What Is An Account Number And Sort Code | Banking Terms - HSBC UK (2024)

FAQs

What Is An Account Number And Sort Code | Banking Terms - HSBC UK? ›

Sort code - A 6-digit number which identifies the branch where your account is held. Account number - This 8-digit number is the unique number for your account which anyone paying money to you will need to know.

Your sort code is typically printed on the back of your debit card, though some cards may have it displayed on the front. It will usually be labelled as 'Sort Code', so you'll be able to find it. You won't have a sort code if you have a credit card.

When you open a UK bank account, you will be assigned an account number and sort code. The account number identifies your unique bank account and the sort code identifies the branch and bank where you opened your account. Account numbers are eight digits long and sort codes are six digits long.

The Bank Code of HSBC is 004.

Conclusion: Staying safe with banking details

Overall, there's very little someone can do with just your account number and sort code apart from making a deposit into your account in order to pay you. However, always be vigilant about whom you share your personal details with.

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, which you can use when making or receiving international payments. Your IBAN doesn't replace your sort code & account number ─ it's an additional number with extra information to help overseas banks identify your account for payments.

If your account number is printed on your card, it will appear as an eight digit number on either the front or the back of the card. Your sort code will appear as a six digit number grouped into pairs. You don't need to worry about spacing the numbers out when entering them online.

They may sound similar, but have different structures and usage. In terms of length and structure: SWIFT codes are longer; a combination of letters and numbers, making them unique for each financial institution. Sort codes are shorter and consist of only six digits, all of which are numbers.

In the UK, the equivalent of a bank routing number is a sort code – a six-digit code that identifies both the bank and branch of an account. Sort codes are used by British banks to route money transfers to the correct bank and branch when processing domestic transfers of funds.

Sort codes are used by banks in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. If you are making an international money transfer to any of these countries, you will need your recipient's sort code and account number.

What is the swift code for HSBC sort code? ›

BIC / SWIFT code – MMEBMTMT.

HSBC Bank SWIFT code in the United Kingdom. The SWIFT/BIC code for HSBC Bank is HBUKGB4BXXX. However, HSBC Bank uses different SWIFT/BIC codes for the different types of banking services it offers. If you're not sure which code you should use, check with your recipient or with the bank directly.

Your bank account number alone is not enough for someone to withdraw money from your account. Scammers can use your bank account and routing number to commit ACH fraud, make online purchases, deposit money for illegal activities, and create fraudulent checks.

Can recipients see your account details? If you send money with Wise, the recipient can not see your account details. In fact, this privacy flows both ways - there are also ways you can send money to someone without needing them to share their bank details with you.

Identity Theft: Sharing your bank account details with a stranger during a transfer could expose you to the risk of identity theft. Unauthorized access to your personal information can lead to significant financial loss and potential damage to your credit score.

Your mortgage account number and sort code are often displayed together and referred to as your mortgage account number. You can find them on your mortgage statement or offer. You can also see them by logging on to online or mobile banking and looking under 'My Accounts'.

Your sort code is the six digit number split into three pairs that identifies your bank, often adjacent to your account number. It might look something like this 11-22-33. You can find both of these numbers in various places like on your physical card, in your mobile banking app and on your bank statements.

Online Banking

Your accounts are listed under “My accounts”. Each account number is formatted as XXX-YYYYYY-ZZZ, where 10XXX is the transit number and YYYYYY-ZZZ is the account number.