Ireland NSC Checker
Check an Irish National Sort Code, find the NSC inside an Irish IBAN, or build an IBAN from an NSC and account number.
An Irish NSC (National Sort Code) is a six-digit number that identifies a bank branch, written 93-11-52. In an Irish IBAN it is digits 9 to 14, after the four-letter bank code. An NSC has no check digit that we could find, so a format check cannot tell you that a branch exists. This page does not list NSCs to look up, because the official directory's terms do not allow that. To find a branch's NSC, use the free BPFI sort code search, or your bank.
Check an NSC or Irish IBAN
Enter 6 digits, with or without hyphens; 6 digits plus an 8-digit account number; or an Irish IBAN (IE and 20 characters). Nothing you type leaves your browser, and it is not saved.
The example is the sample Irish IBAN from the IBAN registry, not a real account.
Build an Irish IBAN
The bank code is the first four letters of the bank's BIC. Your bank's IBAN is the one to use, and this only works out the check digits from what you enter.
Go Deeper
What an NSC Is
NSC stands for National Sort Code. Bank of Ireland describes a sort code as a six-digit number that identifies the branch of a bank in Ireland, and says every branch has its own. AIB says the NSC identifies the branch where an account is held. It is written in pairs, such as 93-11-52.
The Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) allocates NSCs. Its eligibility criteria of May 2016 say that credit institutions, electronic money institutions, payment institutions, credit unions, An Post and the National Treasury Management Agency can apply, among others. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) now runs the sort code database, which replaced IPSO's.
The NSC Inside an Irish IBAN
An Irish IBAN has 22 characters: IE, two check digits, a four-letter bank code, the six-digit NSC and an eight-digit account number. This is the structure in the IBAN registry.
| Characters | Part | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Country code | IE |
| 3 to 4 | IBAN check digits | 29 |
| 5 to 8 | Bank code, the first four letters of the bank's BIC | AIBK |
| 9 to 14 | NSC | 931152 |
| 15 to 22 | Account number | 12345678 |
The example is the registry's sample IBAN, IE29 AIBK 9311 5212 3456 78, so the NSC 93-11-52 in it is a placeholder and not a real branch. The bank code letters match the start of the bank's BIC. AIB's page gives AIBKIE2DXXX and Bank of Ireland's gives BOFIIE2D. Paste an IBAN into the tool above to split it and check its check digits.
No Check Digit
The IBAN's check digits catch mistakes in an IBAN. An NSC on its own has no published check digit that we could find, and neither does the eight-digit account number, so a six-digit number that looks right can still be wrong. This tool checks the format only. When the check digits of an IBAN are right, the NSC and account number in it are almost certainly typed as they were meant to be, but that does not prove that the account exists.
Do You Still Need an NSC?
For SEPA payments you give the IBAN. Bank of Ireland says the BIC and IBAN have replaced the NSC and account number as the main payment identifiers for SEPA credit transfers and direct debits. The NSC is still inside every Irish IBAN, and some forms still ask for it.
How to Find an NSC
- Look at digits 9 to 14 of your IBAN, which you can paste into the tool above.
- Check your online banking, app or statement. AIB's app and online banking show the NSC with the IBAN, BIC and account number.
- Use your bank's branch locator. Bank of Ireland's gives the sort code of each branch.
- Use the free BPFI sort code search for a one-off query.
Irish NSC and UK Sort Code
Both are six digits and both can be written as three pairs, so they look alike. They belong to different systems and are not interchangeable. A format check cannot tell whether six digits are Irish or British. Use our UK sort code validator for UK codes.
Receiving Money from Abroad
A sender inside SEPA normally needs only your IBAN. A sender outside it also needs your bank's BIC. Give your full IBAN and the BIC, and not the NSC on its own. Find a bank's BIC with our SWIFT code lookup, or check an IBAN with our IBAN validator.
What This Page Uses
The IBAN structure and sample IBAN are from the IBAN registry. The description of an NSC is from Bank of Ireland's and AIB's own pages, and the allocation rules are from IPSO's published criteria. The IBAN check-digit calculation (MOD 97-10) is tested on the registry sample and on thousands of generated IBANs. No NSC directory is used. We last checked on 19 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an NSC in Ireland?
NSC stands for National Sort Code. It is a six-digit number that identifies a bank branch in Ireland, written in pairs such as 93-11-52. Bank of Ireland says every branch has its own, and AIB says it identifies the branch where the account is held.
Where is the NSC in an Irish IBAN?
In characters 9 to 14. An Irish IBAN has 22 characters: IE, two check digits, a four-letter bank code, the six-digit NSC and an eight-digit account number.
How many digits does an NSC have?
Six. It is usually written as three pairs with hyphens, and you can type it with or without them.
Does an NSC have a check digit?
We found no published check digit for NSCs or for Irish account numbers. This tool checks the format of an NSC and the check digits of an IBAN, and it cannot tell you that a branch or account exists.
What is the four-letter bank code in an Irish IBAN?
It is the first four letters of the bank's BIC. AIB's BIC, AIBKIE2DXXX, gives AIBK, and Bank of Ireland's, BOFIIE2D, gives BOFI.
How do I build an Irish IBAN from an NSC and account number?
Write IE, two check digits, the four-letter bank code, the six-digit NSC and the eight-digit account number. The check digits come from a MOD 97-10 calculation, which the tool above does for you. Use the IBAN your bank gives you if it differs.
Do I need an NSC or an IBAN for a transfer in Ireland?
For SEPA payments you give the IBAN. Bank of Ireland says the BIC and IBAN have replaced the NSC and account number as the main payment identifiers for SEPA credit transfers and direct debits. The NSC is still inside the IBAN.
How do I find an NSC?
Look at characters 9 to 14 of your IBAN, check your online banking, app or statement, use your bank's branch locator, or use the free BPFI sort code search at sortcode.bpfi.ie.
Why does this page not list NSCs?
The BPFI sort code database is free to search and download, but its terms say you may not publish or distribute a directory of the data, make copies of it or make it available to other people. We link to the official search instead.
Who allocates NSCs?
The Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) allocates them, under published eligibility criteria that include credit institutions, electronic money institutions, payment institutions, credit unions and An Post. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) now runs the sort code database, which replaced IPSO's.
Is an Irish NSC the same as a UK sort code?
No. Both are six digits and both can be written as three pairs, but they belong to different systems and are not interchangeable. A format check cannot tell them apart. Use our UK sort code validator for UK codes.
What do I give someone abroad who is sending me money?
Your full IBAN, and your bank's BIC if the sender is outside SEPA. The NSC on its own is not enough.
Is anything I type stored or sent?
No. The checks run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved by this page.
