How can I find my branch address?

Where can I find my branch address?

Your branch address will usually appear on all your statements, both online and paper. You could also try logging in to your online banking and searching for it in your account.

Another way to find your branch is through your six-digit sort code. With most providers, you can go online and look up which branch your sort code relates to.

It’s important to know the address of your current branch, even if you bank online and haven’t stepped into a bricks-and-mortar bank for a while. This is because it’s where your account is officially held.

If your original branch has closed down – as many branches have – you’ll need to know where your account has been transferred to. Your bank should have contacted you to tell you about the change of branch.

If you want to find your nearest branch, most banks have a branch finder or locator on their website. Simply type in your postcode and it’ll give you the location of your nearest branch.

What is a sort code?

A sort code is a six-digit number that identifies your bank and your specific branch. It’s usually split into three parts separated by dashes, for example 60-12-34.

It’s an essential part of your banking details and is needed for payments and money transfers into and out of your account.

When you open a UK bank account, you’ll get an eight-digit account number and a six-digit sort code.

The sort code makes sure a money transfer or cheque payment arrives at the right place. It’s used by UK banks and payment systems such as:

• Cheque & Credit Clearing Company

• CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System)

• BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing System)

• Faster Payments.

The sort code can also be used to find out:

• Where the payment is coming from

• If it’s being sent to a legitimate bank or building society

• Whether they can accept the payment.

Where can I find my sort code?

You can usually find your sort code:

• On the front of your current account debit card

• On your paper bank statements

• In your cheque book and paying-in book, if you have them

• In your ‘account details’ when you log in to online banking or your bank’s mobile banking app.

What are CHAPS, BACS and Faster Payments?

These are different payment systems used in the UK to pay money into an account.

• BACS stands for Bankers’ Automated Clearing System. This is the most common type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer in the UK. It’s mainly used for Direct Debits, and transfers usually take around three working days to clear.

• Faster Payments is the fastest way to send money in the UK. It can be done online, over the phone or in a bank branch. Many banks place limits on the amount you can transfer via a Faster Payment. These can vary widely, from £10,000 to over £100,000, so check this in advance if you need to move a large amount of cash. Normally, a Faster Payment should arrive within minutes, but some could take up to two hours. Not all banks and building societies accept Faster Payments so do check first.

• CHAPS stands for Clearing House Automated Payment System. CHAPS is a direct bank-to-bank transfer that guarantees to arrive on the same day, as long as the payment request is made by a specific time. CHAPS is usually used for payments over £10,000 – when you put down a deposit on a house, for example. You may be charged a one-off fee for sending money by CHAPS. This can range from £15 to £30.

You can check if the sort code you’re sending money to accepts Faster Payments, BACS or CHAPS by using an online sort code checker such as the one on Bacs.co.uk

These are also useful if you want to confirm that the sort code and branch address match and the bank is legitimate.

Do digital banks have sort codes?

Yes, they do. Although digital banks like Starling and Monzo don’t have physical branches, they do have a sort code.

App-based banks have just one sort code, which is given to all their account holders.

• Starling Bank’s sort code is 60-83-71

• Monzo’s sort code is 04-00-04

• Revolut doesn't make its sort codes available online – you can find them by logging in to your Revolut account

What bank details do I need for a UK bank transfer?

If someone is sending you money within the UK, you’ll need to give them the following bank details:

• Your name as it appears on your bank account

• Your bank account number

• Your sort code.

In some cases, they might also want your bank’s name and address to check they match the sort code.

What does confirmation of payee mean?

Confirmation of payee is a scheme introduced to help tackle fraud and add an extra layer of protection around payments. It’s now offered by most high-street banks.

The first time you try to make an online or mobile payment to a person you haven’t paid before, your bank will check that the name you’ve entered matches the name on the account you’re paying.

If the name doesn’t match, your bank will warn you that either:

• The name is a close match, or

• It’s totally incorrect.

If this happens, double check you have the correct bank details and have typed them in correctly. Mismatched details could be a warning sign that a fraudster is trying to trick you into sending them money.

What bank details do I need for an international transfer?

If someone is sending you money from abroad, you’ll need to give them:

• Your name as it appears on your bank account

• Your IBAN

• Your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code.

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It’s made up of your sort code, account number, bank’s identifier code and country code, plus two numbers called ‘check digits’. You’ll need this for international money transfers.

Your SWIFT code, also called a BIC code, is an international code that’s used to identify your bank and where it’s based. Every bank and building society in the UK has its own SWIFT code.

You can find your IBAN and BIC codes by going onto your online banking or by checking your bank statement.

Find out more about IBANs and SWIFT codes.

Is it safe to give out my bank details?

It should be safe to give out your account number and sort code to receive a payment from people you trust such as your employer and family members.

But you should never share personal bank details such as your:

• PIN number

• Card number

• Card expiry date

• CVV (the three numbers printed on the back of your card next to the signature strip).

A genuine bank will never call you out of the blue and ask you to give your personal bank details. If you do receive a call like this, it could be a fraudster. If in doubt, end the call and ring back using the number on your bank’s official website.

Don’t call the number they rang you from (even if the caller ID says your bank’s name), as it could be a scam.

Keep your bank details safe and always remember to log out properly from your online banking or mobile banking app. It’s also a good idea to bookmark your bank’s website and use that rather than clicking through from an email or search result, in case scammers are trying to trick you.