Sir M Visvesvaraya Co Operative Bank Ltd IFSC and MICR Code:

IFSC CODE: Indian Financial System Code

IFSC, expanded as Indian Financial System Code, is a unique 11-digit alphanumeric code that is used for online fund transfer transactions done via NEFT, RTGS and IMPS. Bank IFSC code can be usually found on the cheque leaf issued by the bank. All these codes are assigned to banks by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and one can find IFSC codes of all banks and branches on the RBI website. Net banking transactions for fund transfer, using any of the wire transfer modes, cannot be initiated without a valid IFSC.

Banks generally do not revise/change or update this 11-digit key unless there is some kind of reorganisation or merger. This was the case with the State Bank of India (SBI) that recently changed IFSC codes of branches across the country after it merged with 5 associate banks and one other bank.

IFSC Code : Some Key Features

• 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
• Can be used for credit card payments. For example, HDFC000012 is the IFSC code for HDFC Credit Card payment through NEFT

MICR Code: Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Code

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is a 9-digit code that helps identify a particular bank branch that is part of the Electronic Clearing System (ECS) which is used to clear cheques on a routine basis. This code can be found on the cheque leaf that is issued by the bank and is generally also printed on the passbook that is issued to the account holder.

Of the nine digits, the first three digits identify the specific city, the next three digits identify the specific bank code and the final three digits represent the bank branch code. For example the MICR code for the SBI branch in Kolkata is ‘700002021. Here, the first 3 digits ‘700’ is used to identify the specific city, the next three digits ‘002’ represent the the specific bank code and the last 3 digits ‘021’ specify the bank branch code. The MICR code is primarily used to process and clear cheques, which is done by machines. The 9-digit code helps eliminate errors in the clearing process, helps in speeding up the process things as well as makes cheque processing more safe and secure.

Format for Banks IFSC Code:

Check IFSC Code for Top Banks:

How to Search for the IFSC Code of a Particular Bank’s Branch

IFSC codes are the basic unit of any online inter-bank money transfers in India and the surefire way to validate all such transactions. With the correct knowledge of IFSC codes, sending and receiving money online becomes simple and fast, as intended. Many resources are available online that help you find IFSC code for the particular requested bank. And let’s face it- you are only likely to check upon the same when affecting an online transaction. In the similar vein, BankBazaar offers a comprehensive tool to help you indulge in a speedy and accurate IFSC Code search. How to access and utilize this tool? Read on

1. You are already on this page as you read these instructions, scroll to the top of this page.
2. Spread before you is a simple ‘IFSC and MICR Codes Directory’, a versatile tool to help you locate IFSC Code as required. The tool comprises of the following fields- 1) Select Bank, 2) Select State, 3) Select District, and 4) Select Branch.
3. Kindly make the appropriate selections with regards to the name of the bank, Indian state where the bank’s branch exists, the specific district of the state and finally, the concerned branch.
4. In response to your query, the resultant page lists out the bank’s IFSC Code, MICR Code, official address and phone number. All this happens in less than 30 seconds from your initial query.

IFSC Code: How Does it Works

Let us take an example of the Canara Bank IFSC code to better understand what IFSC code is and how it works in banking transactions. The IFSC code for the Chandigarh Branch of Canara Bank is CNRB00001995.

• Here, CNBR represents the name of the bank, which is Canara Bank
• The 5th character, which is 0, is for future use
• The other 6 characters, 01995, specifically helps the RBI identify a bank branch without any error.

Now, let us understand how IFSC works. When a fund transfer is initiated to a particular payee, one has to provide the account number and branch-specific IFSC code. Once the remitter keys in all these details the money is sent to the account holder and IFSC helps avoid any errors in such transactions.

Apart from fund transfers, IFSC code can also be used to purchase insurance and mutual funds through net banking. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) National Clearing Cell monitors all transactions and the IFSC code helps the RBI keep track of transactions and also execute fund transfers without any error.

The IFSC code can also be found on your cheque book or bank passbook. One can also find their bank branch IFSC code in the monthly account statement. The IFSC code for each bank and branch is unique. Even if you hold an account in one bank, the IFSC code will differ from branch to branch.

Why Do We Need  Indian Financial System Code

We need an IFSC code because it helps the RBI monitor all banking transactions without any blunders. A simple IFSC code can aid the RBI track, oversee and seamlessly maintain all financial transactions that are carried out using electronically, namely, NEFT, RTGS and IMPS.

For bank customers, IFSC code is important because most electronic fund transfers cannot be initiated unless the IFSC code of the beneficiary/payee is provided along with the bank account number.

IFSC code plays an important role when money is transferred from one account to another through methods such as IMPS, NEFT and RTGS. All these options are fundamentally concerned with inter-bank money transfer but perform this task in different ways. The common thread amongst these varied options is the bank IFSC codes system- the hypothetical plaque that identifies a bank branch as a confirmation to the incoming monies that the same has been routed to the correct destination. Compare this to a cattle rancher and his/her massive flock of cattle. Without a branding system, identifying individual members of the herd and accounting for all of them will be next to impossible.

