What bank details do you need to send money to India?
To send money to a bank account in India you need three things: the recipient's full name as their bank holds it, their account number and the IFSC code of their bank branch. Indian accounts don't have sort codes or IBANs. A SWIFT code is only needed if you send an international SWIFT payment from a bank.
Written by Sonic Wallet editorial team · Last reviewed: 1 November 2026
Key facts
- You need the recipient's full name, their account number and the 11-character IFSC code of their branch.
- An IFSC code has 4 letters for the bank, a zero, then 6 characters for the branch, for example SBIN0001234.
- Indian banks credit NEFT and RTGS payments using the account number alone, so check every digit.
- India doesn't use sort codes or IBANs.
- To pay a UPI ID instead, the UPI ID is all you need.
What details do you need to send money to an Indian bank account?
You need the recipient's name, account number and branch IFSC code. Ask your recipient for these, and copy them from a document rather than typing them from memory.
| Detail | What it looks like | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Exactly as the bank holds it | Passbook, bank statement or banking app |
| Account number | Digits only; the length varies from bank to bank | Cheque book, passbook or banking app |
| IFSC code | 11 characters, such as SBIN0001234 | Cheque book, passbook, banking app or the Reserve Bank of India's list |
| Bank and branch | The bank's name and the branch's town or area | Passbook or the bank's website |
| Account type | Savings, current, NRE or NRO | Passbook or banking app |
Some providers also ask for the recipient's address, phone number or relationship to you, and the reason for the transfer, such as family support.
What is an IFSC code?
An IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) is an 11-character code that identifies a bank branch in India's payment systems, doing the job a sort code does in the UK. The first four letters identify the bank, the fifth character is always a zero and the last six characters identify the branch.
In SBIN0001234, for example, SBIN is the bank, 0 is the fixed fifth character and 001234 is the branch.
Banks print the IFSC on their cheques, and it also appears in passbooks and banking apps. The Reserve Bank of India publishes the full list of IFSCs.
If the recipient's bank has merged with another bank, as several public-sector banks did in 2019 and 2020, its old IFSC may no longer work. Ask the recipient to confirm the current code with their bank.
Do you need a SWIFT code to send money to India?
Only for an international SWIFT payment, which is how UK banks usually send money abroad. Providers that pay out through India's domestic payment systems use the IFSC instead, so you won't need a SWIFT code with them.
A SWIFT code, also called a BIC, is 8 or 11 characters long, and the fifth and sixth characters are the country code: IN for India. Some Indian banks receive international payments only through particular branches, so ask the recipient's bank for the right SWIFT code.
What details do you need to send money to a UPI ID?
Just the UPI ID, an address in the form name@handle that is linked to the recipient's bank account. Check the name your provider shows before you confirm. Our UPI guide explains how it works.
What happens if you enter the wrong bank details?
If the account number is valid but belongs to someone else, the money can go to the wrong person: Indian banks credit NEFT and RTGS payments using the account number alone, without matching the name. If the account number or IFSC doesn't exist, the payment is normally returned, but getting the money back can take days, and the exchange rate may have moved by then.
To avoid mistakes, copy the details from a cheque, passbook or banking app, and consider sending a small amount first when you pay a new account.
Do NRE and NRO accounts need different details?
No. NRE and NRO accounts use the same details as any Indian account: name, account number and IFSC. Make sure you pick the right account, though, because both can receive money from abroad but they are taxed differently. See our guide to NRE and NRO accounts.
Sending money to India?
See how many rupees your family will receive, what it costs, how long it takes and the details you need.
Send money to IndiaFrequently asked questions
Do Indian banks have sort codes or IBANs?+
No. India uses IFSC codes to identify bank branches, together with the account number. Indian bank accounts don't have IBANs.
What is an IFSC code and where do I find it?+
An IFSC is the 11-character code of an Indian bank branch, such as SBIN0001234. It is printed on cheques and shown in passbooks and banking apps, and the Reserve Bank of India publishes the full list.
Do I need the MICR code to send money to India?+
No. The 9-digit MICR code is used for clearing cheques. For a transfer you need the IFSC code instead.
What if the name doesn't exactly match the bank account?+
Use the name exactly as the bank holds it. Indian banks credit NEFT and RTGS payments using the account number, but some providers check the name and may hold a payment that doesn't match.
Do I need the recipient's address to send money to India?+
Some providers ask for it, along with a phone number, as part of their checks. The details that route the payment are the account number and the IFSC code.
Related guides
- How to send money to India with UPI from the UKPaying a UPI ID from the UK, and how NRIs can use UPI with a +44 mobile number.
- How long does it take to send money from the UK to India?IMPS, NEFT, UPI and SWIFT delivery times compared.
- NRE vs NRO accounts: which should you use?Tax, repatriation and what each account can receive, side by side.
- The cheapest way to send money from the UK to IndiaWhy the fee is only half the cost, how to compare providers and what the average transfer costs.
Useful tools and pages
Sources
- NEFT frequently asked questions, Reserve Bank of India
- Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) frequently asked questions, Reserve Bank of India
- List of NEFT-enabled bank branches and their IFSCs, Reserve Bank of India
- UPI Consolidated Circular, section 23: UPI International, National Payments Corporation of India