BSB Number: Format, Transfers, and Fixing Wrong-Account Payments

A BSB number is a six-digit code that identifies a specific bank and branch in Australia, and it’s what routes a domestic electronic payment to the correct account. Every transfer between Australian bank accounts needs one, paired with the recipient’s account number. The register of active codes is maintained by Australian Payments Network (AusPayNet), which keeps it current as branches open, close, or merge.¹

How the Six Digits Are Structured

A BSB is written as XXY-ZZZ, with a hyphen after the third digit. Each segment carries routing information:

The first two digits identify the financial institution. Commonwealth Bank uses 06, Westpac’s transaction accounts use 03, and NAB uses 08. Credit unions generally fall under the 80 prefix, and building societies use 63.
The third digit represents the state or territory where the branch was originally registered. New South Wales is 2, Victoria is 3, Queensland is 4, and so on.
The last three digits identify the specific branch within that state.

Not every institution follows this neatly. Westpac historically used 03 for trading accounts and 73 for savings accounts, and Suncorp routes all deposit accounts through a single BSB. Online-only banks and neobanks with no physical presence still receive BSB codes, but the branch digits are administrative rather than geographic. What matters for the person sending you money is that the full six-digit code matches your bank’s records exactly.

Where to Find Your BSB Number

Your BSB appears in several places, and it’s worth checking more than one before you share it with someone who needs to pay you.

Bank statements, whether mailed or digital, display the BSB alongside your account number near the top of the page.
Mobile and internet banking show the BSB under account details or on the main account screen.
Cheques carry the BSB printed at the bottom, usually before the account number.
Branch locator tools on bank websites let you search by suburb or postcode and reflect any closures or mergers, so they tend to be more current than old paperwork.

If you’ve recently switched banks or had your account migrated after a merger, confirm the BSB through your banking app rather than relying on older documents. Outdated codes are a common source of misdirected payments.

Sending Money to Another Australian Account

To send a domestic transfer you need three things from the recipient: their BSB, their account number (typically six to ten digits depending on the institution), and the account name as it appears on their bank records. You enter these into your bank’s “New Payee” or “Add Recipient” screen.

The system routes payments on the numbers, not the name. If you type a valid BSB and account number that happen to belong to someone other than your intended recipient, the money goes to that unintended account regardless of the name you entered. This is the single biggest risk in Australian domestic transfers, and verifying every digit before you confirm is time well spent.

Confirmation of Payee

From late 2025, Australian banks began rolling out a Confirmation of Payee service that checks whether the account name you enter matches what the recipient’s bank has on file. Before the payment goes through you see one of four results: a match, a close match, no match, or an error. For personal accounts, the recipient’s name is only revealed if you got it right or close to right. For business accounts, the name shows regardless of the match result.²

The service doesn’t block payments. A “no match” warning still lets you proceed if you choose to, but it’s a strong signal to pause and recheck the details with the person you’re paying.²

PayID as an Alternative

If typing a six-digit BSB and a separate account number feels error-prone, PayID offers a simpler path. PayID lets you link your bank account to a mobile phone number, email address, ABN, or organisation identifier. Anyone paying you enters that identifier instead of your BSB and account number.³

The payer sees your registered account name on screen before confirming, which acts as a built-in verification step. Setting up a PayID doesn’t disable your BSB; people can still pay you using your BSB and account number if they prefer.⁴

To register, log into your banking app, go to the PayID settings, choose whether to link your phone number or email, and confirm with a verification code. You can link multiple PayIDs to different accounts, or move a PayID to a new bank if you change providers.³

How Fast a Transfer Settles

Standard direct entry transfers process through the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS). Same-day settlement has been available since 2013, though payments submitted late in the day often settle on the next business day.⁵

Payments sent through the New Payments Platform (NPP), branded as Osko by most banks, typically arrive in under sixty seconds and run around the clock every day of the year.⁶ Most banks cap daily Osko transfers somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000 depending on account type and customer profile, though you can often request a higher limit by contacting your bank.

If You Send Money to the Wrong BSB or Account

Misdirected payments are more common than people expect, and recovery depends almost entirely on how quickly you act. AusPayNet operates a formal mistaken payments process your bank is required to follow.⁷

Within 10 Business Days

Notify your bank within ten business days of the transfer and the recipient’s bank must assess whether it qualifies as a mistaken payment. If it does, the funds are typically returned to your account within five business days, or ten if additional information is needed.⁷

Between 10 Business Days and 7 Months

The recipient’s bank still has to investigate, but the process is slower and less certain. The unintended recipient is given a holding period to claim the funds are legitimately theirs. If they don’t respond or can’t justify keeping the money, the bank can return it to you within about ten business days after the holding period expires. If the recipient consents to the return, the money comes back within two business days of that consent.⁷

After 7 Months

Recovery at this stage depends entirely on the unintended recipient agreeing to return the money. Your bank has no mechanism to force it, and if the recipient refuses, your remaining option is legal action.⁷

In every case, if the recipient’s account has insufficient funds, their bank will use reasonable efforts to recover the money, such as arranging repayment by instalments, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get the full amount back. The practical lesson: check your statements regularly and report errors fast.

Receiving Money From Overseas

A BSB alone isn’t enough when someone overseas is sending you money. International wire transfers route through the SWIFT network, so the sender needs your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code in addition to your BSB and account number. For Commonwealth Bank, for example, that code is CTBAAU2S.⁸

Australia does not use IBANs. If a sender’s bank asks for one, you can combine your BSB and account number into a single string with no spaces or hyphens. Some sending banks will accept this as a workaround, though it’s worth checking first.⁸

If the sender is transferring a currency other than Australian dollars, an intermediary bank may need to handle the conversion before funds reach your account. Your bank can provide the intermediary bank details if the sender’s institution asks for them.⁹

1
Australian Payments Network. Static Download Links for BSB Files
2
Australian Payments Plus. Confirmation of Payee
3
Australian Payments Plus. PayID – For Consumer
4
Westpac. If I Set Up a PayID, Can People Still Pay to My BSB and Account Number?
5
Reserve Bank of Australia. Changes to RITS to Facilitate Same-Day Direct Entry Settlement
6
ANZ. Make Fast Payments with the New Payments Platform (NPP)
7
Australian Payments Network. Mistaken Payments
8
Commonwealth Bank. What Details Do I Need to Provide if Someone Is Transferring Money to Me From Overseas?
9
Suncorp Bank. When Does an Intermediary Bank Need to Be Used?