UK Sort Code Validator
Check any UK sort code instantly. Find the bank, branch, payment schemes supported, and validate your account number combination. Free, no signup required.
6 digits, with or without hyphens (e.g. 20-00-00 or 200000)
8-digit UK account number (optional)
Verified your UK account? Send or receive money internationally at the best rate:
What do Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS mean?
What Is a UK Sort Code?
A UK sort code is a 6-digit number that identifies a specific bank branch in the United Kingdom. Every UK bank account has one. It always appears as three pairs separated by hyphens, like 20-00-00 or 30-80-93. You need it alongside your account number for any domestic UK payment, whether that is setting up a direct debit, receiving your salary, or transferring money between accounts.
The 6 digits are not random. The first two identify the bank itself. For example, 20 is Barclays, 30 is Lloyds, 40 is HSBC, 60 is NatWest. The next two digits point to a regional clearing group, and the final two identify the specific branch. So just from the sort code, you can tell which bank and which branch an account belongs to before a penny moves.
Sort codes beginning with 90 are typically Northern Ireland accounts. These are valid UK accounts but operate under slightly different clearing rules in some cases. This validator flags NI sort codes so you know what you are dealing with.
Sort Code vs IBAN vs SWIFT Code: Which One Do You Need?
This trips up a lot of people, including Nigerians and other diaspora sending or receiving money in the UK. So here is the simple version:
Your sort code and account number are for domestic UK payments, specifically anything within the UK banking system. If your employer is UK-based and paying you, they use your sort code and account number. If you are setting up a standing order to your UK landlord, sort code and account number.
Your IBAN is what you use for international transfers into your UK account. A UK IBAN starts with GB, is 22 characters long, and contains your sort code and account number embedded within it. If someone in Nigeria, the US, Canada, or anywhere outside the UK is sending you money directly to your bank, give them your IBAN and the bank's SWIFT code. Not just the sort code.
The SWIFT code (also called BIC) identifies the bank at the international level. For Barclays it is BARCGB22. For HSBC it is HBUKGB4B. You need both the IBAN and the SWIFT code for most international incoming transfers. Some services like Wise or Remitly use local bank accounts to receive on your behalf, so they might only ask for your sort code, because they are doing the conversion step in between.
How to Use This Sort Code Validator
Type or paste your sort code into the field above. You can enter it with hyphens (20-00-00) or without (200000) and the tool handles both formats automatically. Hit Validate Sort Code and within a fraction of a second you will see the bank name, branch location, and which payment schemes that sort code supports.
If you also enter an 8-digit account number, the tool runs a modulus check. This is a mathematical algorithm (specifically the Vocalink standard used by UK banks) that checks whether the sort code and account number combination is structurally plausible. A pass does not mean the account exists or belongs to someone specific. It means the numbers follow the right pattern. A fail almost always means a digit was mistyped.
The modulus check is the same check your bank runs when you add a new payee. It is a first line of defence against typos, not a full verification of the account owner. For that, UK banks now offer Confirmation of Payee (CoP), which matches the account to the name you enter.
Receiving international transfers? Your sort code alone is not enough. You also need your IBAN and your bank's SWIFT code. Use our UK IBAN Calculator to generate your IBAN from your sort code and account number.
This tool checks format validity using a dataset of UK sort codes. It does not access live bank systems. Always confirm account details with your bank or the payee before sending large transfers. Data last updated: January 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A UK sort code is a 6-digit number that identifies a specific bank branch in the United Kingdom. It is always written as three pairs of digits separated by hyphens, for example 20-00-00. The first two digits identify the bank, the next two identify the regional clearing group, and the last two identify the specific branch. Every UK bank account has a sort code alongside the account number.
You can find your sort code on your bank card (usually printed on the front), in your bank's mobile app under account details, on any bank statement, and on a cheque (it appears as the first set of numbers at the bottom). Online banking dashboards almost always show your sort code on the main account screen.
A sort code and account number are used for domestic UK payments. An IBAN is used for international transfers. A UK IBAN starts with GB and contains both your sort code and account number encoded within it. If someone overseas is sending you money, give them your IBAN, not your sort code alone.
The modulus check is a mathematical algorithm used by UK banks to verify that a sort code and account number combination is structurally valid. A failure usually means a digit has been typed incorrectly. It does not confirm that the account exists or belongs to a specific person, only that the number format is mathematically plausible. Always double-check with your bank statement or banking app.
For international SWIFT transfers into a UK account, you need your IBAN and the bank's SWIFT/BIC code, not just the sort code. However, services like Wise, Remitly and WorldRemit that use local UK bank accounts to receive funds on your behalf may only need your sort code and account number to credit your account from their UK holding account.
Faster Payments is the UK's near-instant payment network. If your sort code supports it, money sent to your account typically arrives within seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. BACS takes 3 working days and is used for payroll and direct debits. CHAPS is same-day but used for large value payments like property purchases and usually carries a fee.
Yes. This tool checks whether a sort code exists in the UK banking system and whether the account number format is valid for that sort code. This helps catch typos before you send money. However, it cannot confirm that the account belongs to the person you intend to pay. Always verify payee details through Confirmation of Payee (CoP) which UK banks are required to offer.