Bank Statement Abbreviations: 150+ Codes Explained

Every bank statement is full of abbreviations and codes that are never explained. The codes vary between banks and countries, making them difficult to look up.

This guide covers over 150 bank statement abbreviations used in the US, UK, and Australia. Use the category sections below to find the code you are looking for, or search the page with Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac).

Transaction Types

General codes that describe the nature of a transaction.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
ACH	Automated Clearing House	Electronic transfer between US bank accounts. Used for direct deposits, bill payments, and recurring transfers.
BACS	Bankers' Automated Clearing Services	UK electronic payment system for transfers like salaries and bill payments. Takes up to three working days to clear.
BAC	Automated Credit	Automated credit transfer received through the BACS network.
CHAPS	Clearing House Automated Payment System	UK same-day electronic transfer system for high-value payments such as property deposits. Also appears as CHP.
DD	Direct Debit	Recurring payment where a business collects money from your account under an agreed mandate. Amount can vary. Also appears as D/D or DDR.
EFT	Electronic Funds Transfer	General term for any electronic movement of money between accounts.
FPI	Faster Payments Inwards	Money received via the UK Faster Payments system. Near-instant transfers. Also appears as FP.
FPO	Faster Payments Outwards	Money sent via the UK Faster Payments system.
GIRO	Giro Transfer	Payment linked to the bank giro system, often for regular bill payments.
IBP	Inter-Branch Payment	Transfer between accounts at different branches of the same bank.
NEFT	National Electronic Funds Transfer	Electronic transfer system used in India and some other regions.
PAY	Payment	General outgoing payment.
PDD	Pre-Authorised Direct Debit	A direct debit that was set up and authorised in advance of the first collection.
POS	Point of Sale	Purchase made with a debit or credit card at a shop, online retailer, or merchant terminal.
RMT	Remittance	Money sent as a payment or transfer, often to another person or country.
RTP	Real Time Payment	Instant transfer processed through a real-time payment network.
S/O	Standing Order	Regular payment of a fixed amount that you set up to go out on a specific date. Unlike direct debits, you control the amount. Also appears as SO or STO.
SBT	Screen Based Transaction	Transaction processed through online or digital banking on your behalf by a bank branch.
TEL	Telephone Banking	Transaction carried out through the bank's telephone banking service.
TFR	Transfer	Money moved between accounts. Also appears as TRF or XFER.
TLR	Teller Transaction	Transaction carried out in person with a bank teller at a branch.
OTR	Online Transaction	A transaction carried out through online or internet banking.

Credits and Deposits

Codes indicating money coming into your account.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
BGC	Bank Giro Credit	Cash or cheque deposited at a bank branch or post office using a giro slip.
BSP	Branch Single Payment	A one-off bill or third-party payment made at a bank branch.
CR	Credit	Money deposited into your account. Also appears as CRED or CRE.
DEP	Deposit	Money paid into your account over the counter, through the post office, or by another accepted method.
DIV	Dividend	Payment received from shares or investments you hold.
DWP	Department for Work and Pensions	Payment from the UK government department that handles benefits and pensions.
INC	Incoming Transfer	Funds received into your account. Also appears as IN.
NDC	Non Dividend Counterfoil	Payment from shares held, documented without a dividend counterfoil.
SAL	Salary	Wages or salary paid into your account by your employer.
PAYR	Payroll	Payment processed through a payroll system.
REF	Refund	Money returned to your account after a previous payment was reversed or refunded.

Debits and Withdrawals

Codes indicating money leaving your account.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
BBP	Bill Payment	Payment made to settle a bill. Also appears as BP.
DBT	Debit	Money withdrawn or charged from your account.
DR	Debit / Account Overdrawn	Indicates either a debit transaction or that your account balance is below zero.
NWD	Net Withdrawal	Total cash withdrawn after any applicable fees.
OUT	Outgoing Transfer	Money sent out of your account.
PMT	Payment	A payment deducted from your account.
PUR	Purchase	Payment linked to a specific purchase or merchant.
REC	Recurring Payment	A scheduled payment that repeats on a regular cycle.
WDL	Withdrawal	Cash withdrawn from your account via ATM or over the counter. Also appears as WD or WTH.

