What is "SQ *" on my bank statement?
SQ * is usually a legitimate card payment processed by Square for a merchant you bought from.
Merchant: Square (Block) | Category: Payment Processor
What Is This Charge?
SQ * (followed by a business name) is a charge processed through Square, a popular payment processing platform used by millions of small and medium-sized businesses. Square provides point-of-sale hardware and software to restaurants, retail shops, salons, food trucks, farmers market vendors, and many other local businesses. The charge itself comes from the specific business that used Square to process your payment.
Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement?
This charge appears when you make a purchase at a business that uses Square for payment processing. Square is especially popular with smaller, independent businesses—coffee shops, barbershops, craft fairs, and food trucks. The charge reflects your transaction with that specific merchant, with Square acting as the payment intermediary. You may also see SQ * charges from Square Online stores (e-commerce).
Typical Charge Amounts
Since SQ * charges come from a wide variety of businesses, amounts range from a few dollars for a coffee to several hundred dollars for services or larger purchases. The most common SQ * charges tend to be under $50, reflecting purchases at local businesses, restaurants, and service providers. Tips added at the Square terminal are included in the total charge amount.
Common Variations
Square charges follow the format SQ *BUSINESSNAME. For example, SQ *MAIN STREET CAFE, SQ *JOES BARBERSHOP, or SQ *FLOWER MARKET. You may also see variations like SQ*BUSINESSNAME (without the space), SQUARE *BUSINESSNAME, or GOSQ.COM followed by the business name. Square's online store purchases sometimes appear as SQUAREUP.COM.
Is This Charge Legitimate?
Think about recent purchases at local businesses, especially small or independent shops. The business name after "SQ *" should help you identify the merchant. If the name doesn't ring a bell, consider farmers markets, pop-up shops, or service providers you may have visited recently. Many people forget cash-register transactions at small businesses because the business name on the statement doesn't match the storefront sign exactly.
How to Dispute or Cancel
Since Square is the payment processor and not the merchant, you should first try to resolve the issue directly with the business that charged you. If you received a digital receipt from Square (sent to your email or phone number), it will identify the business and transaction details. If you can't resolve the issue with the merchant, contact your bank to file a chargeback dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the asterisk in SQ * mean on my bank statement?
The asterisk in SQ * is a separator used by Square's payment system. SQ identifies the payment processor (Square), and the text after the asterisk is the name of the business where you made the purchase. For example, SQ *BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE means you bought something at Blue Bottle Coffee using their Square terminal.
I don't recognize the business name after SQ *. How do I figure out what this charge is?
The business name registered in Square may differ from the storefront name you see. Try searching the business name online. Also consider recent purchases at farmers markets, food trucks, pop-up shops, or service providers like tutors, handymen, or dog groomers—all common Square users. If you have a Square receipt in your email, search for 'Square' or 'SQ' in your inbox.
Why was I charged twice by the same SQ * merchant?
A double charge could be a processing error at the merchant's Square terminal, or it could be a pending authorization hold plus the actual charge. Pending holds usually disappear within 2-3 business days. If both charges fully post, contact the merchant directly to request a refund for the duplicate.
Can Square refund my money?
Square doesn't issue refunds directly—the merchant who charged you processes the refund through their Square dashboard. Contact the business where you made the purchase and ask them to issue a refund. If they refuse or are unresponsive, you can file a dispute with your bank or credit card company.
Is SQ * a scam or a real charge?
SQ * is a legitimate payment processor (Square, Inc., owned by Block, Inc.). It's one of the most widely used POS systems in the US. However, the charge is only as legitimate as the business behind it. If you don't recognize the business name and can't match it to a recent purchase, contact your bank.
Similar Charges
- SQ *BUSINESSNAME
- SQ*COFFEE SHOP
- SQUARE *MERCHANT
- GOSQ.COM*BUSINESSNAME
- SQUAREUP.COM