Key takeaways
- A UK sort code is a six-digit number, usually written as three pairs such as 12-34-56, that identifies the bank and often the branch holding an account.
- Pay.UK manages the rules for sort codes on behalf of the payments industry, and sort codes are allocated to payment service providers offering UK accounts.
- When a UK form asks for a branch number or branch code, it almost always means the sort code.
- To pay someone in the UK you need their sort code, eight-digit account number and account name; you do not need an IBAN.
- A UK IBAN is 22 characters: GB, two check digits, a four-letter bank code, the six-digit sort code and the eight-digit account number.
- Confirmation of Payee checks the name, sort code and account number before a payment is sent, and more than 140 banks and payment providers offer it.
- Some banks no longer give each branch its own sort code; Handelsbanken, for example, assigns sort codes by customer type.
A sort code is the six-digit number that tells the UK payment systems which bank, and usually which branch, holds an account. It is written as three pairs of digits, such as 12-34-56, and sits alongside your eight-digit account number. When a UK form asks for a “branch number” or “branch code”, it almost always means your sort code.
What is a sort code?
A sort code is a bank office identifier used to route and settle UK payments. Pay.UK describes it as “an integral part of the information used to route and settle payments” in UK cheque and electronic payment systems.
Pay.UK manages the rules for sort codes on behalf of the payments industry. Sort codes are allocated to payment service providers (PSPs) that offer UK accounts. Direct participants in a payment system get theirs when they join; indirect participants get theirs from the bank that settles for them.
How is a sort code structured?
A sort code has six digits in three pairs. The opening digits usually identify the bank, and the rest identify a branch or bank office within it.
| Part | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| First pair | 12 | Usually the bank or banking group |
| Second and third pairs | 34-56 | Usually the branch or bank office |
| Full sort code | 12-34-56 | Where to route the payment |
This is a convention, not a fixed rule. Some banks use sort codes for divisions or customer types rather than branches. Handelsbanken UK says it does not use sort codes to denote each branch, and assigns them by customer type instead.
What is a branch number?
In the UK, a branch number is not a separate code. Forms that ask for a branch number, branch code or bank code usually want the sort code, because the sort code is what identifies the branch.
Other countries use different branch identifiers, which is where the confusion comes from. If a non-UK form asks for both a branch number and a sort code, check with the payee or your bank before you send money.
Where do you find your sort code?
You can find your sort code in several places:
- on your bank card, usually printed next to the account number
- at the top of your bank statement
- in your banking app or online banking, under account details
- on your cheque book, if you have one
If you cannot find it, ask your bank. For business accounts, the sort code and account number also appear on invoices so customers can pay you. See invoice requirements in the UK.
What do you need to make a UK bank payment?
For a UK payment you need three things:
- the payee’s account name
- their six-digit sort code
- their eight-digit account number
You often need a payment reference too. HMRC, for example, gives sort code 08 32 10 and account number 12001039 for its “HMRC Cumbernauld” account on its Self Assessment bank details page, and asks you to quote your payment reference.
How does Confirmation of Payee use the sort code?
Confirmation of Payee checks the name against the sort code and account number before you pay. Pay.UK says the check can return:
- Yes: the name matches
- Close match: you see the real account name and can correct it
- No: the details do not match, so contact the payee
- Unavailable: the check could not be completed
Pay.UK says more than 140 banks, building societies and payment providers offer it. For business payees, use the name on the account, which is often the registered company name.
How does a sort code fit into an IBAN?
A UK IBAN contains the sort code and account number. Monzo’s guide breaks a UK IBAN into five parts, 22 characters in total.
| Part | Length | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Country code | 2 letters | GB |
| Check digits | 2 digits | 12 |
| Bank code | 4 letters | MONZ |
| Sort code | 6 digits | 123456 |
| Account number | 8 digits | 12345678 |
You only need an IBAN, plus the bank’s BIC or SWIFT code, for international payments. UK payments need just the sort code and account number.
How can a business check a sort code is valid?
Banks and payment software check sort codes against the Extended Industry Sort Code Directory (EISCD). Vocalink’s FAQs say the EISCD lists every UK bank and building society office in the clearing systems, with its title, address and the schemes it accepts, such as Bacs and Faster Payments. A new file is produced each week, usually on a Friday.
Most accounting and payroll software runs these checks for you when you add supplier or employee bank details. See the business bank accounts that link to accounting software.
What to do now
- If a UK form asks for a branch number, enter your sort code.
- If you are paying a new supplier, check the Confirmation of Payee result before you send.
- If a supplier says their bank details have changed, call them on a number you already hold before paying.
- If you are being paid from abroad, give your IBAN and your bank’s BIC.
Other identifiers you may need are covered in UK tax identification numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sort code the same as a branch number?
In the UK, yes in practice. The sort code identifies the bank office, so a form asking for a branch number or branch code usually means your sort code.
How many digits is a UK sort code?
Six, usually written as three pairs such as 12-34-56. UK account numbers are eight digits.
Can two accounts have the same sort code?
Yes. Every account at the same branch or bank office normally shares a sort code; the account number tells them apart.
Do I need an IBAN to pay someone in the UK?
No. A UK payment needs only the name, sort code and account number. An IBAN and BIC are for international payments.
Does my sort code change if I move branch?
It can, depending on the bank. Some banks tie sort codes to branches, while others, such as Handelsbanken, assign them by customer type, so ask your bank.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.