Fees and Charges

Codes related to bank fees, penalties, and service charges.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
ANF	Annual Fee	Yearly fee charged on an account or service.
BC	Bank Charge	Fee applied for processing transactions or maintaining an account. Also appears as BCF.
CCC	Currency Conversion Charge	Fee charged when a transaction involves converting one currency to another.
CHG	Charge	A fee applied to your account for a banking service.
ERTF	Exchange Rate Transaction Fee	Fee for using a card at a cash machine or point of sale abroad.
FIN CHG	Finance Charge	Charge related to interest or borrowing costs on a credit product.
INTCHG	Interchange Fee	Fee connected to the processing of a card payment, usually between banks.
LATE	Late Payment Fee	Penalty charged when a payment is received after its due date.
MTF	Monthly Fee	Recurring monthly charge for account maintenance or services.
NSF	Non-Sufficient Funds	Fee charged when your account does not have enough money to cover a transaction. The transaction is declined.
N-S TRN FEE	Non Sterling Transaction Fee	Fee for transactions made in a currency other than British pounds.
OD	Overdraft	Fee or indicator showing your account has gone below zero. Also appears as ODFEE.
OSF	Overdraft Service Fee	Service fee for managing an overdrawn balance.
SERV CHG	Service Charge	General fee for banking services.

Interest and Rates

Codes related to interest earned or charged, and rate calculations.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
AER	Annual Equivalent Rate	The interest rate you earn on savings over a full year, accounting for the effect of compounding. Used in the UK.
APR	Annual Percentage Rate	The total yearly cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. Commonly shown on loans and credit cards.
APY	Annual Percentage Yield	The effective annual rate of return on a deposit, accounting for compounding. Used in the US.
EMI	Equated Monthly Instalment	A fixed monthly payment amount for repaying a loan, covering both principal and interest.
INT	Interest	Interest earned on a savings or deposit account, or interest charged on borrowing.
P&I	Principal and Interest	A payment that covers both the original loan amount (principal) and the interest charges.

Checks and Cheques

Codes for paper-based payment instruments.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
CHK	Check	Activity related to a check payment or deposit. US term.
CHQ	Cheque	A cheque paid into or drawn from your account. UK and Australian term.
CUI	Centralised Unpaid In	A cheque that was deposited but failed to clear. The funds are removed from your account.
DCH	Dishonoured Cheque	A cheque that the issuing bank has refused to pay, usually due to insufficient funds.
RET	Returned Transaction	A payment that was not processed, often a returned or bounced cheque. Also appears as RETURN.
UNP	Unpaid	A cheque or payment that was credited to your account but was not honoured by the paying bank.

ATM and Cash

Codes for cash machine transactions and physical currency movements.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
ATM	Automated Teller Machine	Cash withdrawal, deposit, or balance inquiry at a cash machine.
ATM RFD	ATM Refund	A refund processed through an ATM, usually correcting a failed or disputed withdrawal.
C/L	Cashline	Cash machine withdrawal. Used by some UK banks as an alternative to ATM.
CDM	Cash and Deposit Machine	Transaction at a machine that handles both cash deposits and withdrawals.
CIR	Cirrus Network ATM	Withdrawal made at an ATM abroad using the Cirrus international network. Also appears as CIRRUS.
BMACH	Branch Machine	Transaction made using a self-service machine inside a bank branch.
CSH	Cash	Physical cash paid into your account at a branch.
CWD	Cash Withdrawal	Cash taken out of your account.
POC	Post Office Counters	Transaction carried out at a post office counter, such as a deposit or withdrawal.

Wire Transfers and International

Codes for cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and international banking systems.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
BIC	Bank Identifier Code	An 8 to 11 character code that identifies a specific bank internationally. Used alongside IBAN for cross-border transfers.
FX	Foreign Exchange	Currency conversion applied by the bank when processing an international transaction.
IAT	International ACH Transaction	An ACH payment that crosses international borders. Subject to additional screening requirements.
IBAN	International Bank Account Number	A standardized international format (up to 34 characters) for identifying bank accounts across borders.
IDD	International Direct Deposit	A direct deposit received from or sent to an account outside your country.
IMO	International Money Order	A payment order used to send money abroad.
INTL	International	A transaction involving activity outside your home country. Also appears as ITL or INT'L.
RTGS	Real Time Gross Settlement	A system for processing high-value transfers in real time. Used in multiple countries.
SEPA	Single Euro Payments Area	A payment network for euro-denominated transfers within participating European countries. Covers credit transfers, direct debits, and card payments.
SWIFT	Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication	The global messaging network banks use to send payment instructions internationally. SWIFT codes identify specific banks in the network.
TT	Telegraphic Transfer	An older term for an international wire transfer, still used by some banks.
VRATE	Visa Exchange Rate	The exchange rate applied by Visa when processing an international card transaction.
WIRE	Wire Transfer	A direct bank-to-bank transfer, often used for high-value or international payments. Also appears as WIR.
XFR	Cross-Border Transfer	Movement of funds between accounts in different countries.

