Making a new payment

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Helping keep you safe from scams

We want to do everything we can to make sure that you’re safe from scams when you make a new payment.


We’ve worked with other UK banks and the regulators to make changes to the steps you need to make when you make new payments. The reason for these changes is to help you be as sure as you can be that your money goes to the right place.
 

We need extra details when you set up a new payee/update an existing payee

When you make a payment to an individual or business you haven’t paid before, or change the account details of one you have, (including the account number and sort code) you’ll need:

  • The account name exactly as it appears on their bank account statement or invoice if you’re paying a business
  • The account type – personal or business
  • The Reference

We’ll check the details you provide against the details on the payee’s account and let you know the results before you make the payment. There can be a few outcomes:

For some account types, the destination bank requires additional information to identify the underlying account name, make sure you include this information in the reference section.

1. The name and account type match 
If you use the right name and account type, we’ll let you know that they match the account you’re trying to pay, so you can carry on with the payment. No payments will be made automatically. Even when the name and account type match, you’ll always need to confirm that you want to go ahead.

2. The details partially match
If you’ve got a partial match, you’ll be given the actual name or account type of the account holder, so you can check and update the details, or contact the person or organisation you’re trying to pay.

3. The name doesn’t match
If the name doesn’t match, we'll tell you, and ask you to contact the person or organisation you’re trying to pay.

4. The Reference isn’t correct

If the reference for those account details is incorrect, we’ll let you know. Make sure that you check the reference details with the person or business that you’re attempting to pay before continuing.

5. We can’t check the account
If the type of account doesn’t support the checks or there’s a technical issue we’ll tell you. Not all banks are participating in the scheme straight away so if you’re paying someone whose bank isn’t participating just yet we won’t be able to check the name on the account you’re sending money to. 

If we can’t check the account details, you’ll be able to use the details you have if you want to, but you should always double-check they’re correct. The funds may go to the wrong account and we might not be able to recover the money. 

 

Joint accounts

If you need to pay a joint account you’ll need to ask for the name of one of the joint account holders, exactly as appears on their account statement.

 

Business accounts

You’ll need to provide the business or trading name exactly as it appears on an invoice or other payment instruction you’ve been given. (Remember that some businesses may have more than one trading name).

 

Giving you extra peace of mind

These checks can help you avoid simple mistakes like mis-typing account details when you set up a payment. They also help tackle some types of fraud. They offer increased protection against authorised push payment scams, which are payments you initiate and authorise from your account, usually through Online Banking (they may include transactions such as a single Faster Payment when sending money to friends, family or organisations, setting up standing orders or setting up a single CHAPS payment.) The checks also aim to reduce the chance of you falling victim to the different forms of maliciously misdirected payments. 

 

What payments are included?

We’ll be checking Faster Payments, standing orders and CHAPS. International transfers, credit cards and BACS payments. Direct Debits – aren’t included for the time being and this feature won’t be available for cheque payments. 

 

Opting out

Customers of participating banks will automatically be included so that we can make these checks to help our customers pay the right account. However, if you’d rather opt out, you can let us know and we’ll make sure that your name won’t be validated and presented back to anyone sending you payments. If you’d like to discuss opting out, or understand the implications, please contact us

 

Never set up a new or change existing payment details without first verifying the request directly with the person or company you're paying, preferably using existing contact details.