There are a number of ways you can make a bank transfer. Some of the most common bank transfer methods are:
Log in to your online account and select the option for making a payment. Follow the instructions on screen to enter the correct details. Some banks also offer smartphone apps that allow you to transfer money.
Call your bank’s telephone banking service. The bank’s customer services representative will guide you through the process. In some cases, you might be guided through by an automated recording.
If you have the money in cash, you can pay it into the account of the person you owe it to in a branch.
However you choose to transfer money, you’ll usually need the following details of the person or organisation you’re paying:
The date you want the payment to be made.
Name of the person or business you’re paying.
Six-digit sort code of the account you’re paying.
Eight-digit account number of the account you’re paying.
A payment reference (often your name or customer number) to let them know the money came from you.
Sometimes you’ll need the name and address of the bank you’re sending the money to. This helps them to check that sort code is right.
This is a new scheme offered by most high-street (and online) banks to give you more protection when sending money by bank transfer.
When you try to make a bank transfer to a person you haven’t paid before, your bank will check that the name you’ve been given matches the name registered to that account number and sort code.
If it doesn’t, your bank will warn you, either that the name is a close match or that it’s totally incorrect.