Online shopping generates some of the most confusing bank statement entries. Marketplaces, third-party sellers, and payment intermediaries all add layers of complexity to what a simple purchase looks like on your statement.
Amazon purchases appear as "AMZN MKTP UK" or "AMZN MKTP US" followed by an order reference. Whether you buy directly from Amazon or from a third-party seller on Amazon, the charge always shows as AMZN MKTP.
eBay purchases paid via PayPal appear as "PAYPAL *EBAY" or "PAYPAL *SELLERNAM". If you pay directly with your card, the descriptor is usually "EBAY" followed by a reference number.
"PAYPAL *JSMITH789" — you bought from an eBay seller whose PayPal ID is jsmith789.
Major online fashion retailers use straightforward descriptors: ASOS appears as "ASOS", Zara as "ZARA.COM" or "INDITEX", H&M as "H&M" or "HM.COM". International retailers like Shein appear as "SHEIN" or "ROADGET BUSINESS".
Etsy purchases appear as "ETSY INC" or "ETSY.COM". Unlike Amazon, individual Etsy sellers don't have their own descriptor — all Etsy charges show the platform name.
Klarna, Clearpay (Afterpay), and Laybuy allow you to split purchases into instalments. These appear as "KLARNA*", "CLEARPAY", or "LAYBUY" on your statement — not as the original retailer.
"KLARNA*ASOS" means you used Klarna to pay for an ASOS order in instalments.
The code (e.g. AB1CD2E) is your order reference number. You can search it in your Amazon order history to find the specific order.
This is the legal entity behind Shein, the online fashion retailer. If you've ordered from Shein, this is what appears on your statement.
Typically the payment processor's name (e.g. Stripe, PayPal, Square) followed by the merchant name. Larger merchants have their own descriptor; smaller ones often appear under their processor.
This is Klarna's legal entity. If you used Klarna's Pay Later or financing options, repayments appear as "KLARNA BANK AB" or "KLARNA*".
Inditex is the parent company of Zara. Other Inditex brands include Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear, and Bershka — all of which may also show as INDITEX.
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