Card and Digital Payments

Codes for card networks and digital wallet transactions.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
AMEX	American Express	Transaction processed through the American Express card network.
AP	Apple Pay	Payment made using Apple Pay on an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other Apple device. Also appears as APPLEPAY.
CSC	Card Security Code	The 3 or 4 digit security number on the back (or front) of a payment card. Also known as CVV. Appears on statements related to card verification.
GPAY	Google Pay	Payment made using Google Pay.
MC	Mastercard	Transaction processed through the Mastercard network.
PAYPAL	PayPal	Payment or refund processed through a PayPal account. Also appears as PP.
PIN	Personal Identification Number	Indicates a transaction verified using your PIN rather than contactless or signature.
PTP	Peer-to-Peer Payment	Transfer between individuals using a payment app or platform.
SQ	Square	Payment processed through Square's point-of-sale system. Also appears as SQR or SQUARE.
STRIPE	Stripe	Payment processed through Stripe's online payment platform. Also appears as STRP.
V	Visa	Transaction processed through the Visa card network.
VENMO	Venmo	Money sent or received via Venmo. Also appears as VMO.
ZELLE	Zelle	Payment sent or received through the Zelle transfer network. Also appears as ZEL.

Loans and Credit

Codes related to borrowing, mortgages, and credit products.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
CDL	Career Development Loan	A government-backed loan for funding vocational education and training. UK term.
CRN	Credit Note	A correcting entry that returns money to your account. Also appears as CRNOTE.
HP	Hire Purchase	Payment under a hire purchase agreement, where you pay in instalments to eventually own an item.
LN	Loan Payment	A scheduled repayment on a loan. Also appears as LON.
MTG	Mortgage Payment	A scheduled mortgage repayment deducted from your account.
PRN	Principal	A payment applied toward the original loan amount, not including interest.
SWP	Systematic Withdrawal Plan	A periodic withdrawal from an investment or retirement account.

Account Types and Balances

Codes that describe account types, balances, and statement structure.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
AVL	Available Balance	The amount of money you can actually spend or withdraw right now, after accounting for pending transactions and holds.
BAL	Balance	The current total in your account. May refer to a balance brought forward from a previous statement.
CD	Certificate of Deposit	A savings product where you deposit money for a fixed term at a fixed interest rate.
DDA	Demand Deposit Account	A standard checking or current account where you can deposit and withdraw funds at any time without notice.
IRA	Individual Retirement Account	A US tax-advantaged retirement savings account. Appears when contributions, withdrawals, or transfers are made.
ISA	Individual Savings Account	A UK tax-free savings account. Interest earned is not subject to income tax.
OD/S	Overdrawn Sub Total	A subtotal showing the amount by which your account is overdrawn.
PSB	Premium Savings Bonds	Prize payments from NS&I Premium Bonds in the UK.
S	Sub-Total	An intermediate total on your statement, usually between groups of transactions.
STK	Stocks and Shares	Earnings or contributions related to equity investments.

UK-Specific Codes

Codes primarily found on bank statements from UK financial institutions.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
CAT	Charges, Access, Terms	A standard introduced for UK savings and mortgage products ensuring fair charges, easy access, and clear terms.
CHP	CHAPS Payment	Payment sent via the Clearing House Automated Payment System. Same-day, high-value transfers within the UK.
C/R	Credit Remittance	A credit remittance received into your account.
CWP	Cold Weather Payment	A government payment to qualifying households during periods of very cold weather.
DPC	Direct Banking by PC	A payment made through online banking. Used by some UK banks.
HMRC	HM Revenue and Customs	A payment to or from the UK tax authority.
NI	National Insurance	National Insurance contributions deducted from wages.
NO WI BON	No Withdrawal Bonus	A bonus applied to a savings account as a reward for not making any withdrawals during a specified period.
PAYE	Pay As You Earn	Income tax and National Insurance deductions taken from wages by an employer.

