Australian dollar payments for business: BSB, NPP and PayID explained
Australian clients pay suppliers by BSB and account number, increasingly in real time on the NPP. Here is how AUD payments work for a company outside Australia.
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Australian businesses buy a lot of services from abroad: design, development, marketing, support. They pay local suppliers by BSB and account number, and increasingly in real time. For a supplier outside Australia, receiving AUD properly means clients can pay the way they pay everyone else.
How Australian account details work
| Field | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BSB | 6 digits, bank and branch | 062-000 |
| Account number | Up to 9 digits | 1234 5678 |
| PayID (optional) | Email, phone number or ABN | [email protected] |
For international wires into Australia, the receiving bank's SWIFT code is used as well.
The rails
| Rail | Run by | Timing | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPP (New Payments Platform) | Australian Payments Plus | Seconds, 24/7 | Instant payments, PayID, PayTo |
| BECS direct entry | Industry framework | Same or next business day | Payroll and supplier batches |
| RITS (high value) | Reserve Bank of Australia | Real-time settlement | Large payments between banks |
The Australian payments industry has announced plans to retire BECS and move its payments to the NPP over the coming years.
Why AUD matters for suppliers abroad
- Clients pay in their own currency, with no conversion on their side.
- An AUD payment avoids SWIFT fees on the way.
- You hold the AUD or convert it when the rate suits. See FX risk for small businesses.
Paying in Australia
To pay an Australian contractor or supplier you need their name, BSB and account number. A local AUD payout arrives quickly and avoids the intermediary fees of a SWIFT wire. See bulk payments explained for paying many people at once.
AUD on Rivet
Rivet's Scale plan lets a company hold and convert AUD beside its USD, EUR and GBP balances. On every plan you can pay Australian accounts in AUD from your balance, with the cost shown before you confirm. Local AUD receiving details are issued where we offer them; ask at onboarding. See Pricing and Payouts.
Questions people ask
What is a BSB number?
A six-digit code that identifies an Australian bank and branch, written like 062-000. With the account number, it is what a payer needs to send money to an Australian account.
What is the NPP and PayID?
The New Payments Platform is Australia's real-time payment system, live since 2018. PayID is an addressing service on it: a payer can send to an email, phone number or business number registered as a PayID, instead of typing a BSB and account number.
Can a company outside Australia receive AUD?
Yes, through a provider that holds AUD and can receive local transfers or international wires into an AUD balance. Australian clients then pay in their own currency and you convert when it suits you.
How long does a bank transfer take in Australia?
On the NPP, seconds, at any time. Through BECS direct entry, usually the same or next business day. International wires take longer and may lose fees to intermediary banks.
Sources
Rashidatou writes Rivet's guides to how money moves between countries: the payment rails, what each one costs, and the account details a company needs to get paid in another currency. Every figure in Rashidatou's articles is traced to the scheme rulebook, the regulator or the provider's published price list, and those sources are listed at the end.
More from Rashidatou K. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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