What Is a BSB Number and What Is It Used For?

Table of Contents

• What is a BSB Number?
• What is the Format of a BSB Number?
• What is a BSB Number Used for?
• How Do I Transfer Money Using a BSB Number?
• How can I Find a BSB Number?
• BSB Numbers for the Best Banks in Australia
• What is Commonwealth Bank's BSB Number?
• What is ANZ Bank's BSB Number?
• What is NAB's BSB Number?
• What is Westpac's BSB Number?
• What is Bankwest's BSB Number?
• What is Suncorp Bank's BSB Number?
• What is Bank of Queensland's BSB Number?
• What is AMP Bank's BSB Number?
• What is Bendigo Bank's BSB Number?
• What is Beyond Bank's BSB Number?
• What is Macquarie Bank's BSB Number?
• Frequently Asked Questions About BSB Numbers
• Is a BSB Number the same as a bank account number?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a SWIFT Code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a BIC Code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as an IBAN?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a bank code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as an IFSC Code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a UPI ID?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a UTR Number?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a MICR Code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a Sort Code?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a CLABE Number?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a NUBAN Number?
• Is a BSB Number the same as a CNAPS Code?
• Is it Safe to Share a BSB Number?
• Is There an Alternative to BSB Numbers?
• Are BSB Number also used in New Zealand?
• Conclusion

If you are an Australian resident living in Australia or overseas, or a foreigner or expat living in Australia, you have most likely heard of the term BSB Number.

The BSB Number is a critical part of the Australian banking ecosystem, and is important when it comes to moving money around within Australian banks. You will almost always need it to send and receive money in your bank account.

In this article, we will delve into everything you need to know about a BSB Number. From definition to format to how to use BSB Numbers to how to do BSB search, we will cover all the necessary details you need to be aware of.

Let's dive in!

What is a BSB Number?

BSB is the short form of Bank State Branch, and therefore, a BSB Number means a Bank State Branch Number. As you may have already guessed after seeing the long form of the abbreviation BSB, a BSB Number helps to identify a bank branch within a state in Australia.

BSB Numbers are six-digit codes used to identify banks in Australia and are a critical component of moving money within Australia.

In that sense, the BSB number is used as a routing number for electronic funds transfers (EFTs), direct deposits and interbank transfers within Australia.

BSB Numbers are 6 digit codes used to uniquely identify a bank branch in Australia.

When you need to transfer money between two Australian bank accounts, you will need to provide the recipient's bank's BSB Number in addition to other information like their account number.

What is the Format of a BSB Number?

A BSB Number is always six digit long, and written with a hyphen between after the first 3 digits. An example is 063-019.

The six digits within a BSB Number can be broken down into constituent parts as below:

• The first two digits of a BSB Number represent the code of the concerned bank.
• The next digit, i.e., the 3rd digit, represent the Australian state in which the bank is located.
• The last three digits identify the specific branch of the bank.

In this way, you can see that how Bank State Branch information is encoded into a BSB Number with individual digits or groups thereof representing each of those 3 parts.

The digits of a BSB Number represent the bank, state of Australia and the branch code of the bank branch with that BSB Number.

Additionally, this encoding format ensures that every single branch of every bank in Australia gets a unique BSB Number. The absolute uniqueness of the BSB Number is very important as the BSB Number is almost like a fingerprint of every single bank branch in Australia.

Since BSB Numbers are used to route money, their uniqueness is critical for money to reach the correct bank account within Australia.

If you have had exposure to SWIFT Codes, IBAN Numbers or BIC Codes, you will be able to see the parallels the BSB Number has to those bank codes. The global uniqueness of these critical banking codes like a BSB Number is what helps route funds into the correct bank accounts.

Let's take an example.

Commonwealth Bank branch located at 191 Swanson Street, Melbourne, Victoria has BSB Number 063-019, whilst the branch located at 385 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria has BSB Number 063-010. Notice the following:

• Commonwealth Bank Code is 06 as represented by the first two digits of the respective BSB Numbers for both branches.
• The next digit, i.e., 3, represents the state of Victoria in Australia.
• The final three digits represent the respective branch codes for these 2 Commonwealth Bank branches in the city of Melbourne as below:
  • Branch code for the 191 Swanson Street branch is 019.
  • Branch code for the 385 Bourke Street branch is 010.

The below graphic represents the BSB Number format with one of our Commonwealth Bank examples listed below.

