An account number is the unique number that identifies an individual business account at a bank, used together with a sort code, routing number, or IBAN to send and receive payments.
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
How an account number works
An account number is assigned by a bank or provider when an account is opened and stays with that account for its life. It identifies one account among the many held at the same institution, so it is only meaningful when combined with a code that identifies the institution itself. In the United Kingdom that pairing is the eight digit account number plus the six digit sort code. In the United States it is the account number plus the nine digit routing number. In countries that use the IBAN, the account number is encoded inside the IBAN along with the country and bank identifiers. This structure was current as of 26 May 2026.
Account number with sort code, routing number, or IBAN
To receive a domestic payment a business gives the payer two pieces of information: the account number and the code that identifies its bank. The payer's bank uses the institution code to find the correct bank and the account number to find the correct account within it. For payments arriving from another country the account is usually identified by an IBAN, or by an account number together with a SWIFT BIC code, depending on the destination country and payment route.
Keeping an account number secure
An account number is needed to receive money and to set up incoming payments such as salary credits or customer transfers, so it is routinely shared on invoices. It is not a secret in the way a password or card security code is, but it should still be handled with care because it can be used together with other details in some payment fraud. A business that is unsure which numbers to share for a given payment type should confirm with its own bank.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bank account number?
What is the difference between an account number and a sort code or routing number?
Is it safe to share my business account number?
Where can I find my business account number?
Definitions, fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 26 May 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.