§ 01 · PREFIX · PAYPAL
What does PAYPAL mean on a bank statement?
The payment was handled through PayPal. The name shown with the PAYPAL descriptor is the merchant or seller PayPal paid on your behalf.
HOW TO READ IT
PayPal is a pass-through: it handles the payment, but it is not the seller. The real merchant is the name that appears right after the prefix.
Processor: PayPal
EXAMPLE DESCRIPTORS
EXPLAINED PAYPAL CHARGES
- PAYPAL *AMZNDIGITAL
This charge appears to be a PayPal payment made to Amazon for a digital product or service, such as a Kindle book, Prime Video rental, in-app purchase, or similar Amazon digital content.
- PAYPAL INST XFER
This appears to be a PayPal instant transfer — money moved out of your PayPal account, likely to a bank account or to pay another user or merchant.
Have a PAYPAL charge of your own?
Paste the full line from your statement — the result appears right here.
OTHER COMMON PREFIXES