Scoring model
How the matching score works
SettlePair suggests a match by adding up evidence. There is no model, no training data and no randomness: the same two files produce the same scores every time, on any machine. This page is the whole rule set, published so you can disagree with it.
The signals
| Signal | Points |
|---|---|
| Invoice number in the bank descriptionThe full invoice reference appears in the memo, ignoring case, spaces and punctuation. | +55 |
| Invoice digits in the bank descriptionThe invoice's numeric core (at least 4 digits) appears as its own run of digits — "1042" in "PMT 1042". | +45 |
| Exact amount matchThe deposit equals the invoice total to the cent. | +30 |
| Amount closeThe deposit is within 1% of the invoice, or within $1.00 — typically a card or wire fee. | +15 |
| Customer name similarityWord overlap and edit distance between the customer name and the bank description, above a 55% floor. | +10 to +20 |
| Amount printed in the descriptionThe memo itself quotes the invoice amount. | +12 |
| Payment date is plausibleDeposits close to the invoice date score higher; anything more than 60 days away scores nothing. | +1 to +10 |
| Payer you've matched beforeA rule you saved on this device links this bank description to this customer. Ignored when the memo references a different invoice. | +35 |
| Ambiguity penaltyApplied when a runner-up scores within 15 points, unless the winner carries an invoice reference. The result is never pushed below the review threshold. | −20 |
The total is capped at 100. Anything scoring below 45 is not suggested at all — the invoice and the deposit are reported as unexplained instead of being paired on thin evidence.
What the bands mean
| 80 and above | Strong evidence | Bulk approval acts on this band. Usually a reference hit or an exact amount. |
| 60 to 79 | Likely | Several signals agree, none conclusive. Read the evidence before approving. |
| 45 to 59 | Worth a look | Loose signals only. Check against your own records. |
| Below 45 | Not suggested | Discarded. The invoice and the deposit are both reported as unexplained instead. |
“Approve all high-confidence” acts on suggestions scoring 80 or above, only on rows still awaiting a decision, and can be undone immediately afterwards.
Where it will not help
- Scoring is one-to-one. A deposit covering five invoices is handled on the allocation sheet, not by the score.
- Two invoices for the same customer with the same amount will always score alike. SettlePair flags the tie rather than guessing.
- A bank export with no descriptions leaves only amount and date to work with, and scores will be low by design.
- Nothing is learned from other users. The only memory is the payer rules you save on this device.
See it on real rows
Open the sample session and expand any suggestion: the evidence drawer lists exactly these signals with the points each one contributed. For the workflow around the score, read how SettlePair works.