Now that we have explained the BSB Number format, let's look into why are BSB Numbers important and how to find them.

What is a BSB Number Used for?

Since a BSB Number is a unique fingerprint for every single bank in Australia, it is highly useful to help route funds to bank accounts in Australia. With the combination of the BSB Number and the account number, funds can be correctly deposited into a recipient's bank account.

This makes BSB Numbers useful for a host of bank transfers in Australian like the below:

• Bank to bank transfers within Australia.
• Direct deposits from your employer in Australia.
• Routing electronic payments in the Australian banking and payments network.

A BSB Number serves to unambiguously identify any bank branch within Australia, and hence prove very useful to move money into the right bank account.

Since a BSB Number uniquely identifies a bank branch in Australia, it is useful for routing money correctly to a bank account.

How Do I Transfer Money Using a BSB Number?

If you need to send money to someone within Australia, or expect to receive funds into your Australian bank account, you will need to use a BSB Number to do so.

If you are sending money, ask your recipient to provide you their bank's BSB Number along with their bank account number and related information.

Similarly, if you are receiving funds into your bank account, provide the sender with your bank's BSB Number and other necessary information.

Make sure to use the correct BSB Number when sending and receiving money within Australia.

The correct BSB Number and account number combination will help ensure that funds get credited into the right account.

How can I Find a BSB Number?

If you need to find your bank's BSB Number, there are several ways to do so; these include the below:

• Check your bank statement: The easiest way to find your bank's BSB Number is by checking your account statement. It should have your bank's BSB Number on it, along with other information about your account.
• Check your debit or credit card: Many banks also list their BSB Number on the back of their debit or credit cards. Check your card to see if your bank's BSB Number is listed there.
• Check your bank's website or mobile app: Most banks have a branch locator on their website or mobile app. You can enter an address or look up branches by city or state. Once you locate the right branch, the bank's site or app will show you the BSB Number for that branch as well.
• Call your bank: In case you are unable to located the BSB Number for your bank using the methods listed above, you can simply call them to ask for their BSB Number.
• Check RemitFinder's free BSB Number search tool: RemitFinder has compiled a comprehensive list of BSB Numbers for various Australian banks, credit unions and financial institutions. Check this free BSB Number lookup page to see if your bank is listed, and if so, click on your bank name to find the BSB Numbers for its branches.
• Use a BSB Search tool: There are several BSB Search tools available on the internet. Most of these BSB Lookup sites will let you enter a bank name or address so you can search their BSB directory and locate your bank's BSB Number.

There are several quick and easy ways to find your bank's BSB Number.

In the next section, we provide you with BSB Numbers for some of the top and best banks in Australia.

BSB Numbers for the Best Banks in Australia

If you have a bank account with some of the top banks in Australia, the chances that you will need to use their BSB Numbers are high. Here are the BSB Numbers for some the largest banks in Australia.

What is Commonwealth Bank's BSB Number?

CommBank's BSB Numbers vary by branch, so there is not a single BSB Number for the whole bank. The bank's BSB Number starts with 06 and will be in the format 06X-XXX.

To look up the Commonwealth Bank BSB Number for your branch, you can use their online branch locator¹.

When you search for Melbourne, for example, you will get a list of all the branches in Melbourne, Victoria. And once you click on your chosen branch, you will see the BSB Number for that branch as per the screenshot below.

Note that the process for BSB search for other banks is similar to the above as most banks have a branch locator available on their website or mobile app.

What is ANZ Bank's BSB Number?

ANZ Bank BSB Numbers also vary by branch, and begin with 01. Hence, they will be in the format 01X-XXX.

What is NAB's BSB Number?

NAB BSB Numbers start with 08, and vary from NAB branch to branch. You can expect NAB's BSB Numbers to look like 08X-XXX.

What is Westpac's BSB Number?

Westpac BSB Numbers vary by branch, and generally start with 03. The BSB Number for your Westpac branch will be in the format 03X-XXX.

What is Bankwest's BSB Number?

BSB Numbers for Bankwest also differ from branch to branch. You can expect a Bankwest BSB Number to be like 30X-XXX since they should start with 30, which is Bankwest's Bank Code.

What is Suncorp Bank's BSB Number?

Suncorp Bank BSB Numbers also vary by branch. Suncorp Bank's BSB Numbers will generally start with 48 (Suncorp's Bank Code) and look like 48X-XXX.

What is Bank of Queensland's BSB Number?

