Economic reforms and the changes are bringing lot of changes in the Indian financial markets and lot of new opportunities have opened up leading to increased competition. Furthermore, options have opened up before the banks and led to enhanced competition among new players in banking sector.

Growth and development of technology have encouraged many players in this segment to adjust to the changing environment. Economists and financial experts will compliment and complain about the latest trends in the technologies in India. However, the large section of people, namely the customers will always appreciate the new trends, because they are the ultimate beneficiaries.

Banking segment has grown a lot since independence In India and looking for new avenues to make its presence felt. Technology is the major component in Indian banking sector.

There are many nationalised banks and Private banks in our nation and the Indian Banking Segment is making its presence felt in the banking arena. No banks in India will function without a valid Indian Financial System Codes.

One such technology making waves in the Indian Banking Segment is the IFSC Codes, also known as the Indian Financial System Codes (IFSC).

Let us understand the concept of IFSC and its implications in the banking segment in India.

What Is IFSC Code?

The IFSC or the Indian Financial System Code is the 11 letter Alphanumerical Codes that is used in transferring the money online from one account to another. These 11-letter code is useful in assisting the person to find the branches of various banks where the people have kept their bank accounts in India.

The best part of the IFSC code is the customers having bank accounts in various banks, can opt for various money transfer facilities available like

• National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
• Real Time Gross Settlements (RTGS)
• Unified Payment Interfaces (UPI)

Where To Find the IFSC Code?

The Indian Financial System Code is very easy to find, as it is readily available on various resources given below as follows.

• Bank Cheque Book.
• Available in the respective bank websites.
• Call the customer service and get the code.
• Other bank documents like the Bank Passbooks.
• Printed on the bank account opening letter and statements.
• Search on banking91 IFSC finder tool

Structure of the IFSC Code

The IFSC or the Indian Financial System Code is different for every bank in the nation. Let me break the structure for you in simple terms. It is

• First four characters are alphabets and tells name of the bank.
• The Fifth character is 0.
• The Last 6 Characters deals with the branch of the concerned bank and it is numeric in nature.
• These codes are created and assigned by the superior banking body known as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• It is mandatory that every bank in India to have IFSC Code.

Importance of the IFSC Code

The Indian Financial System Code is the major component of any banking transaction in India and it has its own importance given below as follows.

• This helps in locating and identifying the banks easily in India.
• This encourages the RBI to have records of all the transactions.
• This encourages the environment friendly banking transactions.
• This plays a major role in getting rid of errors and makes transaction very smoother.
• This encourages the Electronic Payment Tools like the NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer), RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and IMPS (Immediate Payment Services) go through in a logical manner.
• It is very user friendly and avoids the hassles in going to the banks and waiting in long queues.
• Unless there is an acquisition or merger the banks will not change the IFSC codes.
• The faster quicker and easier transfer of the transaction is done using the IFSC codes.
• This mode of payment encourages the use of paperless transactions.

Indian Financial System Code for International Transactions

It is said that when you undertake transfer of the funds between two banks in India you need the Indian Finance System Code. Furthermore, when you undertake the transfer of the amount from India to another nation, then the usage of the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication Code) enters the scene.

At this juncture, the usage of the IFSC code is very important as this is the only crucial and critical identifier stating that it is representing a bank in India.

Just to let you know let me give your insight into the structure of the Swift code. It is

• The first 4 digits represents the bank code.
• The next 2 digits will represent the country code.
• The next 2 digits will represent the location code.
• The last 3 characters are very optional and has branch code.

The dependence on digital technology for all your banking needs is gaining lot of prominence. The bank must comply with the customer expectations and finding simpler means to invest in new technologies in India. The best part is the customers are easily adapting to new technologies in the nation and this will help in creating new banking experience in the years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Can the Indian Financial System Code be shared with others?

The IFSC codes can be shared with anybody as it is a unique code given to every bank by the Reserve Bank of India.

Can the Indian Financial System Code change for the banks?

Yes, the IFSC code can change only during the merger of 2 banks in India.

Do we see the same Indian Financial System Code for 2 different branches in India?

No, we do not see the Indian Financial System Code for 2 different branches in India.

Who generates and activates the Indian Financial System Code for banks in India?

The Indian Financial System Code is generated and activated by the apex body in the banking industry known as the Reserve Bank of India.

When was the IFSC code system started in India?

The Indian Financial System Code got created in India on 1^st April 1935 and became integral component of the banking segment after the nationalisation of the banks in 1949.

What is the simplest way to find the Indian Financial System Code of your bank?

The simplest way to find out the Indian Financial System Code is to use IFSC Search tool of Banking91.

Where can you see the IFSC Codes?

You can find the Indian Financial System Code in the cheque book and the passbook of the respective bank in India.