MONZO* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

Monzo Bank uses the shortened descriptor "MONZO*" on bank statements because card payment networks like Visa and Mastercard impose strict character limits on merchant descriptors, typically capping them at around 22 characters, which means longer names are often truncated or abbreviated at the billing level. For Monzo's monthly premium subscription service, the asterisk following "MONZO" is a common formatting convention used by payment processors to separate the merchant identifier from any additional transaction reference or product code that may follow. If you see "MONZO*" on your statement and pay around £5.00 each month, this almost certainly reflects your Monzo Plus or Monzo Premium subscription fee rather than any unauthorised activity.

No, this is a legitimate charge from Monzo Bank. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions