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Confirmation of Payee

Confirmation of Payee (CoP) is an account name-checking service that banks use to check that the name and account details match when you are making GBP payments in the UK. This service can help protect you from fraud or errors when making online payments.

CoP is a regulation managed by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and Pay.UK – see their websites here and here for more details.

How does it work?

If you have a personal, joint or business account you will use CoP.

Every time you make a GBP payment to a new payee at a UK bank, their name and account details (account number and sort code) will automatically go through a CoP check. For joint accounts, this can be the full name of any of the joint account holders. For business accounts this will be the full business name. This will happen if you make a payment yourself using Internet Banking as well as via any other mechanism.

We will let you know whether the details you entered are a match, a close match or no match.

  • Match – the details you entered are an exact match to the person or business you are trying to pay.
  • Close Match – the account is registered to someone with a similar name. We will show you the correct name linked to the account and you can then decide either to update the details of the payment and try again or check them with the person or company you are trying to pay before making the payment.
  • No Match – the name you have entered does not match the account, and is not similar. You should contact the person or company you are trying to pay to check their details.

If you receive a close match or no match response this could be an indication of an error or fraud, and we strongly recommend that you contact the person or business you are intending to pay in order to verify their details. If you continue without updating the details, you are accepting the risk that we may not be able to get your money back if it goes to the wrong account.

If you are trying to pay someone under the age of 13, you will get the ‘no match’ response.

You may see other responses, such as a system problem or that the account holder’s bank does not support CoP. If this happens, please double check the payment details with the person or business that you are paying.

What if someone is trying to pay me?

If someone is trying to send you money from a bank that uses CoP, then similar CoP checks will take place.

In order for them to add you as a payee, they will need your full name, account number and sort code. For joint accounts, this can be the name of any of the joint account holders. For business accounts they will need the full business name. These details will then be used to check your account.

How can I protect against fraud?

CoP is a significant step forward in helping to protect against fraud. You should still be alert when:

  • Someone you don’t know asks you to make a payment
  • The name of the person you are paying doesn’t match the account name
  • Someone asks you to ignore the check when the account name doesn’t match
  • You feel pressured to make a payment
  • A person or business’s account details change unexpectedly

And remember:

  • Don’t give out your personal or financial details
  • Never click on a link or open an attachment in an unexpected or suspicious email or text
  • A genuine bank or business will never ask you for your password or to move any money

Can I opt out of Confirmation of Payee?

You cannot opt out of CoP when you are paying someone else, but you can request to stop your details being checked when other people are trying to pay you. They will see a message saying that your details can’t be confirmed.

CoP is used to make sure that payments are not sent to the wrong account and to help in the fight against fraud. Because of this, requests to opt out are only accepted in very limited circumstances. If you wish to opt out, please contact your relationship manager. However, you should be aware that opting out of CoP may cause payments in to your account to be delayed.

If you have previously opted out of CoP, you can decide to opt back in. Again, please contact your relationship manager if this is the case.

Complaints

Any complaints or difficulties relating to the Confirmation of Payee service should be directed to your Relationship Manager, or alternatively, to our main switchboard
at +44 (0) 20 7448 0600 or by email to umb.main@umtb.co.uk.