Financial transaction data representing a current financial transaction is processed and divided into financial transaction data segments of one of more words or symbols. A financial transaction data segment in the current financial transaction is assigned a financial transaction data segment score based on an analysis of historical financial transaction categorizations of historical financial transactions containing the same financial transaction data segment. The calculated financial transaction data segment score is then compared with a defined threshold financial transaction data segment score and, if the calculated financial transaction data segment score is greater than the threshold financial transaction data segment score, the financial transaction containing the financial transaction data segment is categorized, at least temporarily, as being a first financial transaction category financial transaction.