about User ID and PasswordQuicken needs this information so it can download your account information. For most banks and brokerages, you can use the same user ID and password you use to log in to their website. If you don't have a user ID and password right now, add the account manually. You can always activate it to update transactions or send payments later on.
- What is a user name?
It may be an account number or some other number assigned by your bank or brokerage. It may also be the user ID you use to log in to their website.
- Can I use the password for my bank website?
Yes. If you entered the user ID that you use to log in to your bank or brokerage website in the user ID field, then enter the website password as well.
- Did you receive "Direct Connect" instructions from your bank or brokerage?
Direct Connect is a service some banks and brokerages use to connect to Quicken. You will know if you have Direct Connect if you specifically signed up for it and/or your bank or brokerage sent you a special user ID and password to use with Quicken. If so, use your Direct Connect login information on this screen.
If you did not receive special login instructions, use your website user ID and password here.
If you are not sure what to do, use the user ID and password you would use to log in to your bank's website.
- Can I see my password while entering the user ID and password?
Yes. To see the password while adding an account, select the Show Characters box to the right of the password box.
- What happens if I save my password?
This step is necessary only for accounts using direct connect. See Why don't I need to enter my bank password to download from my bank? (support site) for more information.
Quicken's Password Vault is a secure and convenient way to store multiple financial institution passwords that you can then access with a single master password.
- You can open the Password Vault to add, remove, or change stored passwords at any time.
- When the Password Vault was developed, it went through a rigorous security review.
- The Password Vault uses industry-standard encryption to save your passwords, and it is careful to remove them from memory when they are no longer being used.
- What is a user name?
Tips for successful connections
Expand for more informationSometimes Quicken needs more information to determine what type of account you have, or at what branch the account resides before it can access it. If you are not sure, here are some tips that may help you:
Account Type
If different types of accounts are shown, such as checking, savings, or credit card, choose the account type that applies to you.
State or Location
Some banks and brokerages use a state or region to classify accounts. If you see your state listed, this is probably the option to select.
Bank Mergers
Did your local bank or credit union merge with a larger bank? If you see your old or pre-merger bank name listed, this is probably the option to select.
Having trouble? Contact your bank or brokerage for instructions.
How should Quicken set up accounts it has found?
Expand for more informationWe have found the following
This is a list of your accounts that Quicken has detected at your bank or brokerage.
Add, Ignore, or Link
- Quicken needs to know what you want to do with the accounts it has found. Keep in mind that you don't need to set up all of the accounts it finds; just the ones that you want to track in Quicken.
- Choose Add to create a new Quicken account in which to download your transactions. If you are new to Quicken, this is probably the option that you want.
- Choose Link to download your transactions into an existing Quicken account. If you have previously set up the account in Quicken, but are not yet downloading transactions into it, this is probably the option you want.
- Choose Ignore to disregard one of the accounts that Quicken has found. No account will be created, and transactions for that account will not be downloaded into Quicken.
Nickname (Optional)
Enter the name you want to use to refer to the account in Quicken. This name will appear in reports, and in the Quicken interface. If you don't enter a nickname, Quicken will use the name provided by your financial institution for the account.
Used mostly for
If you are using Quicken Business & Personal choose the primary use of the account: Personal (which is the default), Business, or Rental Property. Your selection determines where in the Quicken interface (on which tab) the account appears. You can change this from the Account List later if you wish.
- Your accounts have been added!
You will receive confirmation that your account, or accounts, have been added to Quicken. Depending on the type of account you are adding there may be other steps you need to take. This screen will tell you what you need to do, if anything, to start using the accounts. Congratulations!
If you have chosen to use mobile as a part of your Quicken Registration, on this screen, you will get an option to sync the added account to the cloud. If you wish to add this account to the cloud, select the Sync to Quicken cloud for Mobile / Alerts check-box next to the account that you have added.
- Why do I not see the option to Sync to Quicken Cloud?
You will see this option only if you have chosen to Use Mobile as part of the registration. If you wish to view your accounts in mobile or to receive custom account notifications, click the Mobile and Web tab and follow the instructions.
Your accounts have been added
Why don't I see the option to Sync to Quicken Cloud?
You will see this option only if you have chosen to Use Mobile as part of the registration. If you wish to view your accounts in mobile or to receive custom account notifications, click the Mobile and Web tab and follow the instructions.
Set up a manual loan account
A manual loan account requires you to enter all of the relevant loan details in order to provide you with loan information. When possible, it is much easier to access and maintain an online loan account. If you would prefer to enter your loan information manually, or if it is not available online, then follow the instructions below.
- Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
You can also add a new account by selecting Tools → Add Account from the top menu. - Select Offline Account.
- Under Loan & Debt, select Loan. If you are setting up a Home Equity Line of Credit, select HELOC.
- Enter your loan information. (See loan information details below)
- Select Next. Answer any additional questions.
- Review the Loan Payment Reminder.
- Select Done.
Loan Information Details
Enter the name you want to use to refer to the account in Quicken. This name will appear in reports, and in the Quicken interface.
Select the type of loan you want to set up. Your selection determines the categories Quicken creates to track your loan. For example, to track a mortgage Quicken creates Home:Mortgage:Principal; and to track an auto loan Quicken creates Auto&Transport:Auto Payment:Principal. For "connected" loan accounts, this option may not be available because the loan type is determined by your financial institution.
If your loan is:
- For a new bank loan, enter the loan amount in Original Balance. Quicken inserts today's date in Opening Date, but you can change it.
- For an existing bank loan, enter the original balance of the loan in Original Balance, and enter the date on which you first took out the loan in Opening Date.
Current interest rate
- Enter the interest rate that will be in effect for the next payment.
- If the loan is an adjustable-rate loan, you can change the rate when necessary.
- You don't have to enter the percent sign.
The Original Length of the loan refers to the period of time during which payments are due, starting from the date the loan was opened until the date the last payment is due.
Tell Quicken how often your loan is compounded. Select Daily, Monthly, or Semi-Annually from the drop-down list.
The Compounding Period affects how much interest is owed on a loan. The more frequently the interest is calculated, the higher the total interest is.
Tell Quicken how often you make payments. Select the period that matches your loan from the drop-down list.
Enter the amount due on the loan, as of the opening date you entered above. For "connected" loan accounts, you may not be able to change the current balance because it is downloaded from your financial institution.
Enter the base amount of your loan payment. Include your regular payment only (principal + interest). Don't include any fees other amounts. If this is an interest-only loan, enter it as the payment amount.
Enter the date by which your lender must receive payment.
Enter any additional fees that you are required to pay on top of your base loan payment.
Enter any additional money you want to pay towards reducing your loan principal.
If you are adding a "connected" loan account, you may set up a simple or a detailed loan reminder. If you are adding a "disconnected" manual loan account, you may set up a detailed loan reminder only.
A simple loan reminder tracks only the loan payment total.
A detailed loan reminder tracks all of the line items included in your loan payment total –things like interest, private mortgage insurance, and property taxes. Tracking these items can help you plan and project your spending and taxes. To learn more, see Set up a detailed loan payment reminder.
Quicken asks if you'd like to set up an asset account to track the value of the item you're purchasing with this loan. This makes net worth reports more accurate.
- If you'd like to set up an account, click Add linked asset account and select the type of asset account to create. If you don't want an asset account, click Done.
- Quicken displays your loan in the Property & Debt tab.
Adding an Account in Quicken
When you add an account, Quicken includes it in the Account List (Tools menu > Account List). In most cases, you’ll want to add all your accounts to the same Quicken data file to track all your finances in one place.
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
Alternatively, go to Tools → Add Account in the top menu.
Enter the name of your brokerage and select it.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Investment Tracking: Simple Investing vs. Complete Investing
Simple Investing: Tracks Positions Only
With Simple Investing, Quicken tracks the positions (number of shares for each security) and cash balances based on information from your broker. This method shows your portfolio value, net worth, and investment returns over time. However, it does not calculate capital gains, losses, or investment income. When selected, the account displays a summary rather than an investment transaction register.
