Verification of Payee (VOP)

VOP is a new security step for all SEPA and SEPA Instant payments. To avoid delays on the 365 mobile app and 365 online, your payee names need to be right.

VOP will check if the name of the person or organisation you want to pay is an exact match to the name on their bank account. It does this when you add a new payee, make a payment or set up a new standing order. This simple step helps protect you from sending money to the wrong account. VOP will be available from 5 October 2025.

To help this check go smoothly:

• Use the full name of the person you’re paying (not a nickname).
• If you’re paying a business, enter their full legal or trading name.

The payee names you have already set up might not match. Now is the time to check your payee names.

Act now to avoid disruption

We advise you to update your payee names to match the names on their accounts. You can still make payments to your existing payees without updating their names if you are sure they are genuine. However, Bank of Ireland will not be responsible if the payment goes to the wrong person or organisation. If you choose not to update an existing payee name and it does not match the name linked to the account, VOP will always say “Payee name does not match” when you go to pay them. This will happen until you change the name of the payee to their exact account name.

Why matching payee names is important

VOP is a vital step in ensuring your payments are secure, accurate and sent to the right person or organisation. By checking payee details to see if they match before a transaction is completed, VOP helps protect you from fraud, reduces the risk of errors and gives you greater confidence when making payments. This is particularly important if you or the person you are paying is known by a nickname.

Here’s what VOP will tell you:

• VOP responses explained

  Response	What this means	What you can do
  Name and account details match	The name you entered matches the name on the account.	Continue with the request.   Before going ahead, we recommend checking with the payee that the request for payment is genuine.
  Payee name does not match	The name does not match the name on the account.	Stop and check with the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we will not be responsible for your loss.
  Payee name does not match exactly	The name is similar, but not exactly the same. We’ll show you the correct name.	Stop and check with the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we may not be responsible for your loss.   Note: You cannot include more than 22 characters when you add a payee’s name. This might be the reason you get this result. We are working to increase the payee name limit soon.
  Unable to check payee name	The check could not be completed at the time. This could happen for several reasons, including:   The payee’s bank is not part of the SEPA Zone or has not launched VOP. A technical or open banking error.	We strongly recommend that you confirm the name and account details with the payee before continuing.   Contact the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we may not be responsible for your loss.



• Existing payees - Now is the time to check your payee names

  You might have added payees using a nickname. For example, if you saved a payee as “Mum” but the actual name on their bank account is “Jane Smith”, VOP will always say “Payee name does not match” when you go to pay them. This will happen until you change the name of the payee to their exact account name.

  If the name you’ve saved for an existing payee doesn’t match exactly the name linked to the account, you will always get a ‘Payee name does not match’ or ‘Payee name does not match exactly’ response. You can fix this by deleting the payee and adding a new* payee with the correct name.

  *When you add a new payee, there’s a 48-hour window. During this window, the maximum you can send a day is €1,000 or £1,000.



• How do I update my payee names?

  If you set up this payee before 5 October 2025, regularly make payments to them and are certain they are legitimate, you might be happy to go ahead with the payment even if you get a ‘Payee name does not match’ or ‘Payee name does not match exactly’ response. However, Bank of Ireland will not be responsible if the payment goes to the wrong person or organisation. To update a payee name please follow the below steps:

  • Delete the existing payee using the ‘Payments’ and ‘Manage payees’ options. Choose the payee you want to delete. Then tap ‘Delete payee’.
  • Add the payee again, using their existing IBAN details with the updated name, using the ‘Payments’ and ‘Manage payees’ options. Tap ‘Add payee’ and enter the exact payee details.

  Note:

  • When you add a new payee, there’s a 48-hour window. During this time, the maximum you can send a day is €1,000 or £1,000.
  • If either you or a payee have an apostrophe in your name, it will not affect the VOP response. It does not matter if it is included or not. If you’re using an iOS device, you may notice that you cannot use an apostrophe when adding a payee. In this instance, you can either skip the apostrophe (for example, instead of Mary O’Neill, use Mary O Neill) or update the settings on your iOS device. Go to Settings then search ‘Smart Punctuation’ and turn this option off. This should allow you to enter an apostrophe in the payee name field. Alternatively, you can use 365 online on a non-iOS device (for example, a laptop) to add them as a payee with the apostrophe included.

FAQs

Verification of Payee (VOP)

• What is Verification of Payee (VOP)?

  VOP is a new security step in the payment process for all SEPA payments and SEPA Instant payments. VOP will check with the receiving bank that the name you enter matches the name of the person or business associated with the account. It will do this when you add a payee, make a payment or set up a standing order. This will help you to avoid paying the wrong person or business.

