Helping you make safer online payments

When you send money to someone you’ve never sent an online payment to before, we’re introducing some new checks to help you make sure your payment goes to the right place.

These new checks are designed to help stop payments going to the wrong place, by spotting possible mistakes and adding extra security steps to prevent fraud.

Starting in December 2019, we’re trialling the new checks just for Bank of Scotland Mobile Banking app customers using an Android device and adding new payees that have an account with Bank of Scotland, Halifax or Lloyds Bank. In early 2020 we’ll launch this to the rest of our customers and for payee accounts at other banks too.

What's changing?

When you add a new payee, we’ll automatically check these details with their bank to make sure everything matches:

  • The name on the account – a key change here is you’ll need to start using the correct full account name, so you won’t be able to use nicknames or other words for the account name anymore.
  • The account number.
  • The sort code.
  • The account type – to confirm if it’s a personal or business account.


When you’ve entered the account information, we’ll tell you if the account name and number match or not. Depending on the situation, you’ll immediately see one of these messages:

Message

What to do next

Message

Account name and details match
This means that the account number and sort code match the name and the account type is correct.

What to do next

You can go ahead with adding the person you’re paying.

Message

Payee name and account number match, but this is a personal/business account
This means the name is correct but the  account type you selected isn’t.

What to do next

Check to make sure the type of account you’re paying (personal or business) is what you expected and you can continue if you wish.

Message

This account belongs to Example Name Ltd
This means we’ve been able to find a close match to the name you entered but there’s a small difference in the spelling.

What to do next

You should go back, check the details and correct the name, but you can continue if you wish.

Message

Payee name and account number partially match and this is a personal/business account
This means we’ve been able to find a close match to the name you entered but there’s a small mistake in the spelling and the account type you entered is the wrong one.

What to do next

Check to make sure the type of account you’re paying (personal or business). Make sure the name shown on the screen is the one you intended to pay and you can continue if you wish.

Message

That name doesn’t match that account number
This means the name you’ve entered is significantly different to the actual name on the account. This could be because you’ve used a nickname.

What to do next

You should contact your payee to confirm the account name and number and you can continue if you wish.

Message

We can’t check these details
This means your payee’s account doesn’t let us confirm their details. This might happen if your payee’s bank isn’t set up for account name checks or the type of account cannot be name checked.

 

What to do next

The account details might be correct, but you should go back and check. However,  you can continue if you wish.

Message

This account/sort code doesn’t exist
This means none of account details match so we can’t check if the account exists.

What to do next

You’ll need to go back and change the details you entered as they are invalid and you won’t be able to continue.

Any questions?

If you’d like to talk to us about your bank account, please call 0345 721 3141 (or +44 (0) 1313 37 42 18 if you’re calling from abroad) or visit your local branch.