Confirmation of Payee helps you check you’re paying the right person before sending money.
When you set up a new payee or update payment details, Confirmation of Payee compares the account name, BSB and account number you enter with the details held by the recipient’s bank. It then shows you a match outcome so you can make an informed decision before proceeding.
This added layer of protection can help you avoid scams and mistaken payments. Depending on the result, you may choose to continue with the payment, double-check the details with the recipient, or stop the transaction.
Before you send money, take a moment to stop and check the details carefully. Confirmation of Payee gives you more confidence that your money is going where you intend it to.
FAQs
What is Confirmation of Payee?
Confirmation of Payee is an initiative of Australian Payments Plus, the organisation that provides trusted payment services like BPAY®, Osko®, PayID®, and PayTo®**
It’s an industry-wide service designed to give you valuable information that may help protect you from scams and mistaken payments.
When sending your money to a business or person using their BSB and account number, Confirmation of Payee will check the account details you’ve entered against the account details held by the receiving bank and let you know whether they match or not.
This gives you the chance to decide what to do next. If you think you’ve entered the account details incorrectly, you can check them with the intended recipient before making the payment. Or, if something doesn’t seem right, you can choose to cancel the payment.
** BPAY and Osko are registered trademarks of BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518. PayID and PayTo are registered trademarks of NPP Australia Ltd ABN 68 601 428 737
Is Confirmation of Payee mandatory?
Yes.
Confirmation of Payee is mandatory for all Australian financial institutions and is part of a comprehensive set of anti-scam measures being implemented across the entire industry.
Will Confirmation of Payee work for all types of accounts?
Confirmation of Payee will work for Australian bank accounts with a BSB and account number.
How do I activate Confirmation of Payee?
No activation is required. The Confirmation of Payee service will automatically apply to payments between Australian banks when you:
- Make a payment to a new payee OR
- In some instances, make a payment to an existing payee.
- Edit a payee in your address book
You will receive a message indicating whether there’s a match with the account details before you complete the action. The account name may not show if it is a ‘no match.’
When does Confirmation of Payee check details?
Confirmation of Payee will check account details for all first-time payments to a BSB and account number. Additional checks may be made on payments made to an existing payee where it has not been used recently, or when you edit a payee in your address book
What information should I share when I want to receive payments using my BSB and account number?
In addition to your BSB and account number, you must provide your exact account holder name to anyone making a payment to your account.
You can find your account name in online banking and the mobile app – simply visit the “home” page on the app, or the “accounts” page on online banking to find all your account details.
Will Confirmation of Payee be available for international payments?
No, Confirmation of Payee applies to payments within Australia. It does not cover international or non-AUD payments.
What match results are there, and what does each result mean?
- Match – the account details you entered match the bank records of the intended recipient. You can proceed with confidence.
- Close Match – The account details closely match the bank records of the intended recipient. Double check the details with the intended recipient before proceeding.
- No Match – The account details you entered do not match the bank records of the intended recipient. Stop and verify the account details directly with the payee using a trusted contact method before proceeding. Do not use a phone number or email provided in the same message that gave you the payment details.
- Unable to check/not supported – The service could not confirm the account details you entered match. Contact the intended recipient to confirm the account details.
- Account closed – The account is no longer active. Contact the intended recipient.
Can I still make a payment if the result is ‘No Match?’
Yes – Confirmation of Payee does not block payments; the final decision belongs to you. However, a “No match” result is a strong signal to pause and independently verify the account details before proceeding. Funds sent to the wrong account can be difficult or impossible to recover.
How is Confirmation of Payee different from PayID?
A PayID is a unique identifier linked to a bank account that makes sending and receiving money easy. Instead of using the account name, BSB and account number, you can use a PayID, such as a mobile number, email address or ABN. When you send money to a PayID, you’ll see the name of the person or business it’s linked to, helping ensure your money goes to where you intend it to.
Confirmation of Payee works with BSB and account numbers. It checks the account name, BSB, and account number you’ve entered against the details held by the recipient’s bank details and displays a match outcome.
Both services add a layer of security to payments made in your online banking.
Will Confirmation of Payee protect my account name from being seen by others?
If someone tries to pay you and enters the wrong account details, your account name will not be displayed to them – this protects your privacy. Your name is only shown to the payer if the details they enter are a match or close match or if it is a business or government account. No central database of member names is created; all account information stays with your financial institution.
What happens with joint accounts?
If your account is held jointly with another person, only the name entered by the person making the payment will be checked. If it matches one of the account holders, the payer will see a match result along with a note that there are other account holders. The other names on the account will not be displayed.
What if I’ve recently changed my name?
If your legal name has changed (e.g. after marriage), the name stored with TCU may not yet reflect your new name. Until your records are updated, payments where the sender uses your new name may return a “No Match” result. Contact TCU to update your account name to ensure accurate results.
What if I receive a message or call claiming to be from Confirmation of Payee?
This would be a scam. Confirmation of Payee is an automated checking service – it will never contact you directly, ask you to send money, or request your account details. Any email, text, or phone call claiming to be from “Confirmation of Payee” should be treated as fraudulent.
Does Confirmation of Payee apply to BPAY, PayID, or direct debit payments?
No. Confirmation of Payee only applies to payments made using a BSB and account number. It does not apply to BPAY payments (which use a biller code), PayID payments (which have their own name verification), or direct debit arrangements.
Does Confirmation of Payee guarantee I won’t be scammed?
No. Confirmation of Payee is an important additional layer of protection, but it is not a guarantee. Scammers may have legitimate access to a real account name and use it to trick you. The service provides information to help you make an informed decision – it is always worth pausing to verify payment requests independently, particularly if they are unexpected or come via email or text message.