• Is it mandatory to complete Verification of Payee (VOP)?

  Yes, under the SEPA regulation, we must carry out VOP for all SEPA payments, SEPA Instant payments and setting up a payee or a standing order.

• When can I submit a Verification of Payee (VOP) request?

  When you add a payee, make a payment or set up a standing order, we will check the name of the payee you have entered matches the account you have included, before you authorise the payment. VOP will be available on 365 online, the 365 mobile app, in our branches and on 365 phone.

• Is it important that people have my correct account details?

  Yes. This means the correct IBAN and your full and correct name. Remember to let people know, if your details change.

• Does it matter if my name or a payee’s name has an apostrophe (‘) in it?

  No, if either you or a payee have an apostrophe in your name, it will not affect the VOP response. It does not matter if it is included or not.

  If you’re using an iOS device, you may notice that you cannot use an apostrophe when adding a payee. In this instance, you can either skip the apostrophe (for example, instead of Mary O’Neill, use Mary O Neill) or update the settings on your iOS device. Go to Settings then search ‘Smart Punctuation’ and turn this option off. This should allow you to enter an apostrophe in the payee name field. Alternatively, you can use 365 online on a non-iOS device (for example, a laptop) to add them as a payee with the apostrophe included.

• Receiving SEPA payments

  When providing your bank details for receiving SEPA payments, always give your full name (not a nickname). If you are a business customer, please provide your legal or trading name.

• Is it important that I have the correct account details for people I want to pay?

  Yes. This means the correct IBAN, and the full and correct name. Check that the request for payment is genuine. Confirm the details directly with someone you know and trust.

• Why matching payee names is important

  VOP is a vital step in ensuring your payments are secure, accurate and sent to the right person or organisation. By checking payee details to see if they match before a transaction is completed, VOP helps protect you from fraud, reduces the risk of errors and gives you greater confidence when making payments. This is particularly important if you or the person you are paying is known by a nickname.

• What happens if I make a payment to the wrong account?

  If you go ahead with a payment, and the name you enter does not match the name associated with the account, we may not be able to recover the money. And we will not be responsible to you for any losses.

• Making a payment to a joint account

  If you’re making a payment to a joint account, VOP will tell you if the name you enter matches at least one of the account holders. We advise you to check the name with one of the account holders, before continuing with the payment.

• Using a third-party provider? Here’s what you need to know

  If you’re using a third-party provider (like a payment app or service) to make a SEPA or SEPA Instant payment, it’s their responsibility to make sure the name you provide matches the account you’re paying.

• When someone sends you a SEPA or SEPA Instant payment, VOP helps confirm your details

  If the sender enters your name, VOP will check it against the name linked to your account. Their bank will then let them know if:

  • The ‘Name and account details match’
  • The ‘Payee name does not match’
  • The ‘Payee name does not match exactly’
  • Or if VOP is ‘Unable to check payee name’ at that moment

  This means it’s important that people have your correct account details. In other words, your IBAN and your full correct name. Remember to let people know, if your details change.

• What are some of the telltale signs of fraud?

  Some telltale signs of fraud are:

  • Changes to account details
  • A sense of urgency to make a payment
  • Somebody advising you to accept a “close match” or “does not match” without verifying
  • A deal that sounds too good to be true.


 

Verification of Payee (VOP) and your existing payees



• Existing payees and VOP

  You might have added payees using a nickname. For example, if you saved a payee as “Mum” but the actual name on their bank account is “Jane Smith”, VOP will always say “Payee name does not match” when you go to pay them. This will happen until you change the name of the payee to their exact account name.

  If the name you’ve saved for an existing payee doesn’t match exactly the name linked to the account, you will always get a ‘Payee name does not match’ or ‘Payee name does not match exactly’ response. You can fix this by deleting the payee and adding a new* payee with the correct name.

  *When you add a new payee, there’s a 48-hour window. During this window, the maximum you can send a day is €1,000 or £1,000.

• How do I update my payee names?

  If you set up this payee before 5 October 2025, regularly make payments to them and are certain they are legitimate, you might be happy to go ahead with the payment even if you get a ‘Payee name does not match’ or ‘Payee name does not match exactly’ response. However, Bank of Ireland will not be responsible if the payment goes to the wrong person or organisation. To update a payee name please follow the below steps:

  • Delete the existing payee using the ‘Payments’ and ‘Manage payees’ options. Choose the payee you want to delete. Then tap ‘Delete payee’.
  • Add the payee again, using their existing IBAN details with the updated name, using the ‘Payments’ and ‘Manage payees’ options. Tap ‘Add payee’ and enter the exact payee details.

