What is a sort code and account number? (2026 guide)

Key takeaways:

• A UK sort code is a six-digit number that identifies your bank and branch, while your bank account number is a separate eight-digit number unique to your account.¹

• You need both details for domestic UK transfers and Direct Debits, and international senders often need your sort code, account number, and SWIFT/BIC code together.

• Airwallex lets you open a GBP account with a local UK sort code and account number, so you can receive UK payments without needing a UK bank account.

A sort code and account number are the two numbers every UK bank account uses to send and receive payments correctly.

Your sort code identifies your bank and branch, while your account number identifies your specific account. You'll usually find both printed on your debit card, though not always.

This guide explains what a sort code and account number are, where to find them, and how they compare to other codes like SWIFT/BIC and IBAN.

We'll also cover what happens if you enter one incorrectly, and how businesses outside the UK can get their own local UK account details without opening a UK bank account.

What is a sort code?

A sort code is a six-digit number that identifies the bank and branch where you opened your UK account. The first two digits identify your bank, and the last four identify the specific branch.² Every UK bank account has both a sort code and a unique account number.

Some banks don't have physical branches. These banks assign the same sort code to every customer, since there's no branch to distinguish between accounts.²

Sort codes help route payments accurately by confirming the bank and branch details before a transfer completes. This reduces the risk of delays, errors, and misdirected funds.

What is a bank account number?

A bank account number identifies your specific account and is always unique.

If you have several accounts (for example, a savings account and a current account), each one will have a different account number, even if they're with the same bank.

UK bank account numbers are eight digits long. If your account number is shorter than eight digits, a zero is added to the front to standardise the length.¹

Where can I find my sort code and account number?

You can usually find your sort code and account number in a few places, though not every card shows them.

On your debit card

Most UK debit cards print your six-digit sort code and eight-digit account number on the front or back, often near your name. The sort code usually appears as three pairs of digits, split by dashes.

Don't confuse this with the 16-digit number printed across your card.³ That longer number, together with the expiry date and CVV, is used for online and in-store card payments.

On your banking app, statement, or cheque book

If your card doesn't show these details, check your mobile banking app, a recent bank statement, or your cheque book.

When is a sort code and account number required?

Your sort code and account number are used for several common UK payment types. Which details you need depends on how the money is being sent:

In short, your sort code identifies the bank and branch, while your account number identifies your individual account.

Together, they're the standard details used to route payments to and from UK bank accounts.

How do sort codes, SWIFT/BIC codes, and IBANs differ?

These three codes all help route payments, but each does a different job.

Where a sort code sits inside a UK IBAN

A UK IBAN is 22 characters long and embeds your sort code and account number inside it.¹ Here's where each part sits:

Is it safe to share your sort code and account number?

Yes, it's safe to share your sort code and account number. You'll need to give these details to anyone who wants to transfer money into your UK account or set up a Direct Debit.

Only organisations vetted under the Direct Debit Guarantee can use your sort code and account number to collect payments from your account, and your bank is responsible for refunding you if a collection goes wrong.⁷

For businesses, include your sort code and account number on invoices so customers can pay by bank transfer. If you use Airwallex, you can add a Payment Link to your invoices instead, so customers can pay you instantly.

Are sort codes and account numbers the same in the Republic of Ireland?

No. Sort codes are no longer used in the Republic of Ireland. Since 2007, Irish banks have used IBAN and BIC codes instead, for both domestic and international euro payments.⁸

An Irish IBAN is 22 characters long, made up of letters and numbers.⁶ It identifies the country, the bank, and the specific account, in the same way a UK IBAN embeds a sort code and account number.

What happens if I use an invalid or incorrect sort code?

If you use an invalid sort code during a transfer, the payment will likely be rejected, delayed, or not processed at all. Contact your bank immediately if you think you've entered an incorrect sort code.

Sort codes and account numbers work together to identify your account, so an incorrect sort code alone is unlikely to send money to the wrong account. But problems can happen if both the sort code and account number are wrong.

Get UK account details with Airwallex

If you're based in Singapore but need to receive GBP payments, opening a UK bank account can be difficult and time-consuming. With Airwallex, you can open a GBP Global Account from Singapore and get local UK account details, including a sort code and account number.

Your UK customers and suppliers can pay you as they would a local business, while you can hold the GBP you receive instead of automatically converting it to SGD. Here’s what you get with Airwallex:

• No setup or monthly fees: Open an account with no setup fees and no monthly fees on the free Explore plan.

• Collect and hold 20+ currencies: Receive and keep funds in multiple currencies, including GBP, without automatically converting them to SGD.

• Global transfers: Pay suppliers and staff in 200+ countries.

• One dashboard: Manage incoming payments, supplier payments and currency conversions in one place.

You don't need to set up a separate UK bank account just to receive GBP payments. And as your business expands, you can add local account details in other currencies without opening a new bank account in each country.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is a sort code the same as a routing number?

No. A sort code identifies a bank and branch in the UK, while a routing number does the same job in the US. Both work alongside an account number, but you can't use one in place of the other on a payment.

Can I check if a sort code is valid before making a payment?

Yes. Pay.UK, the organisation that manages UK sort codes, runs a free online sort code checker that confirms which bank a sort code belongs to and whether it accepts Faster Payments, Bacs, or Direct Debits.⁹ Running this check before sending money helps you catch a mistyped sort code before it causes a delay.

Do I need a sort code if I'm sending money to a UK account from overseas?

Usually, yes, but you may also be asked for a UK IBAN instead. Most UK banks now prefer to receive international payments via IBAN, since it already contains the sort code within it. If you're unsure which to use, it's safe to provide the sort code, account number, and IBAN together.

Can someone take money from my account if they know my sort code and account number?

No, this information alone can't be used to take money out of your account. A Direct Debit can only be set up by an organisation vetted under the Direct Debit Guarantee, which protects you if something goes wrong.⁷ Treat your sort code and account number as safe to share, unlike your 16-digit card number, CVV, or expiry date.

Can I get a UK sort code and account number without opening a UK bank account?

Yes. Airwallex lets you open a GBP Global Account and receive a local UK sort code and account number without a UK banking relationship, so you can accept UK payments directly.

Does every bank branch have its own sort code?

Generally yes, each branch of a traditional bank has its own sort code. Online-only banks without physical branches are an exception, since they usually assign the same sort code to every customer.²

Sources:

1. https://www.wearepay.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Pay.UK-Standard-Format-of-the-IBAN-issued-in-the-UK-October18.pdf

2. https://www.starlingbank.com/resources/banking/bank-accounts-explained-sort-code-account-number/

3. https://www.mastercard.com/us/en/personal/get-support/frequently-asked-questions.html

4. https://www.wearepay.uk/what-we-do/payment-systems/access-to-payment-systems/getting-started/sort-code-information/

5.  https://www.swift.com/standards/data-standards/bic-business-identifier-code

6. https://bpfi.ie/customer-assist/business-customers/bic-iban-information-for-business-customers/

7.  https://www.directdebit.co.uk/direct-debit-explained/direct-debit-guarantee/

8.  https://bpfi.ie/customer-assist/personal-customers/bic-iban-information/

9.  https://www.wearepay.uk/what-we-do/industry-services/sort-code-checker/