Sort Code

A sort code is a standardized, six-digit number used by UK and Irish banks and financial institutions to identify the part of their organization or branch where a bank account is held. Sort codes are used to process domestic transfers of funds between accounts via direct debit, bank transfer or other means.

In Great Britain, a sort code is located at the bottom of a check and may also be available from a bank’s online portal or via a bank statement or official correspondence. Individuals or businesses that want to receive funds from elsewhere will typically need to provide a sort code and an account number.

Sort codes can also be used to identify British banks and financial organizations for international currency exchange, although these numbers are integrated into SWIFT, IBAN and other international banking identifiers. If you are providing one of those numbers, you do not normally need to provide a sort code as well.

If you are sending money internationally and want to pay via direct bank transfer from a UK or Irish bank, you will typically need to provide your sort code and account number.

Sort codes consist of six numbers, stylized as three pairs of two digits. The first one or two digits identify the bank, with the remainder digits identifying a specific branch or other part of the organization where an account is held.

Sort Code — Related terms

Sort codes are related to bank identifiers, SWIFT, BIC, IBAN, ACH and account numbers.