Payments and transfers

Select the option that best applies to what you're trying to do.

• sending money to a new payee
• sending money to an existing payee
• what is confirmation of payee?
• transferring money between your first direct accounts
• sending money outside the UK
• cancelling or amending a payment
• daily payment limits
• cryptocurrency payment limits.

If you can't find the answer to your question, call us on 03 456 100 100.

To send money to a person or company for the first time, you'll need to set them up as a new payee.

To do this, select 'Payments' on our App or ‘Move Money’ via Online Banking.

​You’ll need the following information from the payee: ​

• their name
• their 6-digit sort code
• their account number (usually an 8 digit number) ​
• their account type – personal or business

You’ll be prompted to create a short payment reference so the payee knows what the money is for. The payment should reach the payee straightaway, subject to internal checks.

If you're sending money outside the UK, you'll also need the payee's BIC/SWIFT or IBAN. 

To find out how to obtain this information, see our IBAN and BIC FAQs page.

It’s worth checking out our daily payment limits before sending any money.

Once a payment has been set up, you won't need to enter the details again.

Instead you can find them on your saved payee list by selecting:

1. 'Payments' 
2. 'Send and transfer money' 
3. 'Send to an existing payee.'

Confirmation of Payee is an additional security step to make sure your money is going to the right account and help protect you from fraud.

When setting up a new payee, a standing order or amending an existing payment, you’ll see one of the following messages:

Details matched: This means the name of the account holder, account type and number, as well as any relevant reference you’ve entered, match those held by the payee’s bank.

Close match: This means the name you’ve entered closely matches the details held by the payee’s bank. We’ll show you the actual account name, to help you decide whether or not to send the money or edit the details and try again.

Not matched: This means the name, account type, account number or relevant reference don’t match the details held by the payee’s bank.

If the details you entered don’t match, go back to the person or organisation you're trying to pay to confirm their information.

Always double check a payee’s details before sending any money, as you may not get it back if you send a payment to the wrong payee.

If you have more than one first direct account - for example, a 1st account and a savings account - you can easily transfer money from one to the other using our App or Online Banking. 

1. go to 'Payments', then 'Send and transfer money'
2. select 'Transfer between your accounts'
3. choose the account you want to transfer to
4. enter the payment amount.

Your money should be transferred straight away, subject to internal checks. 

Sending money to a person or business abroad is just as easy as making a payment in the UK.

You can send up to:

• £50,000 (or currency equivalent) per day online
• $5,000,000 USD (or currency equivalent) per day over the phone.

With fees from as little as £5.

Unfortunately, once you've made a payment, it can’t be cancelled.

But you can cancel or amend a standing order or Direct Debit.

• on our App select ‘Payments’ then ‘Manage regular payments’ 
• via Online Banking go to ‘Manage Money’ then ‘Regular payments’.

​If you think you’ve made a mistake, or if something doesn’t feel right, please chat with us on our App or message us via Online Banking. 

Each day you can send up to:

• £999,999 between your first direct accounts
• £50,000 to other UK accounts via our App, Online Banking and Open Banking*
• £5,000 via standing orders through our digital channels.

Limits may change in the future, so check back here if you’re ever unsure.

Want to make a payment that isn’t listed or exceeds the above?

Call us on 03 456 100 100.

If you’re abroad, call us on +44 113 234 5678.

To make sure we’re doing a good job, calls may be monitored or recorded.

The following limits apply for cryptocurrency payments:

• Payments: Up to £2,500 for a single payment and a total payment limit of £10,000 in any rolling 30-day period
• Debit cards: Up to £2,500 for a single card payment and a total card payment limit of £10,000 in any rolling 30-day period

These limits are applied per customer with transaction values monitored over a 30-day rolling period. You can still receive payments from cryptocurrency exchanges into your account.