Here, you can learn how to make a payment to someone new in online banking.
Need more help with transferring money?
If you want to find out more about transferring money, such as how long it takes, or information about payment limits, our money transfer guide could help.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explain how you can use online banking to easily make payments to a person or a business if they're based in the UK.
International payments work differently — you can find out more in our guide to making international payments.
You’ll need a few things handy, including access to your phone and emails so you can receive a verification code. You’ll also need:
The payee's details
Details of the transfer
1. First, log in to online banking using your login details.
2. Select ‘Pay and transfer’ from the menu on the left.
3. Select the account you want to pay the money from.
4. After you’ve done this, select ‘Pay someone new’.
5. Select ‘In the UK’.
6. You’ll then be taken to the ‘Add payee details’ page, where you’ll need to enter the payee’s name, sort code, and account number. If you’re paying a business, select the ‘Pay a business’ tick box — if you’re not, then you do not need to select this. You can also add an optional payment reference.
7. Next, click ‘Verify payee’. At this point, we’ll check whether the details you entered match the details held by the person or business’ bank. This can help you make sure you’re sending money to the right account.
After clicking ‘Verify payee’ you may see some different options.
For example, account name is a match — which means the account matches the payee’s name and you can proceed with the payment.
The other options that may you may see after clicking ‘Verify payee’ include:
If you see this option, it means the account name doesn’t match the payee’s name. You’ll need to double check the details, otherwise you could send your money to the wrong person.
Criminals lie about why these details differ in order to trick you into making payments to them. If you’re being told that they don’t match, do not proceed — it's a scam.
If you see this option, it means the account name is similar to the payee’s name. You’ll be shown the name on the account you’re paying to help you decide whether it's the right person.
Please double check the details before sending any payments
You’ll be shown this option if the payee's bank doesn't take part in this service.
In this case, we're not able to verify the payee's details. You can continue with the payment, but please check the account name and details are correct by calling the person or business you’re paying on a trusted phone number first.
Criminals will target banks where it's not possible to verify these details, so you are therefore at greater risk of being scamme
1. After you’ve added the payee’s details, you’ll be taken to the ‘Payment details’ page. Here, you’ll need to enter the amount you want to transfer.
2. If you want the payment to be made at a later date, you can select the ‘Pay later or create a standing order’ tick box underneath, and choose a date.
3. Then, click ‘Continue’.
1. Now, you need to answer some questions about fraud and scams — it’s important that you read these each time, and think about whether the payment you’re trying to make could be part of a scam. This will help you keep your money safe. After you answer each question, click ‘Continue’.
2. Next, you need to confirm whether you’ve read the information, and if you still want to transfer your money. If you agree, select the tick box and click ‘Continue payment’.
3. You’ll then be taken to the ‘Confirm details’ page, where you can review the payment details. If they’re correct, click ‘Confirm and pay’. If something’s not right, you can click on ‘Edit payment details’ instead.
4. Once you’ve clicked ‘Confirm and pay’, we’ll send you a verification code by text or email. On the ‘Verify it’s you’ page, you’ll need to enter this code, along with your password. This is for security, to make sure it’s really you making the payment. After you’ve done this, click ‘Verify code’.
5. We’ll then process your payment request.
If successful, you’ll see a confirmation message saying that your payment request has been sent. We’ll also save the details of the person or business you paid as a ‘saved payee’. Now you’ll be able to transfer money to them without having to enter their details again.
When you’ve finished making your payment, you can click ‘Return to my accounts’ to go back to the main screen.
If you’ve tried to make a payment and it’s unsuccessful, we recommend trying again. There are a number of reasons why a payment might be unsuccessful — you can find out more and get extra support in our money transfer guide.
Learn how to pay someone you’ve paid before in online banking.
Find out how to create a standing order in online banking.
Learn how to register and log in to online banking, get online safety tips, and more.
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