In addition to verifying bank account details, Creditsafe provides confirmation using the Extended Industry Sort Codes Directory (EISCD), which contains detailed bank and branch information, including sort codes and supported payment schemes from BACS. This offers businesses a fast and simple way to validate sort code details and access bank and branch contact information.
Trusted by more than 100,000 companies worldwide
Avoid payment delays, bank fees & reduce fraud
Instantly validate sort codes, account numbers, and address details at registration with our Confirmation of Payee-powered bank account verification platform. Reduce delays from incorrect information and combat identity fraud by confirming customer account details.
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Real-time verification
Instantly verify bank account information to reduce fraud and avoid delays in the sign-up process.
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Prevent fraud and misdirected payments
Ensure that payments go to those you intend, by confirming the validity and ownership of bank account numbers.
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Save on costs
Reduce admin costs and payment errors with faster and more secure payments, improving first-time success rates.
Bank Account & Sort Code Checker
Some of the main use cases of our clients include:
- Electronic payment routing. Reduce the risks and costs of failed payments by ensuring proper payment routing.
- Optimize payment flow. Correct BIC code for direct branch payments.
- Validating user input. Matching existing sort code to the EISCD entries ensures error free customer relations.
The Sort Codes database contains extended details about a given branch and institution. Some of the vital peaces of information are:
- Bank Office Identifier (BIC/sort code)
- Branch/bank office title
- Contact details (Postal addresses/telephone numbers/email addresses)
- Details of which clearing systems each bank office participates in: Bacs, Faster Payments,CHAPS,Cheque & Credit Clearing
How are bank account verification checks used?
From fraud prevention to secure transactions, Confirmation of Payee supports the following use cases:
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Know Your Customer
Checking customer account details as part of an onboarding process and before making a payment to them.
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Ongoing Payee Checks
Validating that invoice payments are to bona fide business accounts and not personal accounts, reducing the risk of financial fraud.
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Direct Debit Set-up
Checking that the customer setting up a Direct Debit is the account holder to reduce the risk of an indemnity claim.
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Regulatory Compliance
Aid compliance with Modern Slavery and Anti Money Laundering legislation by avoiding payments to 'bad actors'.
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Onboarding New Suppliers
Ensuring correct account details are captured as part of a supplier set-up process.
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Fraud Detection and Prevention
Verifying customer account ownership and transaction history to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, ensuring secure and trustworthy financial transactions.
Why choose Creditsafe for bank account and sort code verification?
With your business' compliance and efficiency at the heart of what we do, Creditsafe's bank verification checks offer enhanced checks that deliver an answer in seconds.
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Leading coverage
Power more secure and complex payments. Creditsafe has the largest coverage of bank account data in the UK - covering 99% of consumer and business bank records.
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Dedicated support
With a typical response time of 1 hour, we believe every customer deserves personal account management. That is why every client has a dedicated account manager.
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No automatic renewal
With a customer retention rate of over 95%, we want our customers to stay with us because they are happy with our service, not because they are tied into a contract.
What our customers say
More than 200,000 business professionals already use Creditsafe - Join them today.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about bank account verification.
Where does bank verification data come from?
The data is provided by many banks and finance providers across the UK. When a customer provides us with a company number and their bank details, we are able to perform instant checks to verify that those bank details are associated with that company.
What information is needed for bank verification?
To verify an account you will need the account name exactly as it appears on the account, the sort code, the account number and the account type (business or personal).
What is Confirmation of Payee?
CoP (Confirmation of Payee) is a solution designed to help consumers prevent fraudulent payments from being made in the first place by introducing another layer of security for fraudsters and providing simple warnings for consumers regarding fraudulent activity.
How is a bank account verified?
By cross-referencing key account details, including the recipient's name, sort code, account number, and account type (business or personal), bank account verification can determine if there's a match, partial match, or no match, alerting users to any discrepancies.
What payment types are covered?
Domestic UK-based payments via CHAPS, Faster Payments and Bacs payments (Debit or credit) are all covered under the scheme.
Who is required to use bank verification?
Currently, it’s only mandatory for the largest UK banking providers. However, by October 2025, all remaining banks and financial institutions must implement a bank account verification solution into their offerings as it helps prevent fraud.