Complete Investing: Tracks Positions and Transactions
Complete Investing tracks both transaction details and positions over time using broker-provided data. This method offers portfolio value, net worth, investment returns, capital gains, losses, and income tracking. When selected, the account displays an investment transaction register.
Why Don’t I Have a Complete Investing Option?
If Complete Investing isn’t available for a specific account, Quicken defaults to Simple Investing. This ensures you can monitor securities, positions, and balances, even without transaction data. This limitation usually results from the financial institution’s data integration level. To enable detailed tracking, you can manually set up the account and enter transaction details.
Account Setup: Simple and Advanced Options
Simple Setup
Select the type of account to add.
If your bank or brokerage appears, click it. If not:
Start typing its name to see potential matches.
If the name still doesn’t appear, click Back, try again, or select Advanced Setup to enter transactions manually. Manual setup allows activation for downloads later if supported.
Advanced Setup
Choose whether to download transactions or enter them manually.
Enter a nickname (optional) for the account. This name appears in reports and the interface.
If using Quicken Business & Personal, choose the primary use: Personal, Business, or Rental Property.
Key Setup Details
Financial Institution Login: Use the same credentials as the financial institution’s website unless Direct Connect credentials are specified.
Direct Connect: Some institutions require this for features like bill pay.
Password Vault: Quicken’s secure storage for financial institution passwords, accessed with a master password.
Account Confirmation and Sync
After adding an account:
Quicken may prompt for additional steps to start using the account.
For mobile access, enable Sync to Quicken Cloud for Mobile/Alerts.
Account Types and Securities
For IRA accounts, specify the owner and type (e.g., Traditional IRA, Roth IRA).
Enter securities information:
Use ticker symbols or lookup tools.
Specify share balances and security types (e.g., Stock, Mutual Fund).
Notes for IRA Contributions
To assign contributions to prior tax years:
Enter cash transfer transactions with the correct date and tax year.
Adjust the opening balance to reflect only the current year’s contribution.
Connection Methods
Express Web Connect (Free): Automatically updates transactions for supported institutions.
Direct Connect (Fees May Apply): Requires a unique ID and password for some services.
Web Connect (Free): Download transactions from your financial institution’s website if supported.
Note for our Canadian Customers
The following terms will be different in the Canadian releases of Quicken.
Canada: "Cheque" / United States: "Check"
Canada: "Colour" / United States: "Color"
Canada: "Centre" / United States: "Center"
Canada: "Realise" / United States: "Realize"
Canada: "Behaviour" / United States: "Behavior"
Canada: "Analyse" / United States: "Analyze"
Additional Information
When you add a new account, Quicken adds it to the Account List (choose Tools menu > Account List). In most cases, you'll want to add all of your household's accounts in the same Quicken data file, so that you can track all your finances in one place.
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
You can also add a new account by selecting Tools → Add Account from the top menu.Click Other Assets & Liabilities.
Select Car, Truck, Van, RV.
During the setup process, you'll be asked a few questions.
What is the name you'd like to use for this account?
Enter the name you want to use to refer to the account in Quicken. This name will appear in reports, and in the Quicken interface.
What is this account primarily used for?
If you are using Quicken Business & Personal, choose the primary use of the account: Personal (which is the default), Business, or Rental Property. Your selection determines where in the Quicken interface (on which tab) the account appears. You can change this from the Account List later if you wish. the account appears. You can change this from the Account List later if you wish.
Select a currency for the account (Optional)
If you have set up Quicken to track multiple currencies, select one from the list. If you decide you need to change the currency for the account, you can do so only if you haven't entered any transactions except the opening balance.
Tell Quicken about the vehicle you'd like to track
Enter the vehicle make/manufacturer, model, and year.
Enter the purchase date and price of your vehicle.
What if you don't know the purchase price?
If you don't remember, enter zero. The new account will be added with an opening balance of $0.00, as of today. You can edit this amount later.
Enter the estimated value of your vehicle. Doing so will let you track your equity in the vehicle.
Is there a loan on this vehicle?
If you have a loan, click Yes and choose one of the following options:
I'd like to track this loan in Quicken. Set up a new account for this. Quicken walks you through the steps to add a loan to track the payment schedule, principal, and interest, and a liability account to track your loan balance, which is used in your Net Worth report. For more information, see Set up a loan or mortgage.
I'm already tracking the loan in Quicken. Select existing account. In the drop-down list, select the appropriate loan account.
I do not want to track the loan in Quicken.
If you make a lot of reimbursable work-related expenses, you can track them in a Quicken cash account.
To add an account:
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
Select Other Assets and Liabilities.
Select Cash and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Enter a meaningful name for the account, such as Reimbursables.
When you get to the starting date and opening balance dialog, enter today's date and the amount of outstanding reimbursable expenses. Quicken will display this as a positive amount in the Reimbursable account's register. If you're not currently owed any money, enter zero.
Recording reimbursable expenses
In the future, follow this procedure when you record reimbursable expenses in your checking or credit card account:
In the checking or credit card account where you make the expense, record the transaction in the account register, as usual. This is an expense transaction. This transaction should reduce the balance of the checking account.
In the Category field, instead of assigning a category to the transaction, click the Transfers tab on the left of the Category List and choose the reimbursable account you added. Quicken adds this amount to the balance of the reimbursable account.
Recording a reimbursement
In the future, follow this procedure when you record the reimbursement:
In the account where you receive the reimbursement, record the transaction in the account register, as usual. This is a deposit transaction. This transaction should increase the balance of the checking account.
In the Category field, instead of assigning a category to the transaction, click the Transfers tab in the Category List and choose the reimbursable account you added. Quicken subtracts this amount from the balance of the reimbursable account.
When you've received reimbursements for all your outstanding expenses, the balance of the Reimbursement account will be zero.
If you make a lot of reimbursable work-related expenses, you can track them in a Quicken cash account.
To add an account:
Select the Add Account icon on the top right of the Account Bar.
Select Other Assets and Liabilities.
Select Cash and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Enter a meaningful name for the account, such as Reimbursables.
When you get to the starting date and opening balance dialog, enter today's date and the amount of outstanding reimbursable expenses. Quicken will display this as a positive amount in the Reimbursable account's register. If you're not currently owed any money, enter zero.
Recording reimbursable expenses
In the future, follow this procedure when you record reimbursable expenses in your checking or credit card account:
In the checking or credit card account where you make the expense, record the transaction in the account register, as usual. This is an expense transaction. This transaction should reduce the balance of the checking account.
In the Category field, instead of assigning a category to the transaction, click the Transfers tab on the left of the Category List and choose the reimbursable account you added. Quicken adds this amount to the balance of the reimbursable account.
Recording a reimbursement
In the future, follow this procedure when you record the reimbursement:
In the account where you receive the reimbursement, record the transaction in the account register, as usual. This is a deposit transaction. This transaction should increase the balance of the checking account.
In the Category field, instead of assigning a category to the transaction, click the Transfers tab in the Category List and choose the reimbursable account you added. Quicken subtracts this amount from the balance of the reimbursable account.
When you've received reimbursements for all your outstanding expenses, the balance of the Reimbursement account will be zero.
Here’s the reformatted and reorganized content for better readability, with any grammar and clarity issues addressed:
Adding an Account in Quicken
To add an account in Quicken:
- Select the Add Account icon at the top right of the Account Bar.
- Alternatively, go to Tools → Add Account in the top menu.
- If the financial institution managing your 401(k)/403(b) is available online:
- Use the search function to find your institution.
- Otherwise, select Offline Account → 401(k).
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Simple Setup Wizard
During the account setup process, the pages you see depend on the type of account being added and how much information Quicken can download from your financial institution. Below are common steps and tips for Simple Setup.
Step 1: Select the Account Type
Choose the type of account you want to add.
Step 2: Enter Your Bank or Brokerage Name
- If listed, click the name of your bank or brokerage.
- If not listed:
- Start typing its name, and Quicken will display a list of matches.
- If it still doesn't appear, click Back and try again.
What If I Can’t Find My Bank?
