13 May 2026
If you’ve ever tried to send or receive money in the UK, you may have come across something called a building society roll number. While most people are familiar with sort codes and account numbers, roll numbers can still play a role, especially when dealing with older or traditional building society accounts.
With the UK steadily shifting toward digital banking, knowing the details of roll numbers helps ensure seamless payments and avoid errors during financial transactions.
Whether you’re managing local payments or sending money abroad through services like ACE Money Transfer, knowing when and why a roll number is needed can save time and prevent delays. The primary use of a roll number is when transferring money from a standard bank account to a building society account.
A building society roll number is a unique reference code used by UK building societies to identify individual customer accounts. It consists of a combination of numbers and letters used specifically for managing members' accounts and facilitating transactions. Historically, roll numbers were used internally by building societies before modern banking systems were introduced.
Key Difference: Unlike standard bank account numbers (8 digits), roll numbers are alphanumeric reference codes that are specific to the institution and often tied to legacy systems.
Many building societies maintain legacy systems that still rely on roll numbers. Building societies are mutual organizations owned by their members, unlike banks which are typically public companies. This historical structure is why these identifiers persist for certain accounts.
Understanding when a roll number is required can help you avoid failed or delayed payments. Roll numbers ensure that funds are credited to the correct individual account held by customers.
If the recipient’s account requires a roll number, you must include it as the reference of the payment. Use the roll number exactly as provided and do not add any other information in the reference field to ensure correct allocation.
If you hold a legacy account, your roll number may still be relevant for tracking financial activities like savings and investments. Some employers or payment providers may ask for it when dealing with manual systems.
Not all building societies require roll numbers today. According to UK Finance, over 90% of UK payments are now processed electronically using sort codes and account numbers. Well-known societies include Nationwide, Leeds, and Coventry Building Society.
Simple ways to locate your roll number:
As digital banking evolves, roll numbers are becoming less prominent. However, when transferring funds online to a building society, ensuring the roll number is accurately entered as the payment reference is essential.
When sending money internationally (e.g., GBP to PKR), roll numbers are generally not required. Services like ACE Money Transfer rely on internationally recognised banking details for seamless cross-border transactions.
The UK banking sector continues to modernise. Standardised identifiers are replacing legacy reference codes, making transactions faster and reducing errors for most customers.
A building society roll number identifies individual accounts within building societies, particularly older legacy ones, ensuring payments are directed to the correct account.
No, most UK payments only require a sort code and account number. Only use a roll number if the recipient specifically requests it for their building society account.
It is usually on bank statements, passbooks, or letters from your society. If you're unsure, contact your building society directly.
No. A roll number identifies the specific account, while a payment reference is just a description added by the sender. Confusing the two can lead to transaction errors.