Locate IFSC and MICR Code on a Bank Cheque

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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.

Methods used for Online money transfer using IFSC Code

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IFSC code can be used to transfer funds using three electronic fund transfer modes such as NEFT, RTGS and IMPS. These types of electronic fund transfers enable customers to easily transfer funds from one account to another. Choosing electronic transferring systems brings down the chances of error in a transaction because fund transfers are only authorised if accurate details such as the payee’s bank specific IFSC code and bank account number are provided.

• NEFT: The full form of NEFT is National Electronic Fund Transfer and quite as the name specifies, it concerns with the transfer of funds from one bank account onto another. This is a popular money transfer system in India that is equally popular amongst individuals as well as the corporate houses. Herein, IFSC codes must be suitably provided to ensure that money is safely transferred from one bank account to another. Apart from the IFSC code, the beneficiary name, account number and account type are also needed to be provided. All NEFT transactions are settled in a batch-wise format.
• RTGS: RTGS is acronym for Real Time Gross Settlement and as the name suggests, is a popular option for the speedy transfer of funds (also securities) from one bank to another, without subjecting the same to any waiting period. The operative words here are ‘Real Time’ (transactions happen instantaneously) and ‘Gross’ (refers to the fact that the monies aren’t subject to any deductions and/or expenditures). Herein again, IFSC codes act in a similar way as in the case of NEFT- helping to correctly identify the participating bank branches. RTGS fund transfers are usually used for high value transactions and are cleared immediately. The details required for RTGS fund transfer apart from the IFSC code of the receiving bank branch are details like name of payee, account number, and the transaction amount.

• IMPS: The Superman of the online money transfers world is IMPS, short for Immediate Payment Service. It is a relatively new option in India (founded, November 2010). The USP of this service is that money can be transferred instantly 24x7 and across all popular Indian banks through the service available on the subscriber’s mobile phone, ATM or through the internet. This system is reputed for being very safe, fast, economical and not restricted in terms of the maximum amount that can be transferred. One cannot initiate an IMPS fund transfer without providing an IFSC code.

IFSC & MICR Code: The Basic Differences You Need to Know

Abbreviation of Indian Financial System Code, is a code that is used to identify all participating banks under the NEFT system. It is basically 11 digit alphanumeric code that is different for each bank and its affiliated branch.

How Can One Transfer Money with IFSC Code of Bank Account?

If the individual knows his/her way around banking transactions, they are already aware that there are two main forms of fund transfer. One being the old-fashioned physical way, wherein you walk into the bank and remit the cheque at the teller’s cubicle. While the second being the electronic way using methods such as IMPS, NEFT or RTGS.

When dealing with the old-school ‘going-to-the-bank’ way, one does not need to register a beneficiary but the electronic method is a bit different and a lot more secure too. So, how do you go about transferring funds to an individual, who has explicitly requested you to transfer funds with the help of technology? Well, don’t fret over the details if you don’t already know it because you will learn all that you need to in this page.

To transfer funds with the help of technology, the individual is required to meet a few requirements. They are:

• The individual needs to be register for the bank’s net banking service.
• Need to register for third-party transactions. (Note that, in this context, third-party refers to a beneficiary from a different bank to that of yours.)
• Registering the beneficiary’s account to which funds are to be transferred.

Process Involved in Making Online Money Transfer

Nearly every bank in India follows its own policy with regards to a third party money transfer. One thing worth noting here is that the process remains more or less the same, except for the fact that they are phrased a bit differently.

For example, let’s take a look at HDFC Bank’s procedure. The steps involved are:

• Logging to the bank’s net banking service with the customer ID and password.
• Clicking on ‘Third Party Transfer’ tab and following the basic instructions.
• Getting the OTP on the registered mobile number once the details are filled and submitted.

How to Register the Beneficiary’s Account?

• To register a beneficiary, details such as name of the beneficiary, account number, IFSC code of the beneficiary’s bank, and name of the Bank branch needs to be provided.
• Once the details are submitted, the registration is complete. However, what you should know is different bank has different time periods after which you can make your first transfer. For instance, in HDFC Bank’s case it takes 12 hours for the details to check out and get active.

There you have it. Registering a beneficiary’s account is a cakewalk as long as you possess the basic computer literacy. Besides, registering them is highly beneficial for you as it saves a trip to your local bank branch.

How to Transfer Money with the Help of Net Banking & Mobile Banking?

Transferring money electronically with the help of the IFSC code is not as hard as it seems. In reality, it involves quite a simple process, once the individual have set it up. In this page, we will explain the process involved in transferring money through net-banking and SMS with the help of the 11-digit IFSC code.

• Through Net-banking:

In today’s world, smartphone and smartphone apps are literally everywhere. An individual can order food, buy groceries, make fund transfers from the comforts of their homes using an app. To do this however, the individuals need to have their net banking system activated for the bank account. Mentioned below are the basic steps that is required to be known.

