RING-FENCING, NATIONAL COUNTIES BUILDING SOCIETY AND YOU

Why is National Counties Building Society’s account number and sort code changing?

You may have already heard that following the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government put reforms into place for banks to separate corporate and private customers. This is known as ‘ring-fencing’. This means our sort code and account numbers are changing because, as a financial institution, our clearing bank needs to move the National Counties Building Society to their corporate division. As a result, we have been issued with a new account number and sort code.

Will ring-fencing affect me as a National Counties Building Society customer?

No. This will not have any impact on any of the accounts you hold with the National Counties Building Society.

What do I have to do?

If you wish to make payments into your National Counties Building Society savings account(s) via standing order, Faster Payments and/or transfer money online from your bank account into your National Counties Building Society account, you will need to change the existing National Counties Building Society account number and sort code. While we will be able to accept payments using the existing account well into 2018, these will need to be changed by 1 January 2019. That’s why we recommend you contact your bank or building society to update the payment details you use to send payments to us at you earliest convenience.

Our new bank account details are:
Sort code, 40-02-50 and account number: 21397400

What payment methods are affected by these changes?

These changes will affect you if you use one or more of the following options to pay into your National Counties Building Society savings account(s):

(i) Standing order
(ii) Faster Payments
(iii) Transfer money online from your bank account(s) into your National Counties Building Society account(s)

I have a mortgage with you. Do I need to make any changes?

No. Mortgage customers with an existing direct debit do not need to take any action – your payment will be redirected to us automatically.

I want to make an overpayment on my mortgage. How do I do that?

If you would like to make overpayments on your mortgage as a separate arrangement to your existing direct debit, you will need use the new account details above.

I have a direct debit paying into my National Counties Building Society savings account, what do I need to do?

If you have a direct debit being paid into your National Counties Building Society account, you do not need to take any action as payments made via this method will be automatically redirected to the correct account.

I use Faster Payments and think my bank has swapped the National Counties Building Society details automatically?

Some banking providers may have redirected your Faster Payment to the National Counties Building Society new account details automatically. You may also see, when using internet banking that the National Counties Building Society account number has changed to the new details, which are sort code, 40-02-50 and account number 21397400. This is entirely normal and you do not need to make any further amendments to your payment instructions.

What happens if I make a payment to the old account details?

Until 1 January 2019 all payments will be automatically redirected to the correct account number and sort code. After this date, this will stop so we recommend that any standing orders, online transfers and Faster Payments are changed at your earliest convenience.

I have a monthly saver account with National Counties Building Society, how do I amend your bank details on my payment?

If you make payments by direct debit you are not required to make any changes. If you make payments by standing order or Faster Payment you need to contact your bank or building society who make the payment on your behalf, and request that they use our new bank sort code and account numbers.

Will my National Counties Building Society payee reference number be changing too?

No. Your payee reference number will remain as before. The 10 digit number for savings accounts begins with a 2 or 5 for a mortgage account.

What reference should I put on my standing order or Faster Payment?

You should only use your National Counties Building Society payee’s reference number. This 10 digit number begins with a 2 for a savings account or 5 for a mortgage account. You do not need to include any other reference.

Are my own savings/mortgage account numbers changing?

No. Your own account numbers for both savings and mortgages will stay the same.

I have a standing order set up from my bank to pay into my National Counties Building Society account(s): do I need to change this?

Yes, you will need to amend the receiving bank sort code and account number by 1 January 2019. After that date, this will stop so we recommend that any standing orders, online transfers and Faster Payments are changed at your earliest convenience.

I regularly transfer money to my National Counties Building Society account online: will my internet banking be affected?

It is possible when using internet banking that you will see the new account number displayed. Some banks may automatically change to the new National Counties Building Society account details, whilst others may not. I’m going to use internet banking to transfer money to my National Counties Building Society account(s) for the first time.

I'm going to use internet banking to transfer money to my National Counties Building Society account(s) for the first time. What Family Building Society account details should I use?

If you are using internet banking to send funds to an account you hold with the Family Building Society for the first time you should use the new account details.

I use internet banking frequently to transfer money into my National Counties Building Society account(s). Should I change the National Counties Building Society account details manually online or will these change automatically?

This will depend on your banking provider. You can change the National Counties Building Society account details by logging into your internet banking account and changing the outgoing payment details to the new sort code and account number.

Alternatively, you can contact your banking provider directly for more information. Some banking institutions will automatically redirect payments to the new National Counties Building Society account number and sort code.

If I send money to your existing account details by mistake, will it delay my payment so I would lose out on interest?

You will not lose out on interest should you make a payment to the old account, unless it is after 1 January 2019 when the payment will not be able to be processed.

If somebody pays into my savings account using the old account by mistake, will you be able to redirect the money into my account or would you have to return the funds to them to re-send?

Any payment made to our old bank account and sort code will automatically redirect to the correct account until 1 January 2019. After this time any payments into the old account details will not be processed and will be returned to their bank or building society account.

I have been given a brochure/application form/leaflet which still shows the old account information.

We will be phasing in the new sort code (40-02-50) and account number (21397400) across all our printed and online materials during 2018. For the time being, you may come across the existing account details.

Have a question?

If you have any questions, please let us know by contacting us at:

Savings Service Team
Tel: 03300 243411
Email: savings.service@ncbs.co.uk

Mortgages Service Team
Tel: 03300 243412
Email: mortgage.service@ncbs.co.uk

Online Banking Support
If you are a savings customer and need help with our Online Banking Service, please call our dedicated Online Banking Support team on 03300 243406.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5:30pm; Saturday: closed.

To find out more about ring-fencing, please visit:

Bank of England

FCA