Clients in London, a supplier in Manchester, a contractor in Edinburgh: many businesses and freelancers deal with the United Kingdom without ever setting foot there. Getting paid in sterling on a foreign account means international transfer fees and delays. A UK account with local coordinates solves that, and residency is not a condition.
Sort code and account number
In the United Kingdom, an account is identified by a six-digit sort code and an eight-digit account number. These are the details your clients, employer or suppliers use to pay you, and they work with every UK bank and payment app. iSwiss Pay opens the account in your name, for private individuals and companies, after identity verification.
The three UK rails
- Faster Payments: the everyday UK network for sterling transfers.
- CHAPS: the same-day system for high-value payments.
- BACS: the scheduled network, typically used for salaries and regular payments.
All three are available on the account. In practice, most transfers you receive will arrive through Faster Payments.
Euro on the same account
The UK account also sends and receives euro through SEPA. If you work with both British and European clients, one account covers both currencies, each on its own rails.
The limit to know
This account does not use SWIFT. For international transfers in currencies other than sterling and euro, use the US dollar account, which has SWIFT.
Who it is for
- Companies invoicing UK clients that want to be paid locally in sterling.
- Anyone paying UK suppliers or staff.
- People who hold sterling and euro and want both in one place.
Residency in the United Kingdom is not required. Accounts are opened after identity verification and are subject to our compliance policy.