Barclays Bank PLC sort codes

Look up a Barclays Bank PLC sort code by branch, city and postcode

A Barclays sort code is the six-digit number — written as three pairs, for example 20-00-00 — that tells the UK payments network which bank and which branch an account belongs to. Every Barclays Bank PLC sort code on this page is listed alongside its registered branch or operations address, city and postcode, so you can confirm a code before you send money, set up a direct debit, or add a new payee. The overwhelming majority of Barclays sort codes begin with 20, a range the bank has used since the days of the "20-" Barclays clearing prefix, with a smaller set of codes in the 22 and 23 ranges.

Where Barclays sort codes are actually registered

Although Barclays serves customers nationwide, most of its sort codes are administered from a handful of central operations sites rather than the high-street branch you visit. Knowing this helps you recognise a genuine code:

• Leicester (LE87 2BB) — the bank's main account-servicing address and by far the most common location attached to Barclays sort codes.
• Poole, Dorset (Barclays House, 1 Wimborne Road, BH15 2BB) — a large processing and account-servicing centre.
• Canary Wharf, London — 1 Churchill Place (E14 5HP) and 5 The North Colonnade (E14 4PU), the corporate and head-office cluster.
• Birmingham (Camden House East, Summer Row, B1 3PF) — the UK Trade Services Centre.
• Northampton (Pavilion Drive) — Barclaycard operations.
• Offshore — Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man (Douglas) and Gibraltar branches each carry their own Barclays sort codes.

Barclays Bank PLC vs Barclays Bank UK PLC

Following UK ring-fencing rules, Barclays splits into two legal entities, and this matters when you verify a code:

• Barclays Bank UK PLC handles everyday personal and small-business current accounts (SWIFT/BIC BUKBGB22).
• Barclays Bank PLC covers corporate, investment and international banking (SWIFT/BIC BARCGB22), registered at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

Both share the familiar 20-range sort codes, so the sort code alone won't always tell the two apart — the SWIFT code and account type will.

What a Barclays sort code does in a payment

When you send a UK transfer, the sort code routes the money through the right clearing scheme. Paired with the eight-digit account number, it directs Faster Payments (instant transfers), Bacs (direct debits and salary payments) and CHAPS (same-day high-value transfers). For payments arriving from abroad, the sort code is embedded inside the account's IBAN, while the SWIFT/BIC identifies Barclays itself.

How to find your own Barclays sort code

• Top-right of a Barclays debit card or in the first set of digits on the account line.
• Top of any paper statement or in the account summary in the Barclays app and Online Banking.
• Printed along the bottom of a cheque, in the middle block of numbers.
• By searching the sort code in the table above to confirm the registered branch and postcode.

Contacting Barclays

For account and payment queries, Barclays UK telephone banking is on 0345 734 5345 (or +44 24 7684 2099 from abroad), available 24/7 for most services. Registered office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. Always confirm a recipient's sort code and account number with them directly before sending a payment.

You might want to find bank of Ireland or Bank of Scotland sort codes.

Barclays sort code FAQs

How many sort codes does Barclays have?

Barclays operates well over 800 active sort codes across its UK and offshore branches and operations centres, the full set of which is listed on this page.

Do all Barclays sort codes start with 20?

Most do. The 20-range is Barclays' historic prefix, though you'll also find codes in the 22 and 23 ranges tied to specific business lines and legacy branches.

What is the Barclays SWIFT code for international transfers?

Use BARCGB22 for Barclays Bank PLC and BUKBGB22 for Barclays Bank UK PLC. The sort code is also carried inside your IBAN for incoming international payments.

Is a Barclays sort code the same as an account number?

No. The sort code identifies the bank and branch; the account number identifies your specific account. You need both to send or receive a UK payment.