• First, the net banking application of the bank needs to be downloaded. 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 the customer ID and password to gain access to your account.
• Next, choose ‘Transfer funds through NEFT’ to transfer the amount to the beneficiary’s account. In case, the beneficiary is not added already the individual should register them for future transactions. To do this, the IFSC code, bank account number, and the bank branch needs to be provided. Once the details are submitted successfully, it can 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, money can be instantly transferred to the beneficiary’s account with a buffer of less than an hour.

• Through Mobile Banking:

Here’s how money can be transferred from one bank account to another using the IFSC code through mobile banking:

• The first thing that the individual needs to do is to register the 10-digit mobile number for mobile banking by linking it to the bank account. To register, the individual is required to fill a form after which a starter’s kit is provided that contains the MMID (a unique 7 digit number) and mPin. This kit is similar to the one that one gets with the debit card.
• After the registration is complete, sending money through SMS is quite simple. First, the individual needs to select ‘IMPS’. Next he/she needs to provide the beneficiary’s account number, IFSC code, and the amount that he/she wants to send. After confirming the transaction, the individual is required to type in the mPin. On doing so, the money is successfully transferred from the account and deposited in the beneficiary’s account.

What is UPI (Unified Payments Interface)

It is basically a new payment architecture introduced by Reserve Bank of India under the leadership of former governor Raghuram Rajan along with support from tech scion Nandan Nilekani. In short, UPI is being referred to as a next-generation payment method which is expected to leverage the growing power of smart phone technology and the proportionate rise of smart phone users in the country. It enables making money transactions between any two bank accounts with the help of a smart phone. While the UPI payment method allows payments through online and offline, like net banking and card swipes, it is a lot more seamless and sophisticated at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions on IFSC and MICR codes

1. What is the full form of IFSC?

The full form of IFSC is Indian Financial System Code.

2. Why is IFSC used?

IFSC or Indian Financial System Code is a 11-digit alphanumeric code that is used to uniquely all bank branches  within the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) network by the Reserve Bank of India.

3. Can anyone misuse my bank account number?

No, it is not possible for anyone to misuse your bank account with by knowing the bank account number.

4. How to search for bank name by IFSC code?

It is very easy to find the bank name using the IFSC code. The first four characters of the IFSC code represents the bank name. So, if the bank name is ICICI, then the IFSC code will look something like ICIC0001420.

5. What is the meaning of MICR code?

MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. It is a special ink that is sensitive to magnetic fields. It is printed on the bottom of a cheque.

6. What is the use of MICR code?

MICR is a technology that helps in verifying the originality of cheques or other paper documents. It is used mainly by banks to process cheques faster. The MICR code helps RBI in identifying the bank branch.

7. How can I transfer money from one bank account to another online?

You can transfer money from one bank account to another through online mode using methods like National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), Real-time Gross Settlement (RTGS), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), and Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

8. Are IFSC and SWIFT code same?

No, the IFSC and SWIFT codes are not the same. IFSC is used for transferring funds within India while SWIFT code is used for transferring funds at an international level. Moreover, SWIFT is a bank identifier code while IFSC is used to identify a specific bank branch.

9. If a bank branch is changed, will the IFSC code change?

No, if the location of a bank’s branch is changed, then the IFSC code will not change. If the bank account is shifted from one branch of the bank to another, only then will the IFSC code be changed.

10. Is IFSC code same as branch code?

No, IFSC code is not the same as branch code.

11. Where is the IFSC code located on the cheque leaf?

IFSC code is generally present on the top part of every cheque leaf or near the bank branch address.

12. Is IFSC code required for IMPS?

IFSC code is required for IMPS only if the individual is transferring money using bank account number. If the receiver’s MMID is not available, then he/she needs to add the receiver as a payee, for which details such as bank account number, name and IFSC are required.

13. Where can I locate MICR code on cheque?

MICR code is printed on the bottom part of every cheque leaf provided by banks.

14. Is IFSC code unique?

Yes, IFSC code is a unique alphanumeric code.

15. What are the timings for NEFT?

As per the Reserve Bank of India, NEFT can be used by customers between 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, the service can be utilized between 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

16. Is it possible to determine the IFSC code of a bank’s branch from the savings bank account number hosted in the same bank?

No, it is not possible as the 15-digit long savings bank account number does not include the bank’s IFSC code.

17. I think I have provided the wrong IFSC code when initiating a NEFT funds transfer. What will happen to my money?

There is no need to panic as for a NEFT transaction to go through and benefit the intended recipient, you are required to provide the latter’s account number and the corresponding bank’s IFSC code. In case you provide wrong IFSC code, the system with tally against the recipient's name and account number to identify the mistake and refund the money. The refund will be highlighted in your account within a couple of hours at the maximum.

18. Can I access the IFSC code from my bank passbook?

Yes, you can access the IFSC code from the bank passbook. As per a directive from the Reserve Bank of India, banks must print the IFSC and MICR codes prominently on the passbooks, account statements and cheques issued by them.

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