Industry Sorting Code Directory
Encyclopedia
The Industry Sorting Code Directory (ISCD) is the definitive list of bank branches and sub branches in the United Kingdom
. The directory is maintained by VocaLink on behalf of the UK Payments Administration Limited (formally APACS
).
The ISCD contains the sort code, SWIFT
Bank Identifier Code (BIC), payment information, clearing information and contact details for all bank branches and sub-branches involved in the UK payment clearing system.
The ISCD is used by organisations to check the validity of sorting codes, which, combined with modulus checking of the bank account number and sorting code, is essential for successful Direct Debit
and BACS
Credit transactions.
The information contained within the ISCD is subject to frequent changes. To ensure that organisations have access to accurate information, VocaLink updates the ISCD once a week and makes it available to download. To obtain the ISCD, organisations must register with VocaLink or one of its official ISCD distributors.
Extended Industry Sorting Code Directory (EISCD)
The Extended Industry Sorting Code Directory is based upon the ISCD and was introduced to provide reference data to support the UK's Faster Payments service. The EISCD contains all data elements found within the ISCD, with the addition of a new section containing Faster Payments clearing information for each UK bank branch.
The EISCD is updated weekly and is available from VocaLink and authorised distributors.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The directory is maintained by VocaLink on behalf of the UK Payments Administration Limited (formally APACS
APACS
The UK Payments Administration Ltd is a United Kingdom trade organisation that brings together all payment systems organisations and gives banks, building societies and card issuers a forum where they can work together on non-competitive issues...
).
The ISCD contains the sort code, SWIFT
Swift
The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...
Bank Identifier Code (BIC), payment information, clearing information and contact details for all bank branches and sub-branches involved in the UK payment clearing system.
The ISCD is used by organisations to check the validity of sorting codes, which, combined with modulus checking of the bank account number and sorting code, is essential for successful Direct Debit
Direct debit
A direct debit or direct withdrawal is an instruction that a bank account holder gives to his or her bank to collect an amount directly from another account. It is similar to a direct deposit but initiated by the beneficiary...
and BACS
BACS
Bacs Payment Schemes Limited is a United Kingdom scheme for the electronic processing of financial transactions. BACS direct debits and BACS direct credits are made using the BACS system...
Credit transactions.
The information contained within the ISCD is subject to frequent changes. To ensure that organisations have access to accurate information, VocaLink updates the ISCD once a week and makes it available to download. To obtain the ISCD, organisations must register with VocaLink or one of its official ISCD distributors.
Extended Industry Sorting Code Directory (EISCD)
The Extended Industry Sorting Code Directory is based upon the ISCD and was introduced to provide reference data to support the UK's Faster Payments service. The EISCD contains all data elements found within the ISCD, with the addition of a new section containing Faster Payments clearing information for each UK bank branch.
The EISCD is updated weekly and is available from VocaLink and authorised distributors.