Understanding internal transfers and transfers
Why moving money from one of your accounts to another isn't a real expense, and how to spot it in Noryo.
When you move money from one of your accounts to another, for example from your checking account to your savings account, this movement appears twice: an outflow on one side, an inflow on the other. It isn't a real expense or real income. This article explains how to recognize these movements so your figures stay accurate.
Internal transfer or real expense?
The distinction is easy to draw: an internal transfer stays in your pocket, the money simply moves between accounts. An expense, on the other hand, truly leaves your pocket toward a third party (a merchant, a service, another person).
The concepts to know
- Internal transfer
- A movement between two of your own accounts. Your total amount of money doesn't change.
- Transfer
- Sending money to an account that isn't yours. This is a real outflow.
- Pending transaction
- A movement recorded by the bank but not yet final, which can temporarily shift your balances.
Why it matters
If an internal transfer were counted as an expense, your spending for the month would look far higher than it really is. Conversely, the arrival on the other account would look like income. By treating these movements as transfers, Noryo avoids artificially inflating your statistics.
If your spending for the month looks unusually high, look for a transfer to your savings or one of your other accounts that's been miscategorized. That's the most common cause.
Recognizing a transfer between your accounts
When your accounts are connected to Noryo, a movement from one to another generates two lines with opposite amounts on close dates. You can spot them easily by filtering your transactions by account or by searching for the amount involved.
- Two lines for the same amount, one negative, the other positive.
- Identical or very close dates.
- A label that suggests a transfer rather than a merchant.
Adjusting a transfer's category
Open the details of the transaction in question to check or change its category. Noryo's taxonomy includes a dedicated family for internal movements and transfers, separate from your everyday spending categories.
If the same transfer recurs every month, create a rule at the merchant level. The categorization will then apply automatically to future movements.
Special cases
Common situations
I have only one connected account, I only see one line
If the other account isn't connected, you only see the visible side of the movement. Connect the second account, within the limits of your plan, to get both lines back.
A transfer to someone else
Sending money to an account that isn't yours is a real outflow. Categorize it according to its nature, for example a reimbursement or help to a loved one.
My balances don't add up after a transfer
A gap of a few days often comes from movements that are still pending. The balances line up once the movements are confirmed.
Noryo accesses your accounts in read-only mode. The app makes no transfers and never moves your money for you.
Automate the categorization of your recurring movements.