Confirmation of Payee

How does confirmation of payee work and what does it mean for you?

It checks the account name, sort code and account number matches the one on the payee’s account. Most of the time you will get a match, no match, or a close match. The results you can get are shown below.

For more information see our FAQ How does confirmation of payee work and what does it mean for you?.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does confirmation of payee work and what does it mean for me?

  Payments made from other people to you

  When someone wants to make payments into your account for the first time, they will be asked for some details about you. Their bank will then immediately check these details with us. They want to know if they match the details we have for your account. They can then decide to go ahead or not.

  When you ask other people to pay you

  For some people the name on their account is different from the name they use every day and are known by. Don’t give people who want to pay you a shortened version of your name or a nickname. And always tell them if your account is a personal or business account. It helps if you put your full account name on invoices and requests for payment.

  If you are unsure of your account name:

  1. Check the name on your bank statement. It’s the name in the address window.
  2. Call us on 0345 7365 555. We can confirm the name on the account for anyone who wants to pay you. Our lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm Saturday and we are closed Sundays.

  What if the name doesn’t match the one on your account?

  If someone tries to pay you using a name that doesn’t match the one on your account, they may decide not to pay you. Don’t forget to let people know if your account name changes.

  Make sure you let people know your account type

  It is important to let people know if your account is a personal or business account.

  Make sure you give people the right sort code and account number

  When some of our branches relocated, their sort codes may have changed. Please check this list to make sure you use the right one.

  Make sure you understand the reason for the payment you are receiving

  Ensure that you know why you’re receiving a payment to avoid becoming involved in financial crime, by reviewing our fraud pages.

  Payments you make to other people or to a business

  When you add a new payee or create a new standing order in 365 online, or add a payee on Business On Line we have added a new step. We now check the details with the payee’s bank or payment service provider. We then tell you if the details match.

  When you are setting up a payment on 365 online or Business On Line

  Make sure you have the account details and name of who you’re paying. You may want to contact the person or business you are making the payment to.

  Get the name right

  If you are paying a person, enter their first and last name (avoid using initials, shortened names or nicknames).

  If you are paying into a joint account, enter the full name (first name and surname) of at least one of the people on the account. If you want to enter more than one name, you need to enter the full name of each person separated with ‘and’. For example: John Doe and Mary Doe.

  If you are paying a business, enter the business or trading name shown on the invoice or request for payment (avoid abbreviations or nicknames).

  365 online or Business On Line do not currently allow you input the & ! @ characters in the payee name field. If the name of the account that you wish to pay into contains these characters, you can still proceed by simply leaving these characters out of the name e.g. for Joe Bloggs & Sons you can input Joe Bloggs Sons and you should get a name match.

  Get the account type right

  Select whether the account you are paying into is a personal or a business account.

  Get the reference right

  When paying into certain accounts, you may be asked to enter a reference. This can help identify the account you are paying. In these cases, the confirmation of payee check may be done against a combination of sort code, account number and the reference you provide.

  What if the details match?

  Even when the payment details match we would always recommend checking with the payee that the request for payment is genuine. If you have any concerns take a look at our fraud pages for further information and advice.

  What if the details don’t exist?

  If we’re told that the sort code and account number do not exist, we can’t set up the payee or standing order. Please contact the payee to get alternative payment details.
  

• Ways to make sure people don’t have problems paying you

  Make sure you give anyone who wants to pay you your full name as it appears on your account. Remind people not to use shortened versions of your name. Ask them not to use your initials or a nickname. Remember, we only recognise the name we have on record.

  Make sure people know that they’re making a payment into a personal or business account.

  When a person is paying into your joint account, they must enter the full name (first and last name) of at least one of the people on the account. If they are including more than one name, then they must enter the full name of each of the people, separated by the word ‘and’. For example: John Doe and Mary Doe.

  Make sure that people who deal with customer queries about payments know about confirmation of payee and can give payers your correct details.
  

• How do I find out what name Bank of Ireland has on my account, so that I can tell anybody who is trying to pay me?

  There are two ways to check your account name.

  1. Check the name on your bank statement. It’s the name in the address window. See the sample bank statement below. The name area is highlighted.
  2. Call us on 0345 7365 555. We can confirm the name on the account for anyone who wants to pay you. Our lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm Saturday and we are closed Sundays.

  
  

• How do I opt out of confirmation of payee?

  You cannot opt out of confirmation of payee when you’re making a payment to someone else. But you can opt out of having your details checked when other people try to pay you. Business customers cannot opt out of this service.

  Risks of opting out

  Confirmation of payee is being introduced to improve payments between UK banks. It may stop payments going to the wrong account and help prevent fraud. To be effective, it’s essential that everyone can receive a confirmation of payee response when they make a payment.

  By opting out of the service, it means your Bank of Ireland account will not be checked when another person or business tries to make a payment to it. Individuals or businesses making payments to your account will get a message that your details can’t be checked. People setting up new payments may be reluctant to go ahead without confirmation of details. This could mean delays in payments getting to you.

  If you still want to opt out of confirmation of payee

  Please print, fill in and post this form to us. We will check the form and process it within 10 working days.

