Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear the most.
- How do I use the Desktop Uploader?
- Mac Desktop Uploader:
How do I install it?
How do I use it?
Windows Desktop Uploader:
How do I install it?
How do I use it?
Get step-by-step directions for getting your bank statement from USAA, Citibank, Chase, Wachovia, CapitalOne, and Bank of America.
- What does Wesabe do?
- Wesabe is part financial software, part community. With Wesabe, you can see all your bank accounts and credit cards in one place, categorize your transactions how you want, see spending and earning summaries, discuss things with other interested people, and receive tips for saving money based on your spending.
- What do you mean by sharing? Do I have to give
up my privacy to participate?
- Your data is anonymous and secure. We never share your account data with anyone. What we do is
look for patterns in our members’ spending that inform the Wesabe community about good or bad values. For instance, we will post
the average transaction at a merchant but not any information about who shops there. For example:
Your real name never has to appear on the site – you have a separate member name people will see instead. We will never reveal a person’s real name unless we are compelled to do so by a valid court
order.
- What is your security model?
- We are somewhat obsessive about security. Using Wesabe is just as secure, or in some cases
more secure, than using your bank’s or credit card’s web site. Of course
we use industry-standard encryption, so none of your data or passwords are
ever sent over the Internet in a form an eavesdropper could read. Click here to read all about Wesabe’s security.
- Why should I upload?
- Uploading your bank data is not required to participate in the Wesabe community. We only require that you create
a free account to leave comments or tips. We believe, however, and we hear from
our members, that
uploading your accounts
is an enormous help. Here’s why:
- You can see all your accounts in one place.
- Your transactions are listed in normal language, not what people refer to as ‘bank puke’. For example:
- Finally, Wesabe finds customized,
specific recommendations for your personal spending not just
general advice. Bank data must be uploaded for these recommendations.
- How much does it cost?
- Wesabe membership is free.
- Do you/will you accept ads?
- We do not plan to sell advertising, which generally show you ways to spend your money not
help you save it.
- How does Wesabe make money?
- Down the road, we plan to introduce a subscription-based, “Pro” version
of Wesabe with enhanced features. All of the current features of the site
(and many we have in the works) will remain free. We also have another
revenue-generating feature planned, which we haven’t yet announced, that
is focused on helping consumers. Currently Wesabe is venture funded, which
is how we pay the bills until we begin making money.
- My bank or credit card isn’t listed. What should I do?
- We’re happy to add any bank or credit card to Wesabe – if yours isn’t on our
current list. Just email us at support@wesabe.com
and we’ll add it. We support all international
currency formats.
- How do I delete an account?
-
- Go to the Account page you’d like to delete.
- Hold your mouse over the account name. An “Edit” button will appear.
- Click the Edit button.
- Now you’ll see a blue button with “Delete
Account…” and a trash can on it. Click that button.
- Can I permanently delete my membership, my accounts and my data from Wesabe?
- Any user can delete any individual account they have uploaded, or
their entire membership, without having to ask permission from anyone at
Wesabe. Deletion is a one-step process. We have offered this since the day
we launched and we promise it as a right in our Data Bill of Rights, which
is designed to address exactly this kind of concern. We are leaders in
this area – search for “data
bill of rights” on Google and we’re the #1
hit – and we intend to remain the leader by continuing to find better
ways of protecting our users’ privacy.
- Tell me more about cleaning up my bank data.
- Click here to watch a video on the basics of editing and tagging.
- Can I get my feet wet first?
- Yes. We provide a tool called
"Web Upload"
that allows you to upload data from your bank or credit card account
without having to identify yourself in any way. If you go
to your bank or credit card site, download your account data, and use the
Web Upload form there is no commitment and you can always remove your data from the site.
- What are tips?
- Tips are the way for the Wesabe community to share information about
how we can get more for our money. Anyone in the Wesabe community can
create a tip, suggesting a way for you to spend your money differently –
or even just suggesting a way to think about your money. Wesabe shows you tips based on your spending.
If lots of people
love a tip, we push it to the top and make sure everyone can see it. In this way, the community
knowledge gets better over time.
- What are goals?
- For some, a goal might be a big
purchase, like getting a new car or buying a house. For others, a goal
might be getting out of debt, or getting to the end of the month without
running out of money. A goal could even be an abstract idea, like spending
money with "green" values in mind.
We offer
tips specific to each goal and provide tools for setting spending targets attached to your goals.
- I've found a problem with Wesabe, or I have a
suggestion…
- Problems, suggestions, and feedback are enormously helpful to us. Please write us at support@wesabe.com