Bank of Queensland also has multiple BSB Numbers that vary across all their branches. BoQ BSB Numbers start with BoQ's Bank Code, which is 12, and will have the following format - 12X-XXX.

What is AMP Bank's BSB Number?

AMP Bank has a few BSB Numbers, and they all start with 93, which is AMP Bank's Bank Code. Therefore, your AMP Bank BSB Number will look like 93X-XXX.

What is Bendigo Bank's BSB Number?

Bendigo Bank BSB Numbers generally start with 63, and vary by branch. Therefore, your Bendigo Bank BSB Number will look like 63X-XXX.

What is Beyond Bank's BSB Number?

Beyond Bank has a single BSB Number that is independent of the branch you have your account in. Beyond Bank's BSB Number is 325-185.

What is Macquarie Bank's BSB Number?

Macquarie Bank has many BSB Numbers for its various branches, and they all start with 18 which is Macquarie Bank's Bank Code. You can expect your Macquarie Bank BSB Number to look like 18X-XXX.

Frequently Asked Questions About BSB Numbers

In this section, we will cover some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about BSB Numbers.

Is a BSB Number the same as a bank account number?

A BSB Number is not the same as your bank account number. The BSB Number uniquely identifies your bank, where your account number uniquely identifies your bank account within your bank.

The combination of the BSB Number and your account number help to uniquely identify your bank account within the Australian banking system. Therefore, if you are planning to receive funds in your Australian bank account, make sure to give the sender both your bank's BSB Number as well as your bank account number.

Is a BSB Number the same as a SWIFT Code?

Even though a BSB Number and a SWIFT Code help route money correctly into the correct bank account within a bank, there is a clear difference between the two.

A BSB Number is unique within Australia, and helps to move money domestically within Australian banks. A SWIFT Code, on the other hand, is a globally unique identifier for a bank, and helps to route funds properly into Australian bank accounts from overseas.

BSB Numbers help route money within Australian banks while SWIFT Codes help route money between international banks.

For example, if someone was sending money from United States to your Australian bank account, you would need to provide them with your bank's SWIFT Code.

On the other hand, if you are receiving funds into your bank account from within Australia, you would need to provide your bank's BSB Number to the sender.

Is a BSB Number the same as a BIC Code?

SWIFT Codes and BIC Codes are very similar to each other, so the same distinction applies between BSB Numbers and BIC Codes as BSB Numbers and SWIFT Codes. See the FAQ above for details.

Is a BSB Number the same as an IBAN?

No, BSB Numbers and International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) are very different from each other.

The first main difference between a BSB Number and an IBAN is that a BSB Number is used to identify a bank whilst an IBAN is used to identify a bank account. Both numbers, therefore, serve different purposes in terms of which entity they represent – a BSB Number represents a bank, while an IBAN represents an account.

The second big difference amongst BSB Numbers and IBANs is the scope of their coverage. BSB Numbers are limited to the Australian banking system, whereas IBANs have international application.

Is a BSB Number the same as a bank code?

A bank code serves to identify a bank as a financial institution amongst others. A BSB Number, on the other hand, serves to identify a particular branch of a bank.

For example, the bank code for Commonwealth Bank within Australia is 06, while the BSB Number for the Commonwealth Bank branch located at 191 Swanson Street, Melbourne, Victoria is 063-019.

Is a BSB Number the same as an IFSC Code?

Both the BSB Number and the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) are similar in the sense that they help identify a particular branch of a bank.

The only difference is that BSB Numbers are used for Australian banks where IFSC Codes are used for Indian banks.

BSB Numbers and IFSC Codes serve similar needs in Australia and India, respectively.

Is a BSB Number the same as a UPI ID?

No, a BSB Number is not the same as a UPI ID. In fact, BSB Numbers and UPI IDs are meant for completely different business needs.

A Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ID in India is a unique identifier for a UPI user within the UPI payment system. UPI is a modern digital payment ecosystem development by the Government of India to streamline mobile cashless payments within the country.

To summarize, a BSB Number uniquely identifies a bank branch in Australia, whilst a UPI ID is meant to uniquely identify a UPI user within the Indian UPI ecosystem.

Is a BSB Number the same as a UTR Number?

BSB Numbers and UTR Numbers are not the same. In fact, both numbers stand for completely different entities in the banking ecosystems within their respective countries, and are used for different use cases.

Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) Numbers are unique transaction IDs for Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) payments made within India. This makes UTR Numbers a great asset to trace any NEFT or RTGS transactions in the country's payment systems.

