What is a sort code or routing identifier?¶

A sort code or routing identifier directs payment to a financial institution or processing route. It does not identify the individual customer or transaction location.

Routing points to infrastructure¶

A UK sort code commonly identifies a bank and branch or processing centre; other systems use routing or clearing codes. Many accounts share one code, and digital banks, pooled services and virtual accounts may use centralised structures without a meaningful physical branch.

The code works with account number and transaction information. An intermediary or pooled account may require a customer reference to find the final recipient.

Use it to locate the record holder¶

Preserve formatting and leading zeros. Supply it with account number, reference, amount and time, and ask whether the account is direct, virtual or pooled.

Confirm ownership and access from provider records rather than inferring person or place from routing data.