Australian-Specific Codes

Codes primarily found on bank statements from Australian financial institutions.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
BPAY	BPAY	An Australian electronic bill payment system. You pay bills through your bank's online or mobile banking using a biller code and reference number.
BSB	Bank State Branch	A six-digit code that identifies an Australian bank and branch. The first two digits identify the bank, the third identifies the state, and the last three identify the branch.
DE	Direct Entry	An electronic payment processed through Australia's direct entry system. Used for payroll, supplier payments, and recurring transfers.
EFTPOS	Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale	A debit card payment made at a retail terminal in Australia. Transactions go through the eftpos network.
NPP	New Payments Platform	Australia's real-time payment infrastructure, launched in 2018. Enables instant transfers between participating banks, 24/7.
OSKO	Osko	A fast payment service built on Australia's NPP. Allows near-instant transfers between bank accounts. Operated by BPAY Group.
PayID	PayID	An addressing service that lets you link your bank account to a phone number or email address instead of sharing your BSB and account number. Used with the NPP.

US-Specific ACH Codes

Standard Entry Class codes that sometimes appear on US bank statements alongside ACH transactions.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
CCD	Corporate Credit or Debit	An ACH entry for transfers between businesses, such as payments between corporate accounts.
PPD	Prearranged Payment and Deposit	An ACH entry for direct deposits (like payroll) or pre-authorized bill payments from a personal account.
WEB	Internet-Initiated Entry	An ACH debit authorized through an online or internet-based transaction.

Corrections and Adjustments

Codes for transaction corrections, reversals, and disputes.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
ADJ	Adjustment	The bank has amended a previous transaction to correct an error.
COR	Correction	A correction applied to fix a previous transaction error on your account.
DNP	Do Not Pay	An instruction or flag indicating a payment should not be processed.
FEE REV	Fee Reversal	A previously charged fee has been reversed or refunded.
MISC	Miscellaneous	A transaction that does not fit standard categories. Contact your bank for details.
REV	Reversal	A previous transaction (such as a standing order or direct debit) has been cancelled and the money returned.
VER	Verification Transaction	A small temporary charge used to verify your account details, usually reversed within a few days. Also appears as VERIFY.

Payroll, Tax, and Business

Codes common on business accounts and payroll-related statements.

Code	Full Name	What It Means
CUST	Customer Payment	Money received from a customer for goods or services.
IRS	Internal Revenue Service	A payment to or from the US federal tax authority.
SUPP	Supplier Payment	Payment sent to a supplier for goods or services.
TAX	Tax Transaction	A tax-related payment sent or received.
UPL	Upload Payment	A payment uploaded and processed through online banking, often as part of a batch.

Working With Bank Statement Data

Understanding abbreviations is the first step. If you need to get your bank statement transactions into a spreadsheet for accounting, bookkeeping, or tax prep, a converter tool can save hours of manual work.

For a full walkthrough of conversion options, see our guide to converting bank statements to Excel or CSV.

How to Decode Unfamiliar Bank Statement Codes

Check the amount and date first. Even if you do not recognise the code, the transaction amount and date will often be enough to identify what the payment was for. Cross-reference it with your receipts or payment records.
Search the description, not just the code. Most bank statements include a short description alongside the abbreviation. This often contains a merchant name, reference number, or account detail that narrows things down.
Look for patterns. If the same code appears on the same date each month for the same amount, it is likely a standing order or direct debit. Variable amounts on regular dates usually point to direct debits for utility bills or subscriptions.
Contact your bank if something looks wrong. Banks use institution-specific codes that are not standardized across the industry. If you find a code that is not listed here and the transaction does not look familiar, contact your bank through their app, secure messaging, or phone line. Do not ignore unrecognised transactions.
Keep in mind that codes differ between countries. A code like FPI is specific to the UK's Faster Payments system, while BPAY only appears on Australian statements. If you hold accounts in multiple countries, be aware that the same type of transaction may appear under completely different codes.