Address, Postcode and Bank solutions
This feature is used to validate account numbers and to transcribe non-standard account numbers. It helps eliminate errors in capturing these numbers by checking the format and the check digits that are included in these numbers. You can select this from the Validate Account option on the View Menu.
Enter the Sort Code, and then the Account Number and click Validate to check if the number is valid. One of the following responses will appear below the 'Validate' button:
| Text | Meaning |
| Account Number Valid | This means the Account Number has been correctly validated. Text will also appear to indicate if this account is on the UK (BACS) clearing system, Irish (ISPO) clearing system, or both clearing systems. This helps you direct payment to the correct system if you are able to process both but have to treat them differently. |
| Invalid Sort Code | The Sort Code entered is not in a valid format (It should be in the format XXXXXX, XX-XX-XX, or XX XX XX where X is a digit) |
| Sort Code Not Recognised | The Sort Code does not exist in the BACS database - check it has been entered correctly. |
| Validation Not Available | No validation is available for this sort code, you should therefore check the number carefully and accept it. |
| Invalid Account Number | The Account Number is invalid |
On leaving the Sort Code field the sort code will be looked up for you. You may like to check the expected Branch and Bank Name is displayed in the list to further verify the sort code. For more information about the branch that the account is held with and the types of processing it accepts, select the appropriate branch (if there is more than one on that sort code) and refer to the bank details which can be obtained from the View menu.
On validating the sort code/account number non-standard account numbers will also be transcribed into the format required by BACS for processing and the Sort Code and Account Number fields will be updated to reflect any transcribing that has taken place. The Type Of Account Code field is usually set to zero, but for some account number translations will be a single digit value required for submission to BACS along with the translated account number.
Example fictitious (but not guaranteed not to exist) account numbers that pass validation:
774814 24782346
308475 37475850
600849 98237438
010090 2384939230
301539 374742Important Considerations
Many customers use AFD BankFinder to validate bank address, account and sort code information - for example in relation to Standing Orders and Direct Debit mandates. It is very important that unless you have access to the Irish Payment Services Organisation for clearing your banking transactions, you DO NOT use BankFinder to validate against Irish data!To switch off Irish data from the AFD BankFinder main window, go to the File menu and select Properties. Then select the 'UK Banks Only (BACS Clearing)' option.
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Visa Delta
- Visa UK Electron
- Visa Purchasing
- American Express
- Switch
- Switch & Maestro (combined)
- Maestro
- Solo and Maestro (always combined)
- JCB
This feature is used to validate debit/credit card numbers. It helps eliminate errors in capturing these numbers by checking the format and the checksums that are included in these numbers. You can select this from the Validate Card option on the View Menu.
Enter the Card Number, Expiry Date, and for switch cards the Issue Number and click Validate (or press [Enter]) to check if the number is valid. One of the following responses will appear below the 'Validate' button, the card type will be displayed to the right of this:
| Text | Meaning |
| Card Number Valid | This means the Card Number has been correctly validated. |
| Invalid Expiry Date | The expiry date is not in the expected format (MM/YY) |
| Card Expired | The expiry date has passed - check it has been entered correctly, or use another card |
| Invalid Card Number | The Card Number entered was invalid (incorrect length or checksum) - check it has been entered correctly |
| Unrecognised Card | The number is valid for a card but it could not be fully validated as it is not of any of the recognised types (listed below) |
| Visa card valid for use in ATM machines only | The number is a valid Visa number but the card is only valid for use in ATM machines and not for electronic processing. |
The recognised card types are:
Example fictitious (but not guaranteed not to exist) card numbers that pass validation:
6759600849982374380
4483744738463
5155744836273941
374837283647389
4903005748392742
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