Bank statement abbreviations
What payment codes and unfamiliar transaction names mean
Spotted an abbreviation or unfamiliar name on your bank or credit card statement? Know your BACS from your CHAPS? This guide explains common UK payment codes and transaction descriptions, plus what to do if you don’t recognise a payment.
Common bank statement jargon explained
The table below explains common codes and references on bank and credit card statements. It isn’t exhaustive, and abbreviations can vary between providers, but most terms are generally shortened in similar ways, so distinguishing between them shouldn't be too difficult.
For instance, Barclays refers to 'Clearing House Automated Payment System' as the acronym CHAPS, while NatWest shows 'CHP'.
If you’re unsure what an entry means, check with your bank or card provider.
Bank statement abbreviations explained
Type a payment code or meaning to see what it usually means.
Codes can vary between banks. These are common meanings. Check the money-in and money-out columns and, if you're unsure, check your bank's own list or contact it directly.
Search the code, its full name or its explanation. Only matching entries will appear below.
No matching entries. Try a shorter code or payment type, or clear the search. If you still can't identify an entry, contact your bank.
Bank statement codes A-Z
Abbreviation | Meaning and explanation |
|---|---|
APR | Annual percentage rate The annual cost of borrowing, including interest and compulsory fees, expressed as a percentage. |
ATM | Automated teller machine A cash-machine transaction, usually a cash withdrawal. |
BAC / BACS | Bacs payment A payment through the Bacs system, often salary, a pension or benefits. Bacs payments use a three-working-day processing cycle. |
BBP / BP | Bill payment A payment to a person or organisation, such as a bill payment or bank transfer. |
BGC | Bank giro credit A credit to your account, such as cash or a cheque paid in at a branch. |
BSP | Branch single payment A bill payment or payment to someone else arranged at a branch. |
CDM | Cash and deposit machine A transaction using a machine that can accept cash or cheque deposits. Some also allow withdrawals and bill payments. |
CHAPS / CHP | Clearing House Automated Payment System A sterling transfer, often for a large or urgent payment. Normally arrives the same working day if sent before your bank's cut-off. |
CHG | Charge A fee charged by your bank. |
CHQ | Cheque A cheque payment. Check whether the money was paid in or taken out. |
COR | Correction An adjustment to correct an earlier transaction. |
CPT | Cashpoint A cash-machine transaction, usually a withdrawal. |
CR / CRE | Credit / credit payment Money credited to your account. A CR beside a balance has a meaning that depends on the account type. |
CSH | Cash A cash transaction. Check the money-in or money-out column for its direction. |
CUI | Centralised unpaid in An entry relating to a cheque that hasn't been paid. |
CWP | Cold Weather Payment A benefit-related cold-weather payment in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Scotland has a separate Winter Heating Payment. |
DD / D/D / DDR | Direct Debit Money a company collects from your account with your permission. Usually recurring, though it can be a one-off payment. |
DEB | Debit card A payment made using your debit card. |
DEP | Deposit Money paid into your account. |
DIV | Dividend A payment from shares you hold. |
DPC | Direct banking by PC A payment or transfer made using online banking. |
DR | Debit / debit balance Can indicate money taken out. Beside an account balance, it can mean you're overdrawn. Check your bank's definition. |
DWP | Department for Work and Pensions A payment from the government department that administers benefits and the State Pension. |
ERTF | Exchange rate transaction fee A card-related foreign-use fee. Check your bank's terms to see which transaction it applies to. |
ESA | Employment and Support Allowance A benefit payment for an eligible person with a disability or health condition that affects how much they can work. |
FP | Faster Payment A bank transfer through the Faster Payments system. Check the money-in or money-out column for its direction. |
FPI | Faster Payment incoming A bank transfer received through the Faster Payments system. |
FPO | Faster Payment outgoing A bank transfer sent through the Faster Payments system. |
IBAN | International Bank Account Number Identifies a bank account for payments, particularly international transfers. It isn't a transaction type. |
IBP | Inter-branch payment A transfer between accounts at different branches of the same bank. |
IMO | International money order An instrument used to make a payment abroad. |
INT | Interest Interest paid to you or charged to your account. |
ISA | Individual Savings Account An account for saving or investing with tax advantages. |
ITL | International An international transfer. Check the transaction details for the destination and currency. |
MPI / MPO | Mobile payment incoming / outgoing A mobile payment received (MPI) or sent (MPO). |
NDC | Non Dividend Counterfoil A credit relating to shares you hold. Ask your bank if you need to identify the underlying payment. |
N-S TRN FEE | Non-sterling transaction fee A fee associated with a transaction in a currency other than pounds. |
OTR | Online banking transaction A transaction made using online banking. |
POC | Post Office Counters A transaction carried out at a Post Office counter. |
POS | Point of sale A card purchase, including a payment in a shop or online. It doesn't necessarily mean you paid in person. |
REM | Remittance On Barclays statements, a cheque credited to your account that was paid in somewhere other than your account-holding branch or bank. |
REV | Reversal A payment reversed or recalled. Barclays uses it for a recalled standing order or Direct Debit. |
SAL | Salary Wages or salary paid into your account. |
SBT | Screen-based transaction A transaction processed by a branch on your behalf. |
SO / S/O / STO | Standing order A regular payment of a fixed amount that you instruct your bank to send. |
TEL | Telephone banking A transaction arranged using telephone banking. |
TFR / TRF | Transfer Money moved between accounts. Check the transaction details to identify the other account. |
TLR | Teller transaction A transaction carried out with a member of staff at a branch. |
UNP | Unpaid An unpaid item, such as a cheque that hasn't been honoured. |
Unknown retailer on your statement?