BSB Numbers, on the other hand, represent unique IDs for Australian bank branches. This is the most important difference between BSB Numbers and UTR Numbers - they both represent disparate banking concepts.

Is a BSB Number the same as a MICR Code?

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is a standard banking protocol that is used in the processing of checks within banks in a country. Generally, MICR Codes are 9-digits long and are printed on the bottom of checks.

MICR Codes are used to help distinguish one bank branch from another. Thus, MICR Codes are similar to BSB Numbers since they serve the same goal - help identify a bank branch.

The primary distinction between BSB Numbers and MICR Codes is in how they are applied and used. BSB Numbers are used to move funds in-between Australian banks, while MICR Codes are used for check routing and processing.

Is a BSB Number the same as a Sort Code?

BSB Numbers and Sort codes are similar yet different.

The similarity in BSB Numbers and Sort Codes is that they both help determine a bank branch uniquely. This helps route money between banks efficiently, fast and without errors.

The difference between BSB Numbers and Sort Codes is that BSB Numbers are applicable in Australian banking system while Sort Codes are prevalent in the UK banking industry.

BSB Numbers and Sort Codes help to uniquely identify bank branches within Australian and British banking systems, respectively.

Is a BSB Number the same as a CLABE Number?

BSB Numbers and CLABE Numbers stand for very different banking entities, hence they are not the same.

BSB Numbers identify a bank branch within Australia, while CLABE Numbers uniquely identify a bank account in Mexico.

Is a BSB Number the same as a NUBAN Number?

BSB Numbers and NUBAN Numbers represent totally different banking concepts, hence they are not the same thing.

BSB Numbers help to uniquely identify a bank branch in Australia, while NUBAN Numbers help to unambiguously identify a bank account in Nigeria.

Is a BSB Number the same as a CNAPS Code?

BSB Numbers and CNAPS Code are similar banking concepts as they both help route money accurately to bank branches within their respective countries, i.e., Australia and China.

Just like BSB Numbers help to uniquely identify a bank branch in Australia, CNAPS Codes are unique IDs of bank branches in China.

Is it Safe to Share a BSB Number?

The answer to this question is both a yes and a no.

Since BSB Numbers are public information and by themselves cannot be used to access your account, it should be safe to share them.

However, by sharing your bank's BSB Number, you are letting them know the exact branch your account is in. This poses a risk - if the other party were to find out your account number, they could use that for potential unauthorized access.

We, thus, recommend that you only share your BSB Number with someone you know and trust. For example, sharing BSB Numbers with your employer for receiving your salary into your account is OK, but sharing it with your neighbor is probably not a good idea.

Use your discretion when sharing your BSB Number and make sure you share it only when absolutely needed, and with parties you trust.

Is There an Alternative to BSB Numbers?

Yes, there is a great alternative to BSB Numbers, and it is PayID. PayID is a unique payment identifier in Australia that can be used to pay individuals as well as businesses.

PayID obviates the need to use BSB Number and your bank account number to receive payments into your account. Simply link your PayID to your bank account and share the same with whoever you wish to receive money from.

This way, the sender can use your PayID to send you the funds, and they do not need to know your bank account information. The funds will directly arrive into your bank account linked to your PayID.

Are BSB Number also used in New Zealand?

BSB Numbers are only used in Australia, and not in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, 16-digit account numbers are used to send money into bank accounts.

These account numbers are in the format XXXXXX YYYYYYY ZZZ with the below breakdown:

• The first 6 digits (XXXXXX) are similar to the BSB Numbers used in Australia and help identify a particular branch of a bank.
• The next 7 digits (YYYYYYY) help identify the bank account in a New Zealand bank.
• The last 3 digits (ZZZ) help identify the type of bank account. For example, if the account is a checking account, savings account, business account, etc.

BSB Numbers are not used in New Zealand. Instead, 16 digit account numbers with BSB Number like information embedded are prevalent in New Zealand.

If you are a New Zealand resident and are planning to receive money from someone, make sure to give them your 16-digit account number in the above format.

Conclusion

If you live in Australia or are planning to send money to someone into their Australian bank account, you will certainly come across the term BSB Number. This is a critical code that you will need to ensure that money reaches the correct destination bank account.

We covered BSB Number format and advantages in this article, and showed you how to look for the BSB Number for your bank. Finally, we also listed BSB Numbers for some of the top banks in Australia.

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References:
1. Commonwealth Bank online branch locator tool