  What happens to my opt out, if I switch to another bank?

  To stay opted out of confirmation of payee, you will need to contact your new bank after you switch.

• How do I opt back into confirmation of payee?

  Please print, fill in and post this form to us. We will check the form and process it within 10 working days.

• Will every bank provide confirmation of payee?

  The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has mandated that all UK banks and payment service providers must have plans in place for confirmation of payee. Most of the larger UK banks already have confirmation of payee.

  If you try to set up a new payee or standing order to pay into an account with a bank or payment service provider that doesn’t use confirmation of payee, we’ll let you know that we are ‘Unable to check account details’. You can then decide if you want to go ahead or not.

• What name should I use when I am setting up a new payment?

  Personal accounts

  Enter the full name (first name and surname) of the person you want to pay. Don’t use short versions of their name or initials.

  Joint accounts

  If you are paying into a joint account, enter the full name (first name and surname) of at least one of the people on the account. We suggest that you enter one party on the account to increase the chance of a match. If you want to enter more than one name, you need to enter the full name of each person separated with ‘and’. For example: John Doe and Mary Doe.

  Business accounts

  Enter the business name or trading name shown on the invoice or request for payment. Don’t use shortened versions of the business name, such as abbreviations or nicknames. You may need to contact the person you want to pay to get the correct name on the account. Make sure that it matches what you expect.

• How should I check the payee is genuine?

  Think about how you got these account details and why you’re sending this money. If you have any doubts, check with the payee that the request for payment is genuine. When calling them, use a phone number you trust and know is correct.

  If you are making a payment to a supplier and you get a ‘no match’, then speak to someone you know at the company. Use a phone number you know is genuine. Don’t rely on phone numbers in the request for payment.

  Be extra careful if you have been contacted by the supplier saying that their bank account details have changed. This is a known tactic used by fraudsters. Always check to see if this is genuine.

• Do I need to know whether the account I’m making a payment to is a personal or business account?

  Yes. This is part of the account check.

• Is the Reference important to confirmation of payee?

  When paying into certain accounts, you may be asked to enter a reference. This can help identify the account you are paying. In these cases, the confirmation of payee check may be done against a combination of sort code, account number and the reference you enter.

• Will a confirmation of payee check take place when setting up bulk payments or international payments on Business On Line?

  No, we will only do the check when setting up a new payee within the UK, and will not check when setting up a payment to numerous payees, such as bulk salary payments, or if setting up a payee outside the UK.

• Will confirmation of payee be required when making a payment to an existing payee?

  No, we will only do the check when you are setting up a new payee or standing order. If their payment details (name or account number) change, then you will need to set up a new payee or standing order. We will do a new check on the new instruction.

• Why is it important I get the payee details correct?

  It’s important that you don’t send money to the wrong place. We may not be able to get it back. So, it’s always worth checking that the account details are correct and that the request for payment is genuine with the person or business you’re sending money to.

• Who decides whether the confirmation of payee check is a match, close match, or no match?

  The payment provider of the person or business you are paying (usually their bank or building society) will decide if the name and account details sent to them match. They will send their response to us. We will show you this response when you add a payee or create a new standing order.

• Can confirmation of payee stop a payment being made?

  No, we only check account details when you are setting up a new payee or standing order. You decide whether to go ahead after you see the response. When the payee is set up, you can make a payment.

  If the other bank does not recognise the account number you have entered, we will stop you setting up a new payee with those account details. Double check the details you have entered. You may need to check with the payee for the correct details or ask them for new account details.

• What payments will confirmation of payee cover?

  It covers payments made from and to UK accounts with a sort code and account number. It doesn’t cover payments out of the UK.

• Will it stop fraud completely?

  No, unfortunately not. But it’s important to remember that confirmation of payee is just one of a range of measures being introduced to reduce fraud. You have an important part to play in helping us to prevent fraud and scams. Always check the confirmation of payee response and only go ahead after you have checked that the details are correct.

• When confirmation of payee is implemented, who is liable if a payment goes to the wrong place?

  Confirmation of payee is linked to the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) for Authorised Push Payment Scams. The CRM outlines where liability lies if money is lost. It could ultimately lie with the victim’s bank, the scammer’s (recipient) bank, the victim, or a combination of them all.

• What sort code do I tell people to pay into if my branch has been relocated?

  Remember to give people paying you the new sort code if your branch has been relocated. When some branches relocated, we changed their sort codes. Please check the list below and use the correct one.

  Table of redesigned sort codes

  Branch name	Old sort code	Correct Sort Code to use when setting up a new payee
  Ballyclare	909169	902426
  Ballymoney	909142	904800
  Carrickfergus	902274	902426
  High Street, Belfast	902178	902127
  Kilkeel	909118	902338
  Kilrea	905061	904982
  Larne	902303	902055
  Maghera	909126	904982
  Rathfriland	902362	900770
  Royal Avenue	902258	902127
  Shipquay Street	904958	904974
  Waterside	905037	904974

   

• Will my data be secure?

  Payment providers use highly secure architecture to safely exchange confirmation of payee requests. Plus, to be accredited to use the system, companies must undergo rigorous security checks. They must also be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or European equivalents.