Making payments from personal accounts

Compare payment options

We have lots of ways to make payments, from faster payments to bank drafts. Use the table below to compare the limits, timelines and costs of each payment type.

Pay someone or a business using the mobile banking app

1. Open the mobile banking app and login
2. Tap the Payments tab then Make a Payment
3. Tap the account you want to pay from

Pay a person

Follow the instructions to make a one-off or regular payment to an existing payee, or to 'Add new payee'. You can select 'Pay a Person' to send money to using their name, sort code and account number. Always be fraud aware and only send money to someone you trust. Find out more about keeping safe online.

Pay a business

To pay an organisation, select 'Pay a business' and search our approved list using their name or account details. This works for organisations like utilities, local councils, credit cards and phone networks. You can save the company in your payee list for another time. When you set up the organisations you pay like this, there’s no daily limit for payments.

Faster payments

As a Virgin Money customer you are able to receive and send Faster Payments into and from your account. This allows quick online, mobile, telephone and Standing Order payments between your account and other banks and building societies.

• Payments will only be processed through the Faster Payments Service if both the bank / building society sending and receiving the payment are participants of the scheme.
• Payments can normally be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please note, this service may be temporarily unavailable during periods of routine maintenance.
• Payments will normally be transferred immediately.
• Payments can be made via online banking, mobile and telephone banking within our transaction limits. However, each bank or building society has its own limits for Faster Payments which can vary from time to time.

If you need to make a payment over the limit, or if you need to guarantee same day payment, you should consider using CHAPS.

For more information and to check whether the bank or building society you are sending money to can receive Faster Payments visit the Faster Payments Website Link opens in a new window.

CHAPS

Clearing House Automated Payment System (CHAPS) payments let you send and receive sterling payments on the same day.

How can I make a CHAPS payment?

You need to provide the required ID before 4pm on the day so we can approve your request.

Online

1. Download our CHAPS form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy, sign and take a photo for upload.
3. Upload the form

Our Payments Helpdesk will call you and send an email or SMS with a link to our identification partner, Mitek. Please upload your ID, such as your driving licence or passport, via Mitek.

In Branch

1. Download our CHAPS form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Bring it to your nearest Branch. If you can't, we'll print one for you.

If you'd prefer to come into a Branch, we'll help you complete the form. All you'll need to bring is the required ID Link opens in a new window.

By post

1. Download our CHAPS form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Post the completed form to your nearest Branch

We'll need to carry out some identity checks with you before we can process your payment.

Need a form? Call our Payments Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018 and we'll post one to you.

What does it cost?

We charge £25 for each CHAPS payment we make. Or, you can find another way to make a payment.

International payments using SWIFT

SWIFT is an easy way to pay in a foreign currency or send pounds outside the UK.

To make a payment, you need a Virgin Money current account with a sort code starting 82 or 05 or a linked foreign currency account.

If you’re sending euros and it’s not urgent, you can also make next business day SEPA payments zone Link opens in a new window. These are cheaper than SWIFT payments.

Ways to make SWIFT payments

For a SWIFT payment to be sent on the same day we receive it, we must receive the form and the required ID Link opens in a new window before 10.30am.

If you'd like to check the exchange rate before submitting your request, please call our Payments Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018.

Online

1. Download the International Payment SWIFT form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy, sign and take a photo for upload.
3. Upload the form
4. Our Payments Helpdesk will call you and send an email or SMS with a link to our identification partner, Mitek.
5. You'll then need to upload your ID Link opens in a new window, such as your driving licence or passport.

In Branch

1. Download the International Payment SWIFT form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Bring it to your nearest Branch. If you can't, we'll print one for you.

If you'd prefer to come into a Branch, we'll help you complete the form. All you'll need to bring is the required ID Link opens in a new window.

By post

1. Download the International Payment SWIFT form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Post the completed form to your nearest Branch

We'll need to carry out some identity checks with you before we can process your payment.

Need a form? Call our Payments Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018 and we'll post one to you.

What you need to make a SWIFT payment

For each person or business, you want to pay, you need their:

• full name
• address
• bank account number (you may also need their IBAN)
• bank name
• bank address
• bank code (SWIFT BIC, National Clearing Code, or Bank Identifier Code)

You also need to give a reason for the payment. For example, a description of what you’re buying with an invoice number.

Always check your payment details

It’s important to check all the details before you complete your payment. Any errors might mean the payment is rejected. If this happens, you might get less money returned to your account, depending on any bank charges or exchange rate changes.

SWIFT transaction charges

When you make your payment, you can choose who pays the charges. You have 3 options:

1. You pay all the charges (OUR)
2. The payee pays all the charges (BEN)
3. You pay our charges, and the payee pays their bank’s charges (SHA)

Other Charges

Sometimes the payee’s bank, or an agent bank, applies charges beyond our control. These can be charged either to you or the payee, depending on the charge clause.

You can find out more about charges in our account charges.

Foreign Exchange Rate

An exchange rate applies when you make a payment in a foreign currency.

When you send an international payment in a currency different to the currency of the account you want to debit, then a foreign exchange rate will be applied to convert the funds.

If you make a payment in branch or upload the international outward payment form, we’ll let you know the exchange rate before making the payment.

Foreign exchange rate margins

Our standard foreign exchange rate is based on the wholesale market exchange rate, minus our margin. The margin varies depending on the size of your transaction.

Our foreign exchange margins

So, if the wholesale market exchange rate for pounds to euros was £1 to €1.2000 and you needed to make a payment of €300, your actual exchange rate would be 2.50% less at €1.1700.

But if you needed to make a payment of €300,000, your exchange rate for the payment would be 0.95% less at €1.1886.