  Note:

  • When you add a new payee, there’s a 48-hour window. During this time, the maximum you can send a day is €1,000 or £1,000.
  • If either you or a payee have an apostrophe in your name, it will not affect the VOP response. It does not matter if it is included or not. If you’re using an iOS device, you may notice that you cannot use an apostrophe when adding a payee. In this instance, you can either skip the apostrophe (for example, instead of Mary O’Neill, use Mary O Neill) or update the settings on your iOS device. Go to Settings then search ‘Smart Punctuation’ and turn this option off. This should allow you to enter an apostrophe in the payee name field. Alternatively, you can use 365 online on a non-iOS device (for example, a laptop) to add them as a payee with the apostrophe included.

VOP Outcomes

• What happens if the 'Name and account details match'?

  If the name and IBAN match, you’ll see a message on screen confirming this and reminding you to check with the payee to ensure the request is genuine. When you select ‘Continue’, you’ll be given a chance to review the details of the payee as usual.

  Response	What this means	What you can do
  Name and account details match	The name you entered matches the name on the account.	Continue with the request.   Before going ahead, we recommend checking with the payee that the request for payment is genuine.

• What happens if the 'Payee name does not match'?

  If the name you typed in does not match the IBAN, you’ll see a ‘Payee name does not match’ message on screen. We advise you to check the name with the payee by calling them on a known trusted phone number before continuing with the payee or payment.

  We advise you not to add a payee, make a SEPA payment, or make a SEPA Instant payment, until you have checked the account details. Make certain that they are correct and that the request for payment is genuine. If the name you enter doesn’t match the name linked to the account, or if the receiving bank doesn’t respond to the VOP check, we strongly recommend not going ahead with the payment. If you go ahead with the payment it may be sent to the wrong person or business.

  If you choose to continue despite a warning, we may not be able to recover the money if it goes to the wrong account. We will not be responsible for any losses.

  Response	What this means	What you can do
  Payee name does not match	The name does not match the name on the account.	Stop and check with the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we will not be responsible for your loss.

• What happens if the 'Payee name does not match exactly'?

  If the name you typed in is a close match to the one on the account but not exactly the same, you’ll see a ‘Payee name does not match exactly’ screen. You’ll also see the correct name associated with the account. We advise you to check the name with the payee by calling them on a known trusted phone number before continuing with the payee or payment.

  We advise you not to add a payee, make a SEPA payment, or make a SEPA Instant payment, until you have checked the account details and are certain they are correct and that the request for payment is genuine. We strongly recommend not going ahead with a SEPA payment or SEPA Instant payment, if the name you enter does not match the name associated with the IBAN. If you go ahead with the payment it may be sent to the wrong person or business. We may not be able to recover the money if you do. And we will not be responsible to you for any losses.

  Response	What this means	What you can do
  Payee name does not match exactly	The name is similar, but not exactly the same. We’ll show you the correct name.	Stop and check with the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we may not be responsible for your loss.   Note: You cannot include more than 22 characters when you add a payee’s name. This might be the reason you get this result. We are working to increase the payee name limit soon.

• What happens if Bank of Ireland is 'Unable to check payee name'?

  If for any reason we’re unable to confirm that the name and account details match, you’ll see an ‘Unable to check payee name’ message on screen. This could happen if the receiving bank doesn’t respond, there may be a technical error or you are trying to verify an IBAN that isn’t in scope for VOP. We advise you to check the name with the payee by calling them on a known trusted phone number before continuing to create a payee or make a payment.

  We advise you not to add a payee, make a SEPA payment or make a SEPA Instant payment, until you have checked the account details. Make certain that they are correct and that the request for payment is genuine. If the name you enter doesn’t match the name linked to the account, or if the receiving bank doesn’t respond to the VOP check, we strongly recommend not going ahead with the payment.

  If you choose to continue despite a warning, we may not be able to recover the money if it goes to the wrong account. We will not be responsible for any losses.

  Response	What this means	What you can do
  Unable to check payee name	The check could not be completed at the time. This could happen for several reasons, including:   The payee’s bank is not part of the SEPA Zone or has not launched VOP. A technical or open banking error.	We strongly recommend that you confirm the name and account details with the payee before continuing.   Contact the payee, using a trusted phone number.   If you go ahead with the payment, it may be paid to the wrong person or business, and we may not be responsible for your loss.