UK Sort Code Checker FAQs

Question 1

What is a sort code?

Accepted Answer

A sort code is a six-digit code used to identify a bank or payment provider and its branch or routing location. It is usually written as three pairs of digits, such as 40-05-15. Your sort code is separate from your account number.

Question 2

Which countries does this sort code checker support?

Accepted Answer

This tool supports UK sort codes only. It does not currently support Irish National Sort Codes (NSCs) or bank routing codes from other countries.

Question 3

What information does the checker show?

Accepted Answer

The tool checks the code’s format and looks for a matching record in our bank reference data. Where information is available, it displays the institution’s name, country, logo and associated BIC/SWIFT code. A missing logo does not mean the sort code is invalid.

Question 4

Does a successful check verify the recipient’s account or name?

Accepted Answer

No. A successful result means the sort code has passed the format check and matched a record in our reference data. It does not verify an individual account or its owner. When you make a UK transfer in the Persia Money app, we also perform modulus checks on the sort code and account number combination to help detect errors. We perform Confirmation of Payee (CoP) checks to compare the recipient’s name with the account details, helping prevent misdirected payments and fraud and meet local regulatory requirements. These checks are separate from this public sort code checker.

Question 5

Does this tool perform a modulus check on my account number?

Accepted Answer

No. This page checks a sort code without asking for an account number, so it cannot perform a modulus check on the combination. Our IBAN checker performs this additional check on the sort code and account number contained in UK IBANs. Modulus checking helps detect certain errors; it does not confirm account ownership.

Question 6

Why might my sort code not be recognised?

Accepted Answer

The code may contain a typing error, have the wrong number of digits or be missing from our reference data. A code that is not found is not necessarily invalid. Check it against your bank’s official app or statement, and contact us if the details appear correct.

Question 7

Is a sort code the same as a BIC or SWIFT code?

Accepted Answer

No. A UK sort code is a six-digit code used to route domestic bank payments. A BIC, often called a SWIFT code, identifies an institution and contains eight or eleven characters. The checker may display an associated BIC where available, but you should confirm the details required for your payment with the receiving bank.