Charge Explainer
§ 01 · DESCRIPTOR

What is SQ *PHILZ COFFEE on your bank statement?

Here's what this charge most likely is, grounded in our prefix dictionary and what the descriptor itself contains.

High confidence

This appears to be a purchase at Philz Coffee, a well-known specialty coffee chain, processed through Square.

Most likely: Philz Coffee
a coffee shop chain
Processed by: Square
Square is a payment processor used by many small and independent businesses. The 'SQ *' prefix means Square handled the transaction on behalf of the actual seller — in this case, Philz Coffee.
Category
Food & Drink

Doesn't look right? Things you could check:

  • Check for a receiptPhilz Coffee often sends email or text receipts at the time of purchase, which would confirm the location and items ordered.
  • Find your nearest Philz locationPhilz Coffee has locations across California and a few other states — their website lists all branches, which could help confirm which store this was.
  • Review recent visitsThinking back to recent coffee runs or errands near a Philz location can help place when and where this charge occurred.
WHAT THE DESCRIPTOR TELLS US

Square processes card payments for small and independent businesses. The name after SQ* is the actual seller — often a cafe, salon, food truck, or market vendor — not Square itself. After the SQ* prefix the descriptor reads “PHILZ COFFEE” — that leftover text is the most likely seller.

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RELATED DESCRIPTORS
The SQ* prefix has its own page: What does SQ* mean on a statement?