Banks in India - Find Branches, IFSC, MICR Codes

IFSC Code (Indian Financial System Code?)

It is a 11-digit alphanumeric code that is used for NEFT, RTGS and IMPS fund transfers. IFSC CODE of all banks are assigned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Each code is a unique one and helps in the identification of a specific bank branch.

The first four digits of the IFSC code represents the name of the bank, while the fifth digit is ‘zero’ (0), which is reserved for future use. The last 6 digits denote the name of the specific bank branch. For example, the SBI IFSC code of the SBI bank branch in Indiranagar is SBIN0003301.

IFSC code is mandatory for fund transfers initiated through net banking. To know the IFSC code of a particular bank branch, you can look it up online. This 11-digit code is also printed on the cheque leaf that is issued by the concerned home bank branch.

IFSC code :

• Helps uniquely identify a specific bank branch
• Helps eliminate errors in the fund transfer process
• Used for all electronic payment options such as NEFT, RTGS and IMPS

What is MICR CODE

The full form of MICR is Magnetic Ink Character Recognition technology. The primary need for this innovation is to authenticate the originality and legality of paper based documents in the banking system and is majorly used on cheques. In terms of their real-world importance, MICR stands on par with IFSC where transfer of funds using NEFT or IMPS is concerned.

MICR code imbibes the cutting-edge character recognition technology that is used by banks to authenticate the clearance of cheques and other such documents. MICR code itself can be seen placed on the bottom strip of the cheque and includes such details as the bank code, account details, cheque number and amount, alongside a control indicator. The principal advantage of this system is that unlike similar concepts like barcodes, MICR can be easily distinguished and read by humans.

Check IFSC Code for Top Banks:

First, it is important to understand the terms NEFT and IFSC mean.

National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) is a nation-wide payment system that enables transfer of funds from one account to another without the use of physical cheques or DDs. Under this scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate account. However, both the transferring and receiving branch need to be part of the NEFT system. There are tens of thousands of bank branches that are NEFT-enabled, spread across the country.

IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) is an 11-character code that serves as a unique ID for each bank branch that participates in NEFT. If you have 2 accounts in different branches of the same bank, each branch will have a different IFSC number. You need the IFSC number of your bank branch and the beneficiary branch in order to conduct a NEFT transaction.

How does the NEFT system operate?

You need to fill an application form at your bank, providing details of the beneficiary (like name of the beneficiary, name of the bank branch where the beneficiary has an account, IFSC of the beneficiary bank branch, account type and account number) and the amount to be remitted. The application form will be available at the originating bank branch where you have an account. On the form you authorize your bank branch to debit your account and remit the specified amount to the beneficiary’s bank account.

If you have net banking facilities, you can carry out the funds transfer request online, without even going to the branch to fill out the form. There is a small fee depending on the amount that is being transferred. The beneficiary does not have to pay any fee.

The NEFT system can also be used to pay credit card bills and loan EMIs. You will need to quote the IFSC of the beneficiary bank when initiating the transaction.

What are the advantages of using NEFT?

NEFT is safe, easy and quick.

• You need not send the physical cheque or Demand Draft to the beneficiary.
• The beneficiary need not visit his / her bank for depositing the cheque/DD.
• There is no chance of any loss of the physical cheque/DD or of any fraudulent encashment.
• Confirmation of credit by SMS or email.
• You can initiate an online NEFT request from home/work at your convenience without having to go to your bank during working hours.

IFSC and RTGS are two separate, though linked, terms.

IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) is an 11-character code. It is a unique ID for each bank branch that participates in inter-bank electronic funds transfer in the country. If you have accounts in 2 branches of the same bank, each branch will have a different IFSC number.

RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) is a system of electronic funds transfer in India. You need the IFS code of the originating and destination branch in order to initiate an RTGS transaction. RTGS is primarily used for large value transactions as the minimum amount is a few lakhs, while there is no upper limit.

RT (Real Time) refers to continuous processing of fund transfer order as soon as the instruction is received (and not done at a later time), while GS (Gross Settlement) means that each transaction is processed individually and not bundled with other transactions. The beneficiary bank has to credit the beneficiary s account within 30 minutes of receiving the funds transfer message.

For a funds transfer to go through RTGS, both the sending bank branch and the receiving bank branch have to be RTGS enabled. There are more than 110,000 RTGS–enabled branches across 30,000 towns and talukas in India and where you can find a list of participating branches.

In order to initiate an RTGS remittance, you need to furnish the following details to the bank:

• Amount to be remitted
• Remitting customer’s account number which is to be debited
• Name of the beneficiary bank and branch
• The IFSC Number of the receiving branch
• Name of the beneficiary customer
• Account number of the beneficiary customer

IMPS stands for Immediate Payment Service. It is an inter-bank electronic payment system in India and transactions can be initiated online (through net banking) or on phone (through mobile banking.) You can send and receive money between any two accounts in participating banks. The funds are credited instantly - as compared to physical cheques which can take some time to clear and for the funds to be credited to the account.