If your bank or brokerage isn’t listed or you want to enter transactions manually:
- Select Advanced Setup and choose I want to enter my transactions manually.
Why Does Quicken Ask for My Bank Name?
Quicken uses your bank or brokerage name to determine if it can download transactions for you. If no name is provided, transactions must be entered manually.
Additional Account Setup Options
Currency Selection (Optional)
If you have enabled Quicken to track multiple currencies:
- Select the appropriate currency from the list.
- Note: You can change the currency only if no transactions (besides the opening balance) have been entered.
User ID and Password
Quicken requires your bank or brokerage login credentials to download account information.
- Direct Connect: If your financial institution provided a unique ID and password for Quicken, use these details.
- Website Credentials: If no special instructions were provided, use the same login you use on the institution's website.
- Password Visibility: Select the Show Characters box to view your password while typing.
Password Vault
Passwords can be saved securely in Quicken’s Password Vault for convenient access. The Password Vault uses industry-standard encryption and can be managed from Quicken at any time.
Advanced Account Details
Account Type or Branch
Sometimes Quicken needs more details, such as:
- Account Type: Choose checking, savings, credit card, or other applicable account types.
- State or Location: If your financial institution lists states or regions, select the appropriate one.
- Bank Mergers: If your bank merged, select its pre-merger name if listed.
If you’re unsure, contact your bank or brokerage for guidance.
Handling Accounts Found by Quicken
Once Quicken detects accounts at your financial institution, it will prompt you to decide:
- Add: Create a new Quicken account to download transactions.
- Link: Connect transactions to an existing Quicken account.
- Ignore: Skip setting up the account in Quicken.
Nickname (Optional)
You can assign a nickname to the account for easy identification in Quicken. If no nickname is provided, Quicken will use the name from your financial institution.
Usage Type
For Quicken Business & Personal, specify the account’s primary use:
- Personal (default)
- Business
- Rental Property
Confirmation and Syncing
After adding the account:
- Quicken provides a confirmation screen, detailing any next steps required.
- If enabled, you’ll see an option to sync the account with Quicken Cloud for Mobile/Alerts.
To enable mobile notifications or access accounts on mobile:
- Go to the Mobile and Web tab and follow the instructions.
Advanced Setup Wizard
For more detailed customization or manual entry, use Advanced Setup. Steps include:
Account Naming
- Use descriptive names to distinguish accounts (e.g., "401(k) for Terry").
- Avoid special characters such as
[
,]
,/
,:
,|
, or^
.
Employer and Loan Information (401(k)/403(b) Accounts)
- Provide your employer's name and specify whether it is current or former.
- Indicate if you have any loans against the account and, if so, enter details such as the original loan amount and current balance.
Securities
- Enter details for each security:
- Ticker Symbol: Use the lookup tool if unsure.
- Security Name: Required if no ticker symbol is available (e.g., proprietary securities).
- Holdings: Include the number of shares and total market value.
Setup Summary
Review your setup:
- Verify the statement date.
- Check that all securities are listed.
- Go back to correct any errors if necessary.
When complete, Quicken provides graphs and reports in the 401(k) Summary tab.
Notes on 401(k)/403(b) Accounts
- Tax Impact Account: Quicken creates a special tax impact account for retirement accounts to track transactions affecting your taxes (e.g., early withdrawals). These are visible in tax reports but should not be edited or deleted.
- Roth 401(k): There is currently no dedicated option for Roth 401(k) accounts.
Summary of Changes:
- Organized content into clear sections with appropriate headings and subheadings.
- Standardized terminology (e.g., "Quicken Cloud" instead of variations).
- Corrected grammatical issues and typos (e.g., "the account appears" duplication under Usage Type).
- Improved sentence flow for clarity and conciseness.
Note for our Canadian Customers
The following terms will be different in the Canadian releases of Quicken.
Canada: "Cheque" / United States: "Check"
Canada: "Colour" / United States: "Color"
Canada: "Centre" / United States: "Center"
Canada: "Realise" / United States: "Realize"
Canada: "Behaviour" / United States: "Behavior"
Canada: "Analyse" / United States: "Analyze"
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