IFSC Code
The Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) is an 11-character alphanumeric code that identifies bank branches participating in NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS electronic payment systems. Assigned by the Reserve Bank of India.
At a glance
Country
India
Identifier
IFSC
Format
11 characters
Used for
Domestic transfers
Format breakdown
SBIN
Bank Code
1–4
Bank identifier (e.g. SBIN = SBI)
0
Reserved
5
Always 0
002345
Branch Code
6–11
Branch identifier
How IFSC works
The first four characters are alphabetic and identify the bank, the fifth character is always 0 (reserved for future use), and the last six characters identify the specific branch.
Where to find yours
On your cheque leaf, passbook, bank statement, or the RBI website. Also available in your net banking portal.
Payment systems in India
| System | Speed | Description |
|---|---|---|
| UPI | Instant | Mobile payments via apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm |
| IMPS | Instant | Immediate Payment Service, 24/7, up to ₹5 lakh |
| NEFT | Under 2 hours | Half-hourly batch settlement, no upper limit |
| RTGS | Under 30 minutes | Real-time for transfers above ₹2 lakh |
Major banks in India
Good to know
UPI transfers use a VPA (like name@upi) instead of IFSC — but IFSC is still needed for NEFT/RTGS.
The fifth character is always 0. If it is not, the IFSC code is invalid.
After bank mergers, old IFSC codes may be remapped — always verify with your bank.
Related tools
Other countries
Frequently asked questions
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