The short answer
This is a legitimate charge from Safeway.
What is the Safeway charge?
When `SAFEWAY` appears on your banking or credit card statement, it indicates a direct retail transaction processed at a Safeway supermarket location, fuel station, or in-store pharmacy. Millions of shoppers rely on Safeway retail stores across the country for weekly grocery shopping, fresh produce, meat, dairy, household supplies, and convenient fuel rewards fill-ups.
This billing entry typically shows up because you completed an in-store purchase or placed a grocery delivery order through their digital platform. When using Safeway online grocery delivery or DriveUp and Go pickup services, the merchant places a pre-authorization hold on your payment card, which may temporarily differ from your final receipt total until item substitutions and final weights settle.
To verify the charge, check your physical cash register receipt or inspect your online account order history. If you recently placed a pickup order, remember that pending authorization holds drop off within a few business days. If the charge is completely unfamiliar and you suspect unauthorized card theft, skimming, or fraud, contact your bank immediately to dispute the transaction. Keeping close track of your monthly statements ensures complete financial security and prevents unexpected surprises from recurring charges.
Online Orders and Pre-Authorizations
If you use Safeway delivery or 'DriveUp & Go', Safeway places a 'pre-authorization' hold on your card when you order.
Because items may be out of stock or substituted, the final amount often differs from the hold. You may see multiple pending charges that take a few days to drop off.
- Step 1 Search the store number online (e.g., 'Safeway 1234') to identify the exact location where the card was used.
- Step 2 Wait a few days if you recently placed an online order to let the pending authorization holds clear.
What does 'ACI Safeway' mean?
Some digital subscription services use billing descriptors like 'ACI Safeway' for privacy; this is usually unrelated to the grocery store.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SAFEWAY charge legitimate?
If you authorized a payment to Safeway, then yes. This is the statement descriptor used by Safeway. Safeway
Independent reference — not affiliated with Safeway. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- CFPB: Disputing Credit Card Charges https://www.consumerfinance.gov
- FTC: Fair Credit Billing Act https://consumer.ftc.gov
Reviewed Aug 5, 2026 · low · About UnknownCharges