When you are an account holder of any bank in the UK, the bank will assign you two important numbers: Account Number and Sort Number. These two numbers will be required if someone sends money to your account. The account number is just your Personal Bank ID while the Sort code is a special address of your bank.
What is a Sort Code?
A Sort Code is a unique code that is assigned to every bank account in the UK. It comprises six digits and helps you know in which bank you have opened your account. Every Bank account has its own unique sort Code in the UK. you can think of it as a little address that helps money to transfer to the right place.
The First two numbers represent the bank and the last four numbers tell in which branch you have your account. It ensures that your money is routed to the correct destination when you send or receive it. You will find the Sort Code on the bottom of the check, card or printed on the bank statements. For a quick search, you can use our Sort Code Finder tool.
What is the Importance of Sort Code?
The Sort code is the very foundation of your bank account to ensure that money is directed to the correct bank account. When you provide your Sort Code to someone, that means you are telling them in which bank you have your account and which branch you are associated with. This is an important code for receiving funds and salary, transferring money to someone, paying bills, and making online purchases.
If you enter a wrong sort code, then you will end up transferring money to the wrong account, which can cost you time and money. Therefore, the sort code serves as a key piece of information that helps you carry financial transitions securely and accurately. If you are unsure about your sort number, you can use the Sort Code Finder for free.
What Are the Benefits of Sort Code?
You can take the privilege of a Sort code at various points such as the following:
- Transferring funds accurately and quickly.
- Located your specific bank and branch.
- Help you transfer money through a debit card, bank transfer or by any other method.
- Ensure secure and reliable transactions.
- Facilitates salary payments and automated bill settlements.
- Support making online purchases and transfers.
- Eligible for cheque and credit clearing.
- Reduces the risk of directing money to the wrong account.
Features That MyBankDetail Provide to Find the UK Sort Code.
Now, reap the benefits of the feature that MyBankDetail Provide to fetch the UK Sort Code. Fetching a UK sort code is not a lengthy process, search for it with a few clicks on MyBankDetail. You will find three options to know your Sort Code, you can choose any as per your preference.
1. Find Sort Code: For Sort Code Search, go to the drop-down lists and select Bank, City, and Branch. When you choose these three, it will show you the sort code(s) as per your selection. You will find every single detail associated with your Sort Code.
2. Validate Sort Code: If you want to check whether your sort code is right or not, click on Validate Sort Code and enter the Sort code you want to check. It will come up with the details of that code. You can cross-check the information from it.
3. Browse Sort Code: You can also browse the Sort Code. You will see an entire list of the Banks. You can choose the bank and it will bring forward all the Sort Code of the branches associated with that bank.
Sort Codes, SWIFT Codes/BIC and IBANs – What’s the Difference?
Too many codes but no space for confusion. These codes are the key components of the banking system. You might get confused between Sort Codes, SWIFT Codes/ BIC and IBANs, here you will find how they differ from each other.
Here you will find how they differ from each other.
| Basis | Sort Code | SWIFT Code/ BIC | IBANs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used In | Used in the UK and Ireland. | Used Internationally | Used in Europe, and the Middle East, less common in America and Asia. |
| Consists of | 6 digits, divided into three categories. | Contains 11-18 alphanumeric characters, following the ISO 9362 Standard | Consists of 34 Alphanumeric characters, following the ISO 13616 Standard |
| Purpose | Identify branches of Banks in the UK and facilitate fund transfers | Identify banks and facilitate electronic funds Internationally. | Direct transactions to specific bank accounts internationally |
| Example (Fictional) | 12-36-45 | HBUKGB4173S | GB82 WEST 1234 5698 7654 32 |
Why Up-to-date Sort Code Data is Important?
Here are the reasons you need an up-to-date sort code:
- To ensure that your funds are transferred to the right bank account
- To prevent delays and failed transactions
- Help banks adhere to regulatory requirements for accurate transactions
- Avoid penalties and fines for non-compliance
- To facilitate the smooth processing of payments within the banking system
Differences Between Sort Code and Account Numbers.
Sort Codes and Account Numbers are both completely different. Here is how they differ from each other.
Here is how they differ from each other.
| Sort Code | Account Number |
|---|---|
| Identifies the branch and bank name. | Uniquely Identifies individual bank accounts |
| Consisting of six digits (eg: 35-12-23) | Length varies from country to country. Generally, it is an 8-11 digit number. |
| It is not confidential and the general public can easily find it. | It is confidential and cannot be shared easily. |
| Unique code is provided to each branch | Unique account number is provided to each individual. |
Can I Find the Sort Code on the Cheque?
Yes, you can find the sort code printed on the cheque. You will find a group of numbers on the bottom of the cheque. The middle group consisting of six digits is your Sort Code.
FAQs
Who Assigns Sort Codes in the UK?
BACs (Bankers’ Automated Clearing System) manage the allocation of Sort Codes to PSPs (Payment Service Providers).
Are Sort Codes Used for Wire Transfers Within the Same Country?
Yes, Sort codes are used for wire transfers within the same country, to be specific UK and Northern Ireland. It identified the particular bank and branch where the receiver has its account opened.
How Are Sort Codes Different From SWIFT Codes?
Sort Codes are six-digit codes used for domestic transactions within the UK and identify the particular bank and branches in the UK. Whereas, the SWIFT code is the 8-11 alphanumeric characters used for international transactions between the countries and identifies the banks globally.
How Long Does It Take for a Transfer With a Sort Code to Go Through?
Sort Code is a Faster payment option in the UK. You may receive the money immediately after sending it. Sometimes, it may take up to 1-2 hours. It is quite free and accessible 24/7.