Payee Verification

What is Payee Verification? 

A security tool that searches the account details you have entered when adding a payee or editing a payee in internet banking. This tool will then indicate whether the account details look right. For example: if an account name has not been used for a particular BSB and account number, the system will prompt you to take further steps to help ensure you are paying the intended recipient. 

How does Payee Verification work?

At ABAL Banking, we believe you should always feel in control of your finances, which is why we’ve integrated Payee Verification directly into your payment experience. 

This essential security tool acts as a smart safeguard, instantly alerting you if a payee’s name doesn’t seem to match their account details to help you catch mistakes before they happen. 

By giving you a moment to pause and double-check the destination of your funds, we provide a defense that significantly reduces the risk of scams and ensures your money goes exactly where you intended. This safeguard works in real-time: 

• When setting up a new payee (Add Payee), giving you immediate confidence from the very first transaction.
• When editing a payee (Edit Payee), to ensure that any updated details remain accurate and secure.
• When adding and editing a payee during setup of Domestic transfer or Group Transfer, providing a seamless layer of protection across all your local payments. 

Payee Verification does not?

• Guarantee the payee is legitimate: think of this check as a safety warning rather than a roadblock; it alerts you to potential mismatches without stopping your transaction
• Stop payments automatically: The final decision to proceed always rests with you, allowing you to bypass the warning if you are confident the details are correct.
• Confirm if the business is a scam or if the transaction is fraudulent: We strongly encourage you to verify the recipient’s name and account number directly with them, recovering a sent payment is not guaranteed, taking a moment to confirm the details is the best way to keep your money secure. 

Payee Verification messages 

Payee Verification Messages help you pause, check, and protect yourself before making a payment; while it provides a warning rather than a block, the final decision to proceed rests with you, so please double check all details before proceeding with a payment. 

	The account name seems to match the account The details look right based on the names we've seen used for the account.
	There's a different name more commonly used for this account  An uncommon account name can be a sign of a scam - speak to the payee to check it's really them requesting the payment and confirm the BSB and account number. There could be a typo -  check the BSB and account number you've entered are correct.
	We haven't seen enough payments to indicate if the account details look right The account could be new, or one that doesn't get many payments, only continue if you're sure it's safe.  Scammers sometimes use new accounts to avoid detection - speak to the payee to check it's really them requesting the payment and confirm the BSB and account number.
	The account name doesn't seem to match the account We haven't seen anyone else use a name similar to the one you entered. A name that doesn't match can be a sign of a scam -  speak to the payee to check it's really them requesting the payment and confirm the BSB and account number. There could be a typo - check the BSB and account number you've entered are correct.
	BSB and account number not found The account could be new and we haven't seen it used yet- only continue if you're sure it's safe. Scammers sometimes use new accounts to avoid detection - speak to the payee to check it's really them requesting the payment and confirm the BSB and account number. There could be a typo - check the BSB and account number you've entered are correct.
	Unable to verify the payee details  Please always check that the Bank account details are correct before proceeding. Continue only if you know and trust this payee or try again later.