Competitor rates

Foreign exchange costs vary across providers, and some might offer better rates than ours. So you might pay more with us than with them.

Form example SWIFT costs

*The recipient’s bank may still charge a fee before they pay the money into the recipient’s account therefore this amount may not be the exact amount received

SWIFT payments sent in pounds

In most cases, bank accounts are held in the country’s currency: for example, Australian dollar accounts in Australia. If you send pounds to an Australian bank account, the receiving bank has to change the payment into Australian dollars to pay it into your payee’s account. So, you won’t know the exchange rate or the amount the payee gets.

An alternative option would be to send an Australian dollar SWIFT payment. We’d then tell you the exchange rate used.

Sometimes the payee’s overseas account may be in pounds. If this is the case, you should send pounds.

How fast are SWIFT payments?

A SWIFT payment is made on the earliest available business date if you submit it, or get it approved, by the currency cut-off time. This is subject to UK and international holidays.

Swift payment cut off times

Please note that we only offer SWIFT payments in the currencies shown.

Contact us

We are here Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm on 0800 077 8018.

Changing or cancelling a payment

We can’t guarantee we’ll be able change or cancel a payment after you’ve sent it. And if we can, you may lose money if the exchange rate has changed.

If you do want to change or cancel a payment, phone our Payment Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018.

International payments using SEPA

SEPA is a great way to make euro payments. SEPA payments are also cheaper than SWIFT payments.

SEPA credit transfers are next-day payments. So your payee should get the funds the day after you initiate the payment. This is subject to cut-off times and bank holidays.

With SEPA you can send euros in the Single Euro Payments Area Link opens in a new window. This covers the European Economic Area Link opens in a new window, as well as Albania, Andorra, Montenegro, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City and the UK.

To make a payment, you need a Virgin Money current account with a sort code starting 82 or 05 (or a linked foreign currency account).

Ways to make SEPA payments

Download our SEPA form guide Link opens in a new window to help you complete the form.

For a SEPA payment, we must receive the form and the required ID before 10.30am. Then, the payment will be processed the same day, please note the account will still not be debited until the following day.

If you'd like to check the exchange rate before making your payment, please call our Payments Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018.

Online

1. Download the International Payment SEPA form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy, sign and take a photo for upload.
3. Upload the form
4. Our Payments Helpdesk will call you and send an email or SMS with a link to our identification partner, Mitek.
5. You'll then need to upload your ID Link opens in a new window, such as your driving licence or passport.

In Branch

1. Download the International Payment SEPA form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Bring it to your nearest Branch with your ID. If you can't, we'll print one for you.

If you'd prefer to come into a Branch, we'll help you complete the form. All you'll need to bring is the required ID Link opens in a new window.

By post

1. Download the International Payment SEPA form Link opens in a new window
2. Complete it electronically. Then, print a copy and sign.
3. Post the completed form to your nearest Branch

We'll need to carry out some identity checks with you before we can process your payment.

Need a form? Call our Payments Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018 and we'll post one to you.

What you need to make a SEPA payment

For each person or business, you want to pay, you need their:

• full name
• address
• IBAN

You also need to give a reason for the payment. For example, a description of what you’re buying with an invoice number.

Always check your payment details

It’s important to check all the details before you complete your payment. Any errors might mean the payment is rejected. If this happens, you might get less money returned to your account, depending on any bank charges or exchange rate changes.

SEPA transaction charges

SEPA payments are processed as shared charges (SHA). So, you pay our charges, and the payee pays their bank’s charges.

Other Charges

Sometimes the payee’s bank, or an agent bank, applies charges beyond our control. These can be charged either to you or the payee.

You can find out more about charges in our account charges.

Foreign Exchange Rate

An exchange rate applies when you make a payment in a foreign currency.

When you send an international payment in a currency different to the currency of the account you want to debit, then a foreign exchange rate will be applied to convert the funds.

If you make a payment in branch or upload the international outward payment form, we’ll let you know the exchange rate before making the payment.

Foreign exchange rate margins

Our standard foreign exchange rate is based on the wholesale market exchange rate, minus our margin. The margin varies depending on the size of your transaction.

Our foreign exchange margins

So, if the wholesale market exchange rate for pounds to euros was £1 to €1.2000 and you needed to make a payment of €300, your actual exchange rate would be 2.50% less at €1.1700.

But if you needed to make a payment of €300,000, your exchange rate for the payment would be 0.95% less at €1.1886.

Competitor rates

Foreign exchange costs vary across providers, and some might offer better rates than ours. So you might pay more with us than with them.

How much will it cost

*The recipient’s bank may still charge a fee before they pay the money into the recipient’s account therefore this amount may not be the exact amount received

How fast are SEPA payments?

SEPA credit transfers are next-day payments. So your payee should get the funds the day after you initiate the payment. This is subject to cut-off times and bank holidays.

SEPA payment cut-off times

Contact us

We are here Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm on 0800 077 8018.

Changing or cancelling a payment

We can’t guarantee we’ll be able change or cancel a payment after you’ve sent it. And if we can, you may lose money if the exchange rate has changed.

If you do want to change or cancel a payment, phone our Payment Helpdesk on 0800 077 8018.

Deposit cheques using the mobile banking app

It’s not always easy to visit a Branch to pay in a cheque, so we’ve made it simpler using some handy technology. You can even do it from your sofa.

To get started:

• Open the app
• Tap on the account you’d like to pay the money into
• Tap the menu in the top right corner
• Choose ‘Deposit a cheque’

Just remember, individual cheques for less than £1000 can be deposited one at a time, up to a maximum of £5000 per day. Cheques deposited after 5pm won’t be processed until the next working day.