Where do I find my bank details?

You’ll need bank details for money transfers and payments. Here’s how to find your bank branch address, sort code and more.

Alex Hasty

Insurance and finance expert

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Last Updated 7 FEBRUARY 2023

Why do I need my bank details?

When setting up a transaction – for example, a payment, money transfer or direct debit – you will be asked for your bank details. This usually includes the name of your account, account number, sort code and branch address.

Where can I find my branch address?

If you use online banking, the easiest way to find your bank branch is to log in and go to your account details. Your branch address should also be on any paper statements or letters you’ve received from your bank. Another way to find your branch is through your sort code.

Even if you bank online and haven’t stepped into a bricks-and-mortar bank for a while, it’s still important to know your original branch. This is 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 was transferred to. Your bank should have written to you to tell you about the change.

And if you want to find a branch of a bank near to you, 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 your account.

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

The sort code is used by UK banks, the Cheque & Credit Clearing Company and other payment systems like CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System), BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing System) and Faster Payments, to make sure a money transfer or cheque payment arrives at the right destination.

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 and whether they can accept the payment.

Where can I find my sort code?

You can 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.

CHAPS – this 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, for example, 5pm. CHAPS is usually used for big payments over £10,000 – for example, putting down a deposit on a house.
BACS – this stands for Bankers’ Automated Clearing System. The most common type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer in the UK, it’s mainly used for Direct Debits and payments usually take three working days to clear.
Faster Payments – the fastest way to send money in the UK. It can be done online, over the phone or in a bank branch. Normally a Faster Payment should arrive in minutes, but some could take up to two hours. Not all banks and building societies accept Faster Payments so you’d need to check first.

If you’re sending money, you can check if the branch accepts Faster Payments, BACS or CHAPS by using an online sort code checker. A sort code checker could also be used 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's (Modulr Finance) sort code is 04-00-75.

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.

They might also want your bank’s name and address to check they match the sort code.

What does confirmation of payee mean?

A scheme known as confirmation of payee, introduced to help tackle fraud and add an extra layer of protection around payments, is now offered by most high street banks.

The first time you try to make a payment to a person you haven’t paid before, your bank will check that the name you have been given matches the name for the account number and sort code.

If the name doesn’t match, your bank will warn you, either that the name is a close match or that it’s totally incorrect. If this happens, double check you have the correct bank details and have typed them in correctly. If the details don’t match it 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 who your bank is and where it’s based. Every bank and building society in the UK has its own SWIFT code.

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, for example, from your employer, family or from customers.

But you should never share your PIN number. And you should never share your other personal bank details like your card number, card expiry date or CVV number (the three numbers printed on the back of your card next to the signature strip), other than when prompted by a secure, verified payment processor.

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.