There are organisations that may leave a mark on your bank, credit card or utility statement by using unique abbreviations that only apply to them or specific products or services.
Similarly, the name you see on your statement may be a company’s registered name, parent company or payment processor, rather than the shop or website you used. Subscriptions may also appear under the company’s name rather than the service you recognise, while the location shown could be its head office.
We've included some terms below that MSE users have specifically searched for in our forum to help identify hard-to-understand abbreviations. As such, any organisations included in the glossary below does not signify an endorsement from MoneySavingExpert.com.
Name or reference on your statement or bill | Organisation or service | What it may relate to |
|---|---|---|
Adyen | Adyen | A purchase or subscription processed for another business. Adyen’s name may appear instead of, or alongside, the retailer’s name. |
B365 / B365 Internet | Bet365 | A payment to the betting and gambling company. |
Cassava Enterprises / Virtual MaSerIRL | 888.com / Wink Bingo | References associated with these gambling services. Check your gambling-account history against the payment. |
CFU | Vodafone – Call Forward Unconditional | A reference on a Vodafone bill relating to calls redirected to another number. |
CI Ltd | Coral | A payment to the betting company Coral. |
DGS/RPP DD / D&G Appliance Plan / Domestic & General | Domestic & General | A payment for an appliance protection, repair or maintenance plan. Check your plan documents to identify which appliance it covers. See our Consumer rights guide. |
ESA | Employment and Support Allowance | A benefit payment for an eligible person whose disability or health condition affects how much they can work. See our Benefits checker. |
GOCARDLESS / GOCARDLESS LTD | GoCardless | A Direct Debit collected for another business or organisation. Its payment lookup tool can help identify who you’re paying. |
JPMC RE PAYPAL | PayPal | A PayPal-related Direct Debit. Check your PayPal activity to identify the purchase or payment it funded. |
NYA / NYA / Nayax* | Nayax | A card payment at a vending machine or another unattended machine using Nayax’s payment system. |
PADDLE.NET* / PAYPAL *PADDLE.NET | Paddle | A purchase or subscription for software or another digital product sold through Paddle. The reference may also include the software company’s name. |
Payforit | Payforit | A payment for third-party services charged through your mobile provider. Some MoneySavers have reported unfamiliar charges. |
PP PHONES / PP ONLINE | Paddy Power | A deposit into a Paddy Power account. PP PHONES identifies deposits made over the phone; PP ONLINE identifies online deposits. |
Qmee | Qmee | A payment associated with the survey and rewards service, which also offers cashback and other earning opportunities. See How to make money online. |
SQ* | Square | A card payment to a business using Square. The seller’s name will usually follow the prefix. |
SUMUP* | SumUp | A payment to a business using SumUp. The business’s name normally follows “SumUp*”. |
WHO Internet | William Hill | A payment associated with William Hill’s online betting service. |
WLY*COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK | Complete Savings | A membership fee for a cashback and discounts service. Other references include See our Complete Savings warning & refund help. |
Zettle | PayPal Point of Sale, formerly Zettle | A payment to a business using this card-payment service. The statement may show the payment service’s name rather than the retailer’s. |
What to do if you don’t recognise a transaction
If you spot a payment you don't recognise, check the amount and date against receipts, order confirmations and subscriptions. Your banking app may also show more transaction details. Our MSE Forum is also useful place to help identify some less common retailer codes, but it doesn’t confirm whether you authorised the payment.
If you still don’t recognise the payment, contact your bank or card provider - do this as soon as possible if you suspect fraud.
You’ll generally be entitled to a refund, though exceptions apply. For unauthorised bank-account payments, you usually need to report the transaction within 13 months. Different rules apply if you were tricked into making the payment yourself.
Why checking your statements matters
There are two main reasons why you should check your bank statements...
Make budgeting easier. Tracking spending via statements is a key step in maintaining a budget. This helps you accurately map your incomings and outgoings over a year, so you can assess whether it balances. See our Budget Planner guide for full information and a free downloadable spreadsheet.
Identify fraudulent transactions. Fraud is often difficult to spot before it's too late. However, never assume an unknown charge on your bank statement is legit. Fraudsters can hit you for large or low amounts, and often favour hard-to-understand jargon to commit their crimes. Grasping bank-statement terms is an effective way of spotting suspicious transactions early.
Thankfully, banks are legally responsible for refunding fraudulent transactions, unless it's proved a customer was grossly negligent. But it's important to check yourself, as unauthorised transactions not identified may never be refunded.
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