Sort code

Both sort code and swift code help to identify a particular bank for money transfer, but they are not the same.  

Bank sort code meaning: Sort codes are 6-digit codes used when sending money from abroad to the UK and Northern Ireland, or for domestic transfers within these countries.  

Swift code meaning: SWIFT/BIC codes are global bank identifiers that securely verify a specific bank for an international transaction.  

Sort codes are used by banks in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. If you are making an international money transfer to any of these countries, you will need your recipient’s sort code and account number. If you’re unsure about the sort code for your recipient’s bank, look it up on an online sort code checker, which should give you the details about the bank and its branch.   

Sort codes are usually printed on debit cards, not on credit cards. If you don’t find the sort code on your card, look for it on your bank statement or online banking account, or try an online sort code checker or sort code finder. 

SWIFT code is used as a global bank identifier for money transfers around the world. However, if you are making an international money transfer to someone based in the UK or parts of Ireland, you will also need their 6-digit bank sort code and account number to send money to the right bank account. 

It’s the six-digit number displayed on your bank’s card or cheques. Every British and Irish bank has its own unique sort code which serves as an identifier for the bank for international money transfers.  

Sort code, account number, expiry date and CVV are all important components of a bank card. The sort code identifies the bank whereas the account number (also called long number) identifies the account. The expiration date shows that the card is still valid and the CVV is an additional security measure. 

To find your bank sort code, you can check your bank card (the code is usually printed next to your account number) or use online banking. You can also try an online sort code finder with your bank branch details. It will help you map the code to the specific bank and may also give you a complete bank sort code list. 

Additionally, you can look for the sort code through the SWIFT code associated with the same bank branch. If you're having trouble finding it, your bank should be able to help. 

IBAN (International Bank Account Number) usually consists of 5 parts made up of letters and numbers and you can easily find your bank sort code and account number in the IBAN.  

The first 2 letters represent the country code, the next 2 numbers are check digits, the next 4 letters represent the bank identifier code, the next 6 numbers represent the sort code, and the following 8 numbers represent the bank account number. 

The 6-digit sort code is unique to every bank and helps identify the bank and its branch for money transfers. For example, 20-00-52 is the sort code of Barclays Bank in London. The first 2 digits identify the bank, and the next 4 digits identify the specific Barclays Bank branch.