How to Find IFSC Code from Account Number

Banks in India use IFSC to route transactions between their own different branches via NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS. You can't search for an IFSC code using only an account number, since both are separate unconnected data. Here's what IFSC is and how to find it securely.

Key Takeaways

• You cannot find IFSC Code from only the account number as it relates to a particular branch.
• The RBI website and downloadable NEFT lists give the most trusted way to check the correct code.
• Passbook, cheque book, net banking and mobile app also show the IFSC Code clearly.
• Wrong IFSC can delay money or send it to the wrong account in rare cases.
• IFSC Code and MICR Code are both fundamentally different from each other and cannot replace each other.

What Is an IFSC Code?

IFSC means Indian Financial System Code. This code has 11 characters that mix letters and numbers. The Reserve Bank of India creates one special code for each bank branch that handles online money movement.

Look at the parts of the code:

A complete code can read like ABCD0123456. This IFSC Code tells the NEFT, RTGS and IMPS systems which exact branch should receive the money. The transfer will not land correctly without the proper IFSC Code.

Why Isn't the IFSC Code Linked to the Account Number?

Each bank decides how to build its own account numbers. A few banks put branch information inside the number. Most do not. The IFSC Code always belongs to the whole branch and never to one single customer.

Assume your account number is the number on a house. The IFSC works like the PIN code of the bank branch. One branch looks after many accounts at the same time, so the same IFSC covers every account there. When you change your bank account to a different branch, your account number may remain the same.  The IFSC still changes. That is why no official tool can pull an IFSC out of an account number by itself.

How to Know IFSC Code from Account Number?

Here's the thing people often get wrong: an account number alone won't tell you the IFSC. There's no lookup that works that way. What you actually need is the bank and the branch. For that, RBI's website is your best way to find it.

Head to rbi.org.in/Scripts/IFSCMICRDetails.aspx. Pick your bank from the dropdown, then the state, then the district or city, then the branch. Once you do that, the IFSC and the branch address show up right there.

There's also another option. RBI publishes complete NEFT branch lists with every code included, and you can download these from the same site. It's a bit more manual since you have to scroll through and find your own bank and branch, but it works if the search tool is acting up.

Find an IFSC Code on a Cheque Book?

Firstly, if you have a chequebook at hand, this is probably the easiest way to find your IFSC. It can be found at the upper corner near the MICR code on the cheque, and it's an 11-digit code that is the same for all cheques from a particular branch. This is also the code you should use for transferring funds to this particular account.

Find an IFSC Code Through Net Banking?

Sign in to your bank internet banking with the usual user ID and password. Open the account summary or the account details page. The IFSC sits next to your account number and branch name. Some banks also display it on the screen where you add a new beneficiary.

Find an IFSC Code Using Mobile Banking?

Launch the official mobile app of your bank and log in. Look under the account overview or the profile area. The IFSC shows up along with the rest of the account information. You can also spot it when you add a payee or check branch details inside the app.

When Do You Need an IFSC Code?

The code is required whenever money travels online from one bank to another. For examples:

• Sending or receiving money with NEFT, RTGS or IMPS
• Adding a new beneficiary inside net banking or a mobile app
• Arranging salary credits, pension payments or government benefits

Payments made through a simple mobile number or a UPI address do not require an IFSC code. A transaction done by entering only an account number and a branch needs an IFSC.

Does the IFSC Code Ever Change?

It can, yeah. The code belongs to the branch, not to you or your account, so anything that changes the branch changes the code too. Maybe you switched to a different branch. Maybe your bank moved locations. Or maybe two banks merged and RBI handed out new codes as part of that. Whenever this happens, you'll get a new chequebook and passbook reflecting the update. So don't assume the code you used last year is still valid, especially if you're about to move a decent amount of money.

What if You Enter the Wrong IFSC Code?

If you have accidentally used the wrong IFSC to make a payment, there are some factors to consider. In case you have used an IFSC code from another branch of the same bank, but the account number is correct, the money should arrive safely. If you have used another bank's IFSC code, it should be returned within 1-2 business days. However, there are cases where another bank has an account with the same account number as yours, and the money will be sent there instead. It is necessary to contact such a person and ask him to return the money, and also expect some banks' assistance in this process. So, double-checking the IFSC code is always a safe idea, and it shouldn't take more than two minutes.