IFSC stands for Indian Financial System Code. It is an 11-character code (containing both letters and numbers) that serves as a unique ID for each and every branch that participates in electronic funds transfer in the country. You need to know the IFS code of the branch of the account you are sending funds to.

What is the advantage of using IMPS?

The advantage of using IMPS is that it is open for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including Sundays and bank holidays. Some banks charge a nominal fee for using IMPS depending on the amount to be transferred. IMPS is instant and in real time (i.e. your order is processed as soon as you initiate it, rather than being bundled with other transactions.)

Does your beneficiary also have to register for IMPS?

If you are using IMPS online with your beneficiary’s account number and IFSC number, then your beneficiary does not have to be registered. If you use IMPS on your phone through mobile banking, then both you and your beneficiary need an MMID (Mobile Money ID). MMID is a 7 digit code that links a customer’s mobile number to his/her bank account, to ensure safety in case you enter a wrong mobile number for the beneficiary.

There are two ways of finding the IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) for any bank-branch in India:

1. All participating bank branches will have a list of the IFSC Codes of the branches, bank-wise.

Additionally, all participating banks are advised by the RBI to print the IFS code of the branch on the cheque leaf as well as in the passbook and statement of account sent to the customer.

IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) is a unique identity for every bank-branch in India that participates in inter-bank electronic funds transfer in the country. It is an 11-character alphanumeric code that identifies every single bank branch that is part of one of the two main electronic funds transfer systems in the country.

The format of the code is as follows:

The first 4 letters represent the bank name;

the fifth character is 0 (for future use);

the last six characters (numbers or letters) represent the individual branch.

The IFS Code is a pre- requisite for any transaction on the two main electronic funds transfer systems operational in India – RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) as well as IMPS (Immediate Payment System).

A lot of the above discussions have centered on the common bank cheque. This mainstay of the banking world is an amalgamation of a number of components that help to authenticate its genuinity and allow us to attach our complete faith in its applicability. The primary components of a typical bank cheque are illustrated as follows,

Find IFSC Code in a Bank Cheque:On a typical bank cheque, the IFSC code is compulsorily listed though the location of the same on the cheque leaf will differ from bank to bank.
In our example image: we are displaying the location of the IFSC code on a HDFC Cheque.

Locating Cheque Number: Displayed in a typewritten font at the bottom of the cheque in special font style. This is primarily used for tracking the cheque and for other administrative purposes.

Find MICR Code in a Bank Cheque: This is displayed next to the cheque number on cheques offered by all banks in India.

Both Cheque number and MICR Code are displayed in a unique font and ink, and the latter can only be picked up by a Magnetic Character Ink Reader.

Transferring money electronically with the help of IFSC code isn’t as hard as it seems. In reality, it’s quite simple once you have set it up. In this page, we will deal with transferring money through various modes with the help of IFSC Code.

• Through an app:

Smartphone apps are literally everywhere these days. Want food, order it through an app and you will get your delivery within a few minutes. Want groceries, order them through an app and have them delivered within the same day. This way, our day-to-day life has integrated itself with apps and you can use one to transfer funds to a beneficiary.

Here’s how you can do it in a few basic steps. To do this however, you need to have your net banking system activated for your account.

• Download the net banking application of your bank. It can be found in Google Play Store or any other app stores in other OS-based phones.
• Open the app, enter the credentials like your customer ID and password to gain access to your account.
• Now choose ‘Transfer funds through NEFT’. In case, you haven’t already added the beneficiary, you should register them for future transactions. To do this, you will need to type in the IFSC code, bank account number, and the bank branch. Once you are done submitting this form, it take anywhere between 5 minutes to 12 hours, depending on your bank’s policy for the beneficiary account to be activated. After waiting for the stipulated hours, you can now instantly transfer money to a different account with a buffer of less than an hour.

That thing you thought was obsolete can actually help you transfer money if you have the IFSC code. Here’s how you can do so with an SMS.

To be able to do this though, you need to have registered your phone number for mobile banking by linking it to your bank account. If you are registering for the first time, you need to fill a form after which you will receive a starter’s kit which will include an MMID (a unique 7 digit number) and mPin. This kit you receive is similar to the one you get with your debit card.

Sending the money through this is quite simple. First you need to compose an SMS and type in IMPS, followed by the beneficiary’s account number, IFSC, and the amount you want to send. After confirming the transaction, you will receive a message wherein you have to type in your mPin. Press okay after entering the pin and you will have successfully transferred the money.

These are the two of the simplest ways through which you can electronically transfer money with the help of an IFSC code.

NEFT, RTGS and IMPS are all electronic funds transfer systems in operation in the country. All three systems ensure speedy, safe and convenient transfer of funds between accounts within the country. Instead of using physical instruments like cheques or DDs, these electronic payment systems allow you to transfer money without the danger of loss or fraudulent encashment of cheques. It is a far quicker and more convenient way to transfer money, especially if you have access to online/mobile phone banking facilities. NEFT and RTGS were introduced around 20 years ago, while IMPS was introduced in 2010.

Below is a comparison of the three systems in key categories: