Source: https://rivet.global/blog/gbp-business-account
Published: 2026-10-04 · Updated: 2026-10-04 · By Rashidatou K.

# GBP business account: sort codes, Faster Payments and getting paid by UK clients

How UK account details work for a company abroad: sort codes, Faster Payments, Bacs and CHAPS, Confirmation of Payee, and invoicing UK clients in pounds.

## Key takeaways

- UK domestic account details are a six-digit sort code and an eight-digit account number.
- Faster Payments moves pounds between UK accounts in seconds, 24/7, and is the default for most business payments.
- Bacs is the batch system for payroll and direct debits, taking three working days; CHAPS is for large same-day payments.
- Confirmation of Payee checks the account name before a UK payment is sent, so your account name must match your invoices.
- With UK details, a UK client pays you as a domestic supplier, in pounds, with no international fees.

UK businesses pay suppliers by bank transfer, and their accounts teams expect two numbers: a sort code and an account number. Give a UK client an IBAN or a Swift code and they can pay you, but it becomes an international payment, with a fee and a delay on their side and often a conversion on yours. Give them a sort code and you are just another supplier.

## How UK account details work

| Detail | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sort code | 6 digits, three pairs | 04-00-75 |
| Account number | 8 digits | 12345678 |
| Account name | Your exact legal name | Northwind Studio LLC |

For payments from abroad, the same account usually also has an IBAN starting with GB and a BIC. UK clients will use the sort code and account number.

## The UK payment rails

| Rail | Run by | Speed | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faster Payments | Pay.UK | Seconds, 24/7 | Most supplier and one-off payments |
| Bacs | Pay.UK | 3 working days | Payroll, direct debits, large batches |
| CHAPS | Bank of England | Same day, business hours | High-value and time-critical payments |

Faster Payments has run since 2008. The scheme allows payments up to £1 million, and each bank sets its own limit for its customers. Most invoices from a UK client arrive on Faster Payments within minutes.

## Confirmation of Payee

When a UK client adds you as a payee, their bank checks the name they typed against the name on your account. A mismatch shows a warning, and many finance teams stop there and email you. To avoid it:

- put your exact registered company name on every invoice,
- include the account name with the sort code and account number,
- tell clients if your account name has a suffix such as LLC or Ltd.

The [invoice fraud guide](/blog/invoice-fraud-payment-detail-scams) explains why clients take name warnings seriously.

## Invoicing UK clients in pounds

Pricing in GBP removes the exchange decision from the client and usually speeds approval. If you also pay UK contractors or software in pounds, you can pay those costs from GBP income without converting twice. See [multi-currency cash flow](/blog/multi-currency-cash-flow-forecast).

If you are VAT-registered or selling to UK consumers, VAT rules apply separately; check with an adviser.

## Paying in the UK

Paying UK contractors or suppliers in pounds works the same way in reverse: sort code, account number and name, sent on Faster Payments. The [Faster Payments and SEPA comparison](/blog/swift-vs-sepa-vs-ach-vs-faster-payments) shows how it compares with other rails.

## GBP on Rivet

Rivet's Growth plan includes GBP account details in your company's name, receiving Faster Payments beside your USD and EUR balances, and pays UK accounts on Faster Payments. See [Bank accounts](/accounts).

## Questions

### What is a sort code?

A six-digit number, written as three pairs such as 04-00-75, that identifies a UK bank or payment provider and branch. Together with an eight-digit account number it identifies a UK account for domestic payments.

### How long do Faster Payments take?

Usually seconds, and at most two hours, at any time of day. The scheme's maximum per payment is £1 million, though each bank sets its own lower limits for its customers.

### What is Confirmation of Payee?

A UK name check. When a client sets you up as a new payee, their bank checks the account name they typed against the name on your account and shows a match, a close match or no match.

### Can a non-UK company get UK account details?

Yes, from some providers. The details are in the company's name and receive Faster Payments and Bacs like any UK account. Eligibility depends on where the company is registered and where its owners live.