SUBSTACK — Substack Bank Charge Explained

SUBSTACK on your bank statement is a transaction descriptor for Substack, a subscription company. Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor.

What Is the SUBSTACK Charge?

SUBSTACK is a transaction descriptor for Substack, a subscription company.

Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor. They typically appear as SUBSTACK or SUBSTACK*<name>.

This code appears on your bank statement because banks display a short payment reference — set by the merchant's payment processor — rather than the company's full trading name. The code SUBSTACK is the official identifier that Substack registered with Visa or Mastercard.

Is the SUBSTACK Charge Legitimate?

A charge from this merchant may relate to a purchase, subscription, trial or another transaction. Only you and your bank can confirm whether a payment was authorised. It may help to check your email for a receipt, or log into your Substack account to review recent activity.

How Do I Cancel or Dispute a SUBSTACK Charge?

  1. Identify the charge: Confirm the charge is from Substack by checking your email for a receipt or logging into your account on their website.
  2. Cancel your subscription: If you no longer want the service, log in to Substack and cancel your subscription through account settings before the next billing date.
  3. Contact the merchant: If you do not recognise this entry, contact your bank or card issuer and ask them to confirm the transaction and merchant details. Only you and your bank can confirm whether a payment was authorised.
  4. Contact your bank: If the merchant does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card. They can explain what options may be available and what information they need.

What Other Names Does Substack Use on Bank Statements?

Substack may also appear on your statement as:

Frequently Asked Questions About SUBSTACK

What is SUBSTACK on my bank statement?

SUBSTACK is a bank statement transaction code for Substack, a subscription company. Substack is a newsletter platform where you subscribe to individual writers and publications. A recurring charge is a paid subscription to a particular newsletter, billed monthly or annually, so the publication name may appear in the descriptor. They typically appear as SUBSTACK or SUBSTACK*<name>. This descriptor appears because banks display a shortened payment code instead of the full company name.

Is SUBSTACK a scam?

A charge from this merchant may relate to a purchase, subscription, trial or another transaction. Only you and your bank can confirm whether a payment was authorised. It may help to check your email for a receipt, or log into your Substack account to review recent activity.

Why is SUBSTACK on my bank statement?

SUBSTACK appears on your statement because Substack processed a payment through their card payment provider. The code is set by their payment processor and is the official descriptor registered with Visa or Mastercard. Common reasons include a subscription renewal, a one-off purchase, or a trial period that has converted to a paid plan.

How do I cancel SUBSTACK?

If you do not recognise this entry, contact your bank or card issuer and ask them to confirm the transaction and merchant details. Only you and your bank can confirm whether a payment was authorised.

How do I get a refund for a SUBSTACK charge?

If you cannot resolve this with the merchant, contact your bank or card issuer. They can explain what options may be available for this type of payment and whether any time limits apply.

For more information about Substack and all its known transaction codes, visit the Substack merchant page.