In certain cases the payment system permits the service user to select the transactions types to be allowed, for example Bacs allows Direct Debits to be selected or excluded.
The Extended Industry Sort Code Directory (EISCD) defines live sort codes and their settings. This includes any payment system specific options and which direct member is responsible for settlement of transactions on that sort code (as an Indirect PSP this is your indirect access provider (sponsor
bank).
If an Indirect PSP chooses a different sponsor bank for different payment systems they can use the same sort code.
The EISCD is updated weekly. Any change of sponsorship is effective immediately when each payment system updates their weekly copies of the EISCD.
- Copies of the EISCD are available from VocaLink and other vendors (see VocaLink EISCD website).
- A free service with the key information on each live sort code is available at UK Payments Sort Code Checker.
Indirect PSPs update their own EISCD information via their sponsor bank (or new sponsor if changing sponsorship).
The UK Sort Codes are embedded in the International Bank Account Number (IBAN). The UK format is documented on the SWIFT website. The IBAN should be printed on the Indirect PSP’s customer statements and displayed in any online banking channels.
To reduce the risk of mis-keying bank account numbers, modulus check digits can be used. The current list of sort codes with modulus checking and the rules applied is documented on the VocaLink Modulus Checking Website.
An Indirect PSP is likely to choose to obtain its own sort code when it allocates its customers individual sort code/account number combinations to receive payments directly to the specific customer account.
If you decide to move to or from NatWest, we can support the transfer of your sort code and sponsorship of electronic clearing and associated payment flows. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the potential advantages of transferring your business to us.
Sort code checker provides a demo of our corporate service. To learn more, please visit SORTware product page.
By submitting a sort code lookup in this tool, our system will find bank,building society or credit union information associated with it. System uses the official data source for the United Kingdom provided by BACS to validate the bank sort code.
We also provide the option to
validate sort code and account number combination online via modulus check.
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What is a sort code?
The definition of a sort code (aka Sorting Code ) in the context of United Kingdom and Ireland's bank industry and payments is a six-digit number, usually formatted as three pairs of numbers, for example 12-34-56. This code is used by UK banks and payment institutions to identify other banks in order to route payments correctly to recipient accounts. In Ireland, a sort code is known as the NSC or national sort code and is regulated by IPSO (Irish Payment Services Organization). Although sort codes in both countries have the same format, they are regulated by different authorities as each country has its own banking system.
Identify bank information
We are able to identify the following information about bank or branch
- Bank
- Branch/Office and contact
- BIC
- Address
- Country
Identify Payment Scheme
We also identify Payment Scheme Support for UK banks and institutions
- BACS
- Direct Debits
- Faster Payments
- CHAPS
- C&CCC Payments
If found in the bank directory, the sort code checker returns the bank name, branch, address and payment and other clearing system information. We also will check the SWIFT code associated with the sort code which is used in the IBAN for international bank payments.
To use the service without limitations, please feel free to purchase a license from our order page
We also offer validation for International Bank Account Number (IBAN) structure and length, identify the bank owning this account, BIC code and address at IBAN checker
Bank Sort Code Examples
090128 | Santander Bank |
070436 | Nationwide Building Society |
236972 | Prepay Technologies |
230580 | Metro Bank |
040004 | Monzo Bank |
040075 | Modulr Finance (Revolut) |
040026 | N26 Bank |
087199 | Aps Financial |
608371 | Starling Bank |
401276 | Hsbc |
231470 | Transferwise |
202678 | Barclays |
083210 | Government Banking (Hmrc Direct Taxes) |
774926 | Lloyds Bank |
110001 | Halifax (Bank of Scotland) |
166300 | Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) |
609104 | Standard Chartered Bank |
606004 | National Westminster Bank (Natwest) |
Sort Codes only used within IBAN
Recently, we have observed a fairly non standard range of sorting codes which start with 00. These sort codes are only used within the IBAN account numbers for incoming international Euro transfers. For example, Avuba prepaid Euro accounts, held with Raphaels Bank UK had IBANs resembling GBcc RAPH 0099 98nn nnnn nn, where the sort code would be 00-99-98. Another case, where Revolut prepaid card accounts have IBANs resembling GBcc REVO 0099 70nn nnnn nn the sort code would be 00-99-70.
009970 | Revolut Ltd |
009963 | myPOS Europe Ltd |
009972 | ePayments Systems Ltd |
009971 | Clear Junction Ltd |
009985 | PrePay Technologies Ltd |