What is NameCheck?

NameCheck is a security tool that searches the account details you’ve entered when making a first-time payment in NetBank, the CommBank app or CommBiz. Based on our available payment data, NameCheck will then indicate whether the account details look right. For example, if we’ve never seen an account name used for a particular BSB and account number, we’ll prompt you to take further steps to help ensure you’re paying the intended recipient.

What is NameCheck?

NameCheck is a security tool that searches the account details you’ve entered when making a first-time payment in NetBank, the CommBank app or CommBiz. Based on our available payment data, NameCheck will then indicate whether the account details look right. For example, if we’ve never seen an account name used for a particular BSB and account number, we’ll prompt you to take further steps to help ensure you’re paying the intended recipient.

Why NameCheck?

  • NameCheck is designed to help our customers avoid false billing scams and mistaken payments.

    An account name that doesn’t match an account can be a sign of a false billing scam. Also known as a business email compromise, this occurs when a scammer hacks into a business’ email account and redirects existing payment requests, or initiates new falsified payment emails.

    On the other hand, a mistaken payment occurs when you enter incorrect account details by making a typo, or you’ve been given the wrong information.

    Now when you make a first-time payment in NetBank, the CommBank app or CommBiz, NameCheck will search the account details you’ve entered for typos and possible signs of a scam. If things don’t look right, we’ll prompt you to check the account details and speak with the intended recipient – helping reduce the risk of mistaken payments and false billing scams.

How does NameCheck work?

NameCheck uses advanced algorithms to review the account details you entered against our available payment information. It then gives you one of five results to indicate the likelihood that the account name matches the account: 

The five possible results are: "The account name you entered seems to match the account", "warning: The account name doesn't seem to match the account", There's a different name more commonly used for this account", "We haven't seen enough payments to indicate if the account details look right", or "warning: BSB and account number not found"


Each result comes with an explanation along with prompts on what you should do next if things don’t look right. Keep in mind the results of NameCheck are based on our available payment information, which means we’re unable to confirm whether the name and account are an absolute match.

FAQs

NameCheck reviews the account details and gives a view on the likelihood that the name and account details match based on our available payment data. It then shows you one of five possible results.

If the results indicate that the account details don’t look right, we’ll prompt you to check the account details and speak with the intended recipient.

NameCheck will accept some names that are similar to other names that we’ve seen used for the account.

For example, if you enter ‘Jess’ instead of ‘Jessica’ for the account name, it will indicate that the name seems to match the account.

You can view the results after you add a new payee and search their account details in NetBank, the CommBank app or CommBiz. The results of NameCheck are also shown when making a first-time payment to a payee that’s already in your address book.

No. NameCheck only applies to first-time payments made using a BSB and account number. A PayID already shows the actual name of the registered person or business.

No. NameCheck is based on our available payment information, which means we’re unable to confirm that the name and account are an absolute match.

A name that doesn't match an account can be a sign of a scam. You should speak to the payee to check it's really them requesting the payment and confirm the BSB and account number. Or, there could be a typo - check the BSB and account number you've entered are correct.

We will resolve this issue by making an update to NameCheck soon. While it’s important to use exactly 6 digits for BSB numbers, any zeros at the start of an account number don’t make a difference when making payments. If you're confident you've entered the correct BSB and account number, rest assured the payment will go through regardless of how many zeros you include at the start of the account number, as long as the total length is 9 digits or less.

No. In CommBiz, NameCheck will review the bank account details you’ve entered for payments to first-time payees using Direct Credit (for a single payee only), Priority Payment, Fast Payment and Import File (Direct Credit payments for files with up to 50 payees only).

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