Australian BSB Number Checker
Check a BSB's layout, see what its digits mean, and check an account number against the Direct Entry format.
An Australian BSB (Bank-State-Branch) number has six digits, written 062-000. The first two or three digits identify the financial institution. For most institutions the third digit usually points to a state, and the last three digits are the branch. A BSB has no check digit that we could find, so this tool checks the layout and explains the digits. It cannot confirm that a BSB exists. To see whether one is real, search the free AusPayNet BSB lookup.
Check a BSB and account number
Spaces and hyphens are ignored. You can paste a BSB and account number together and the tool offers to split them. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
The example uses a real BSB and a made-up account number.
Go Deeper
What a BSB Is
A BSB is the six-digit number that identifies a bank branch for domestic Australian payments. You give it with an account number when you set up a direct credit, direct debit or payroll payment. It is written with a hyphen after the third digit, such as 062-000.
AusPayNet, which administers the BSB system, describes the layout in its MICR Technical Specifications (version 3.3.2): the financial institution is identified by a two- or three-digit code allocated by AusPayNet, and for institutions with a two-digit code the third digit usually represents the state of the branch. The last three digits are a branch identifier issued by the institution.
What the Digits Mean
| Digits | Meaning | Example: 062-000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 (sometimes 1 to 3) | Financial institution | 06: Commonwealth Bank |
| 3 | Usually the state, for two-digit institutions | 2: NSW or ACT |
| 4 to 6 | Branch, set by the institution | 000 |
AusPayNet's key lists 144 institution prefixes. 40 have two digits and 104 have three. For a three-digit institution, such as Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (633) or ING (923), the third digit belongs to the institution code and does not show a state. This tool only reads the state digit for the institutions named below, because those are the ones where we know the code has two digits.
The State Digit Is a Guide, Not a Rule
The third digit usually points to a state, but not always. We tested it against the 16,983 BSBs in AusPayNet's directory effective 1 September 2026. For institutions with a two-digit code and a third digit from 2 to 7, 89.1 per cent of BSBs are in the state the digit suggests. About one in nine are not.
| Third digit | Usually |
|---|---|
| 2 | New South Wales or the ACT |
| 3 | Victoria |
| 4 | Queensland |
| 5 | South Australia or the Northern Territory |
| 6 | Western Australia |
| 7 | Tasmania |
| 0, 1, 8, 9 | No state meaning that we can state |
Use the digit as a hint when you are checking a BSB by eye. Never rely on it to say where a branch is.
Institutions the Tool Names
The tool names these institutions from their prefixes. The names and prefixes come from AusPayNet's Key to Abbreviations and BSB Numbers file. We checked that in the BSB directory each of these prefixes belongs to one institution only.
| Institution | Prefix | Digits |
|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) | 01 | 2 |
| Westpac Banking Corporation | 03, 73 | 2 |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia | 06, 76 | 2 |
| National Australia Bank (NAB) | 08 | 2 |
| St.George Bank (a division of Westpac) | 11 | 2 |
| Bank of Queensland | 12 | 2 |
| Macquarie Bank | 18 | 2 |
| Bendigo and Adelaide Bank | 633 | 3 |
| ING Bank (Australia) | 923 | 3 |
Many more institutions have their own prefixes, including credit unions, mutual banks and payment providers. For a prefix not in this table, the tool says so and does not guess. The full list is in AusPayNet's key file.
No Check Digit, So Confirm the BSB Exists
US routing numbers have a check digit that catches most typing mistakes. We found no published check digit for BSBs, so a mistyped BSB can be a different, real BSB, and the tool cannot tell. The way to confirm a BSB is to look it up. AusPayNet offers a free BSB lookup, monthly downloadable files and a free API that needs registration. Its data is updated on the first business day of each month.
Account Numbers
In the industry Direct Entry file format, the BSB is written with a hyphen after the third digit and the account number field is 9 characters long. Leading zeros that are part of an account number must be kept, and the field cannot be all zeros (specification as published by St.George Bank). The tool checks for those things.
