How to Find Your BSB Number: 5 Easy Methods

Why You Need to Know Your BSB Number

Your BSB (Bank-State-Branch) number is one of two essential pieces of information required for receiving domestic bank transfers in Australia. Along with your account number, it tells the sender's bank exactly where to route the payment -- which financial institution and which branch hold your account.

You will need your BSB number when providing payment details to an employer for salary deposits, setting up direct debits for bills, receiving transfers from friends or family, or configuring any recurring payment that draws from or pays into your account.

Fortunately, finding your BSB number is straightforward. Here are five reliable methods, ranging from instant digital lookups to traditional offline options.

Method 1: Check Your Online Banking or Mobile App

The quickest way to find your BSB number is through your bank's online banking portal or mobile app. Nearly every Australian bank displays BSB numbers prominently within account details.

How to do it:

1. Log into your bank's website or open the mobile banking app.
2. Navigate to your account summary or account details page.
3. Select the specific account you need the BSB for.
4. Look for the BSB number, which is usually displayed alongside your account number and account name.

Most banks display the BSB in the standard XXX-YYY format. Some may label it as "BSB," "BSB number," or "branch number."

Banks where this works:

This method works with all major Australian banks including Commonwealth Bank (CommBank app and NetBank), Westpac (Westpac One and online banking), ANZ (ANZ Plus and ANZ app), NAB (NAB app and internet banking), and virtually every smaller bank, credit union, and building society that offers digital banking.

Tips:

• If you have multiple accounts, each may have a different BSB number, particularly if they were opened at different branches.
• For online-only banks like ING or UP, all customers typically share the same BSB number, which you will find in your account details.

Method 2: Look at Your Bank Statement

Your bank statement -- whether printed and mailed to you or available as a PDF download -- will include your BSB number. This is a reliable method if you prefer to work with documents you already have on hand.

How to do it:

1. Find a recent bank statement, either a physical copy or a digital PDF from your online banking.
2. Look at the top of the statement, near your account details.
3. The BSB number is typically printed alongside your account number, account name, and the branch address.

What to look for:

Bank statements usually present the information in a format similar to:

Account Name: John Smith
BSB: 062-000
Account Number: 1234 5678

Some statements combine the BSB and account number into a single line, such as "062-000 1234 5678." The first six digits (with or without the hyphen) are your BSB.

Tips:

• If your statement does not explicitly label the BSB, the six-digit number that precedes your account number is almost always the BSB.
• Digital statements (PDFs) are searchable -- try using Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) and searching for "BSB" to find it quickly.

Method 3: Check Your Chequebook

If you have a chequebook (also spelled "cheque book"), your BSB number is printed on every cheque. While personal cheques are far less common than they once were, some Australians still maintain chequebooks, and they remain a valid source for BSB information.

How to do it:

1. Open your chequebook and look at any cheque -- blank or used.
2. Find the line of numbers printed along the bottom of the cheque.
3. The BSB number appears as the first six digits, typically separated from the other numbers by special symbols or spacing.

Understanding the numbers on a cheque:

The bottom of an Australian cheque contains three sets of numbers printed in a special magnetic ink font (MICR -- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition):

• BSB number (6 digits): Identifies the bank and branch
• Account number: Identifies your specific account
• Cheque number: A serial number for that individual cheque

The BSB number is usually the leftmost set of numbers and may be formatted as XXX-YYY or XXXYYY.

Tips:

• Even if you no longer use cheques, an old chequebook can still provide your BSB number, as long as the account is still active and the BSB has not changed due to a branch closure or bank merger.
• If you are unsure which number is the BSB, cross-reference it with one of the other methods listed here.

Method 4: Contact Your Bank Directly

If you are unable to find your BSB number through digital or paper records, you can always contact your bank and ask. Bank staff can provide your BSB number quickly and confirm that it is current.

How to do it:

• Phone: Call your bank's customer service number. You will find it on the back of your debit or credit card, on your bank's website, or by searching online. After verifying your identity, a representative can provide your BSB number.
• In branch: Visit your local branch with valid photo identification. A teller or customer service officer can look up your BSB number on the spot.
• Live chat: Many banks offer live chat through their website or mobile app. After identity verification, the chat agent can provide your BSB.

Customer service numbers for major banks:

• Commonwealth Bank: 13 2221
• Westpac: 132 032
• ANZ: 13 13 14
• NAB: 13 22 65

Tips:

• Have your account details or identification ready before calling to speed up the verification process.
• If you are calling about a joint account, the bank may need to verify the identity of the primary account holder.
• Branch visits are particularly useful if you need to confirm BSB details for an account that was opened at that specific branch.

Method 5: Use BSBFinder

BSBFinder provides a free, fast, and reliable BSB lookup tool that you can use at any time without needing to log into your bank or locate paper documents.

How to do it:

1. Visit BSBFinder.
2. If you already know your BSB number and want to verify it, enter the six-digit code into the search field. The tool will return the associated bank name, branch address, and other details.
3. If you need to find a BSB number, search by bank name and branch location. BSBFinder will display matching results so you can identify the correct BSB.

When this method is most useful:

• Verifying a BSB before sending money: If someone has given you their BSB and you want to confirm it matches the bank and branch they described, a quick lookup can provide peace of mind.
• Finding a BSB for a branch you bank with: If you know which bank and suburb your branch is in but cannot remember the BSB, a search by location will return it.
• Checking whether a BSB is still active: BSB numbers can change due to branch closures or bank mergers. Looking it up confirms whether the code is current.

Tips:

• BSBFinder's database is regularly updated to reflect changes in the official BSB directory.
• If a BSB number has been decommissioned or redirected, BSBFinder can help you identify the current replacement.

Which Method Should You Choose?

The best method depends on your situation:

For most people, checking online banking is the fastest option. If you need to verify or look up a BSB for someone else's account, BSBFinder is the ideal tool since it does not require any login or account access.

Keeping Your BSB Details Up to Date

Once you have found your BSB number, make sure that anyone who pays you regularly -- such as your employer, government agencies, or billers -- has the correct and current details. If your BSB ever changes due to a branch closure or bank merger, your bank will notify you and typically provide a transition period during which payments to the old BSB are automatically redirected. However, it is good practice to update your details proactively to avoid any potential delays in payment processing.