Did ring-fencing change my sort code or account number?

Ring-fencing was a change to how large UK banks are structured, and it did change some customers' sort codes and account numbers. Almost one million banking customers were contacted to have their sort codes and account numbers changed as the UK ring-fenced its banks¹. The changes took effect between 2017 and 2018².

If your bank ring-fenced its retail arm, your sort code or account number may have changed. Some customers had their details changed, for example a new sort code or a changed account number². Payments sent using old details were rerouted using automatic redirection facilities, so money sent to your old details still reached your account².

Not every bank changed customer details. Santander stated that its customers would not be issued with new account numbers or sort codes¹. If you are unsure whether your details changed, you can check your sort code and account number on your card, in your banking app, or on a recent statement³.

Ring-fencing changed some customers' sort codes and account numbers

Ring-fencing required large UK banks to separate their core retail banking services from their investment and international banking activities⁴. The purpose was to help protect your access to the systems we depend on every day². In practice, that meant some banks moved retail customers onto separate legal entities, and some of those customers received new sort codes or account numbers².

Almost one million banking customers were contacted to have their sort codes and account numbers changed as the UK ring-fenced its banks¹. The changes took effect between 2017 and 2018². Some customers had their details changed, for example a new sort code or their account number changed².

Not every bank changed customer details. Santander stated that its customers would not be issued with new account numbers or sort codes¹. That means the answer to whether your details changed depends on which bank you were with at the time.

If you are checking whether your details changed, your sort code is typically printed on the back of your debit card, though some cards may have it displayed on the front. It also appears on bank statements, cheques, or through online and mobile banking³. Within eBanking, you can find the sort code and account number for each of your accounts on the homepage, beneath the account name⁵. In an app, you can tap the account and find your sort code and account number under Account Details⁶.

What ring-fencing is and why banks had to do it

Ring-fencing will require large UK banks to separate their core retail banking services from their investment and international banking activities⁴. The ring-fencing process involved the major UK banks separating their retail banking arm from other areas of their business¹. Some major UK banks need to ring-fence their retail and business banking from more complex banking such as wholesale and investment banking⁷. These rules were introduced by the Government as part of the Bank Structural Reform Legislation⁷.

The purpose was to help protect your access to the systems we depend on every day². By separating retail banking from global trading and investment banking, the idea was that a problem in one part of a bank's business would be less likely to affect everyday accounts¹.

For customers, the practical effect was administrative: some accounts moved to a different part of the banking group, and some of those accounts received new sort codes or account numbers². The change was not a change to your account terms, your balance, or your protection. It was a change to the details that identify where your account sits.

How to check whether your sort code or account number changed

Your sort code and account number are the two pieces of information someone needs to pay money into your account. All someone needs to pay you is your sort code and account number⁸. Because of that, it is worth knowing exactly what yours are.

If you receive your statements digitally, you can check your sort code by logging on to your electronic mailbox⁵.

When you give someone your sort code and account number, banks can check the name on a new payee's account as well as the sort code and account number, through a service called Confirmation of Payee⁸. Confirmation of Payee checks the account name, sort code and account number matches the one on the payee's account⁹. That means if you give someone your new details, they can check the name matches before sending money.

Sharing your sort code and account number is generally safe since the information is required for you to receive payments³. It is not the same as sharing a password or PIN.

What a new sort code means for payments, Direct Debits and standing orders

A new sort code or account number means anyone who pays you or takes money from you needs your new details. The two main types of regular payment are Direct Debits and standing orders, and they work differently.

Setting up direct debits or standing orders will mean that regular payments you have to make can be automatically taken out of your account¹³.

If your details changed, you need to update anyone who pays you or takes payments from you. That includes:

• Your employer, for your wages
• Anyone paying you a pension
• Companies that collect Direct Debits, such as utility providers
• Anyone you pay by standing order

If you use the Current Account Switch Service to move banks, Direct Debits and standing orders transfer to the new bank¹⁴. To switch, you need your old account sort code and account number, your existing debit card number and expiry date, and debit card details for all applicants for joint account switches¹³.

A new card number won't impact Direct Debits or standing orders¹⁵. That is because Direct Debits and standing orders are linked to your account details, not your card.

Where ring-fencing did not change your account details

Ring-fencing did not change everyone's details, and it did not change everything about an account even when details did change.

Santander stated that its customers would not be issued with new account numbers or sort codes¹. That means if you were a Santander customer, your details stayed the same.

Where a bank has changed a brand or moved accounts between brands, account details have often stayed the same.

The pattern is that a change of brand, a change of product, or a change of owner does not by itself change your sort code or account number. Ring-fencing was different because it involved moving accounts between legal entities, and that is when some details changed².

Getting help if a payment went wrong after a details change

If a payment went wrong after your details changed, there are steps you can take.

During ring-fencing, payments sent using old details were rerouted using automatic redirection facilities². That means money sent to your old sort code and account number was redirected to your new account. Redirection arrangements do not last forever, so it is worth updating your details with anyone who pays you regularly.

If you have lost money or spotted an unauthorised transaction on your account, contact your bank immediately using the phone number on the back of your card²¹. If you have noticed any unusual activity with your bank account, call the centralised number 159 or the phone number on the back of your card²². You can also contact Action Fraud to make a report and call your bank immediately so they can protect your account²³.

If you lose any money to a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud, or call the police on 101 if you're in Scotland²⁴.

If a company or service provider changes their payment details, always query this as companies rarely change their bank details²⁷. Confirm payment details or changes to payment details in person or over the phone on a trusted number²⁸.

If you are not satisfied with how your bank handled a problem, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The ombudsman publishes quarterly complaints data, including 122 complaints about packaged bank accounts opened in Q1 2025/26²⁹.

If you are changing accounts yourself

If you are changing bank accounts, whether because of ring-fencing or for another reason, independent guidance sets out opening a new account before closing the old one, and cancelling any current standing orders or direct debits³⁰. It also covers returning unused cheques and cards cut into pieces, and leaving enough money to cover uncleared cheques if transferring a balance³⁰.

To close or change the details of a person's financial accounts after a death, you need to contact organisations like banks, mortgage providers, insurance providers, and companies that the person had contracts with, such as utility companies, landlords or housing associations³¹. If you need to report changes to your personal details such as your address or bank details to the International Pension Centre, you do so by telephone or letter³².

If your tax code changes, in most cases there is nothing for you to do³³. HMRC will tell your employer or pension provider if your tax code changes³⁴. If you have an attachment of earnings order, you must tell the people you owe if you stop working or change jobs³⁵. You must give the court details of your new employer or the court can decide you have committed an offence and you can be fined by the court or sent to prison³⁶.