Lengths vary by bank. CommBank's page tells senders to use a 6-digit BSB and an 8-digit account number, and Westpac's page says its account number is 6 digits, so its full number is 12 digits. When the BSB is a CommBank or Westpac one, the tool warns if the account number is a different length.
How to Find Your BSB
- Look in your banking app or online banking, under account details.
- Check a bank statement or the bottom of a cheque, where the BSB is printed before the account number.
- Ask your bank.
Receiving Money from Abroad
A transfer from another country normally uses your bank's SWIFT/BIC code, your BSB and your account number. Each bank's own pages give its code: CommBank CTBAAU2S, ANZ ANZBAU3M, Westpac WPACAU2S and NAB NATAAU3303M. NAB also lists state-specific codes on its page. Find other banks' codes with our SWIFT code lookup. Australia is not in the IBAN registry, so there is no IBAN to give.
The Data This Page Uses
We tested the rules above against AusPayNet's BSB directory effective 1 September 2026 and its key file, and against AusPayNet's MICR specification. The four SWIFT codes and the two account lengths come from the banks' own pages, linked in the result when they apply. None of the directory is published here. We last checked on 19 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BSB number?
BSB stands for Bank-State-Branch. It is the six-digit number that identifies a bank branch for domestic Australian payments. You give it with your account number when you set up a direct credit, direct debit or payroll payment.
How many digits is a BSB?
Six. It is written with a hyphen after the third digit, such as 062-000, and you can usually type it with or without the hyphen.
What do the digits of a BSB mean?
AusPayNet's MICR specification says the financial institution is identified by a two- or three-digit code, that for two-digit institutions the third digit usually represents the state, and that the last three digits are a branch identifier issued by the institution.
Does the third digit always show the state?
No. For institutions with a two-digit code and a third digit from 2 to 7, 89.1 per cent of BSBs in AusPayNet's directory of 1 September 2026 are in the state the digit suggests. Treat it as a hint. For three-digit institutions, the third digit is part of the institution code.
Does a BSB have a check digit?
We found no published check digit for BSBs. This tool checks the layout and explains the digits, and it cannot tell you that a BSB exists. A mistyped BSB can be a different, real one.
How do I check that a BSB exists?
Use AusPayNet's free BSB lookup at bsb.auspaynet.com.au. AusPayNet also offers monthly files and a free API that needs registration. The data is updated on the first business day of each month.
What are the BSB prefixes of the big banks?
ANZ is 01, Westpac is 03 and 73, Commonwealth Bank is 06 and 76 and NAB is 08, according to AusPayNet's key file. St.George Bank is 11, Bank of Queensland is 12 and Macquarie Bank is 18.
Why does my BSB have only five digits?
A leading zero has probably been dropped. About 45.2 per cent of BSBs in the directory start with 0, and spreadsheets often turn 062000 into 62000. Add the zero, and check the result with your bank.
How long is an Australian account number?
The Direct Entry file format allows up to 9 characters, and leading zeros that are part of the number must be kept. Lengths vary by bank. CommBank's page says 8 digits and Westpac's says 6.
Is a BSB the same as a sort code or routing number?
It does the same job as a UK sort code or a US ABA routing number, which is to identify a bank branch for domestic payments, but the numbers are not interchangeable. A US routing number has a check digit and nine digits. A BSB has six.
What do I need to receive money from abroad?
Usually your BSB, your account number and your bank's SWIFT/BIC code. The banks' own pages give CTBAAU2S for CommBank, ANZBAU3M for ANZ, WPACAU2S for Westpac and NATAAU3303M for NAB. Australia is not in the IBAN registry, so there is no IBAN to give.
Why does this page not list BSBs?
AusPayNet's website terms reserve its copyright and do not allow its material to be reproduced or commercialised without written consent, so we did not copy the directory. We used it to test the rules on this page. Other sites' lists can be out of date, and the directory marks 398 BSBs as merged.
How current is this data?
We tested the rules against the directory effective 1 September 2026 and last checked on 19 September 2026. AusPayNet updates the directory monthly, so a BSB that is new or has changed will not be reflected in any list on this page.
Is anything I type stored or sent?
No. The check runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved by this page.
