Charge Explainer
§ 01 · DESCRIPTOR

What is STRIPE* SUBSTACK on your bank statement?

Here's what this charge most likely is, grounded in our prefix dictionary and what the descriptor itself contains.

High confidence

This charge appears to be a payment to Substack, a newsletter and subscription publishing platform, processed through Stripe.

Most likely: Substack
a newsletter and subscription publishing platform
Processed by: Stripe
Stripe is a widely used online payment processor. When you see 'STRIPE*' on a statement, Stripe handled the transaction on behalf of the actual seller — in this case, Substack.
Category
Digital Subscriptions / Media

Doesn't look right? Things you could check:

  • Check your Substack accountLogging into substack.com would show any active paid subscriptions or recent payments tied to your account.
  • Look for a receipt emailSubstack typically sends an email receipt for subscription charges, which would confirm the amount and which newsletter or plan was billed.
  • Review your subscriptionsSubstack allows you to see all paid subscriptions in your account settings, which could help identify which writer or publication this charge is for.
WHAT THE DESCRIPTOR TELLS US

Stripe processes online payments for a wide range of businesses. The name shown with the STRIPE descriptor is the actual business you paid — Stripe itself is not the seller. After the STRIPE prefix the descriptor reads “SUBSTACK” — that leftover text is the most likely seller.

Check a different charge

Paste your own variant of this descriptor — the result appears right here.

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RELATED DESCRIPTORS
  • STRIPE

    This charge was processed through Stripe, but the descriptor contains no merchant name — the actual business that received the payment cannot be identified from this information alone.

  • STRIPE *NYTIMES

    This charge appears to be a subscription or purchase from The New York Times, processed through Stripe.

  • ACH WEB PYMT BILLPAY

    This appears to be an electronic bill payment made through your bank's online bill pay service via the ACH network.

  • ADBL*AUDIOBOOK PURCHASE

    This appears to be a charge from Audible for a one-time audiobook purchase.

The STRIPE prefix has its own page: What does STRIPE mean on a statement?