Sending bank details by email?

aliasojo
aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
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in Budgeting & bank accounts
Not sure if this is strictly the right board for this question so apologies in advance if it may not be.

I need to provide details of bank account number, sort code, bank name and address to someone.

It cannot be done over the phone, it needs to be in writing. Clearly I can write a letter but I'm wondering if it is safe to email these details? It would be much quicker and easier and I can get an almost instant reply confirming receipt of info compared to the days that would be involved if post was used.
Herman - MP for all! :)
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Comments

  • Abbafan1972
    Abbafan1972 Posts: 6,887 Forumite
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    I would have thought it'd be ok. Everytime you send someone a cheque, this has your bank details on.

    At work, we email our customers' our bank details, so they can pay us by BACS. The bank details though are saved as a word document, so it is sent as an attachment, rather than in the main body of the email (I don't know if this would make a difference).
    Striving to clear the mortgage before it finishes in Dec 2028 - amount currently owed - £43,915.98
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,655 Forumite
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    I do it without a qualm, but I know that my bank asks customers not to include these details in emails to them.
  • ChiefGrasscutter
    ChiefGrasscutter Posts: 2,112 Forumite
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    If you are supplying your bank sort code, acc number, address etc for someone to pay you by BACS I would be one preferring that you wrote them down and sent them by email rather than relying on the phone and verbal communication.

    Then in the future when the payment goes "astray" it will be quite clear to all where the fault lies rather than everyone blaming each other about who said what/heard what - assuming you make sure that you check and send the correct info!

    I agree with the other replies so far. Quite normal to supply such details to someone for making direct payments into your account and anyway they appear pre printed on every cheque anyone writes
  • jalexa
    jalexa Posts: 3,448 Forumite
    pmduk wrote: »
    I do it without a qualm, but I know that my bank asks customers not to include these details in emails to them.

    Indeed. But when a bank phones a customer (number witheld) it expects the customer to confirm personal details such as date of birth. Pah.

    I got a call the other day:

    "Hello it's the bank".
    "Oh which bank would that be".
    "That's how we are told to ask" (but still didn't say).
    "In that case please write to my registered address. Goodbye"
  • Joe_Bloggs
    Joe_Bloggs Posts: 4,535 Forumite
    Make sure that those who send you money use the beneficiary /payment reference field. This is often left blank or misused as the use is entirely at the discretion of the payer. Without guidance, the payer cannot provide helpful information to the payee/beneficiary .
    J_B.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
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    If you're worried about putting them all in one e-mail which may be intercepted, split the sort code over 3 e-mails, and divvy the account number up in the same way, and ask the recipient at the other end to piece it together.
  • crazyguy
    crazyguy Posts: 5,495 Forumite
    Agree with Googler,

    However the sort code is not important as far as fraud is concerned so I would send 2 emails with the full details of Name, bank, sort code and half the account number and then a seperate email with the last 4 digits of the account number on.
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,655 Forumite
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    jalexa wrote: »
    Indeed. But when a bank phones a customer (number witheld) it expects the customer to confirm personal details such as date of birth. Pah.

    RBS were very surprised when I did this one day
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
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    Joe_Bloggs wrote: »
    Make sure that those who send you money use the beneficiary /payment reference field. This is often left blank or misused as the use is entirely at the discretion of the payer. Without guidance, the payer cannot provide helpful information to the payee/beneficiary .
    J_B.

    In this case the amount is unique (as in I will not have any other payments into the account anywhere near the region of this figure) and would be apparent where it originated from.
    googler wrote: »
    If you're worried about putting them all in one e-mail which may be intercepted, split the sort code over 3 e-mails, and divvy the account number up in the same way, and ask the recipient at the other end to piece it together.

    Good idea, will do that.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,655 Forumite
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    aliasojo, I'd also note that a response confirming receipt of your new details is not the same as confirmation that the details have been changed. I always ask them to provide written confirmation that they've made the necessary amendments.
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