Introduction to NameCheck
Validate payee details in near real-time
NameCheck Version
This page relates to the version of NameCheck API which includes Confirmation of Payee (launched October 2026).
What is NameCheck?
NameCheck helps you verify that the account details you’ve entered match the person or business you intend to pay. It can help prevent mistaken payments, reduce fraud risk, and give you greater confidence before making a payment.
NameCheck combines two complementary sources of account information:
- Confirmation of Payee (CoP) is an industry-wide account name-matching service developed by Australian Payments Plus (AP+). It uses confirmed account data from participating New Payments Platform (NPP) financial institutions to check the account name associated with a BSB and account number.
- CommBank’s proprietary NameCheck intelligence uses observed payment data, including historical payment patterns and real-world name variations such as nicknames, aliases and trading names.
By using both confirmed and observed data, NameCheck provides broader validation coverage and more meaningful validation outcomes than relying on either source alone.
NameCheck can be integrated into your systems using a simple API, allowing you to verify payee details as part of your payment, onboarding or account maintenance journeys.
Have you tried the NameCheck demo?
See NameCheck in action with our interactive demo here.
Key Features & Benefits
For Businesses
- Reduced misdirected payments by validating account details before payment
- Improved payment success rates by catching errors early
- Enhanced fraud prevention by detecting mismatched account details
- Seamless integration into existing payment flows
- Near real-time responses for immediate feedback
For End-Customers (for external-facing use cases)
- Increased confidence when entering payment details
- Reduced risk of sending money to the wrong account
- Smoother payment experience with fewer errors
How NameCheck Works
NameCheck assesses account details using both confirmed account data from participating NPP financial institutions and CommBank-observed payment intelligence.
NameCheck fits into the payment journey as a validation step before a payment is made.
Capture Details
The user enters the recipient’s BSB, account number, and account name.
NameCheck Request
NameCheck API sends these details to CommBank for validation.
Match Assessment
NameCheck assesses the account details using two complementary validation engines. Confirmation of Payee checks the details against confirmed account data from participating NPP financial institutions, while CommBank’s proprietary NameCheck intelligence assesses the details using observed payment data, including historical payment patterns and real-world name variations.
These validation signals are used to determine the outcome returned.
Response Returned
A result is returned (e.g. match, close match, or no match), allowing the user to guide the next step.
Validation Outcomes
NameCheck returns several possible outcomes. The API will never block users from proceeding with payment, regardless of the validation result returned. Customers who want to add a control at this point in their payment workflow can implement it themselves.
| NameCheck Outcome | Description |
|---|---|
| Match | The provided account details strongly align with the intended payee based on authoritative verification. |
| Close Match | There is partial or conflicting alignment between signals; details may be correct but require confirmation. |
| No Match | The provided account details do not align with the intended payee. |
| Account Closed / Inactive | The account is closed or inactive. |
Where Can NameCheck Be Integrated?
NameCheck is designed to be flexible and easy to embed into existing customer journeys and systems. Because it is API-based, it can be integrated wherever account details are collected or payments are initiated (e.g. ERPs, websites, mobile apps).
We can help you design a solution that will fit your needs and integrate with your existing systems and payment workflows.
Internal-facing use cases
- Supplier validation
- Payroll details validation
- Risk back-end system
- Service team system
External-facing use cases
- Payment page
- Account details provision
- Claims and payouts
Ready to get started?
To begin your integration, explore the detailed guides on sending NameCheck requests and handling match responses.