Cheque Clearing - What's happening with cheque clearing?

Overview

From the end of October 2017, we started to introduce a faster processing system for UK GBP cheques. This accelerated cheque clearing process means that these payments will clear within two working days, rather than the current six working days.

This faster, more efficient processing is thanks to the introduction of a new Image Clearing System (ICS). It's a mandatory, industry-wide change that’s being gradually introduced by the Cheque & Credit Clearing Company (C&CCC) and all UK banks & building societies will be moving to this new system during 2018.

When will all this happen?

The new system started to gradually phase in across UK banks and building societies from 30th October 2017, for UK GBP cheques that you issue from your account and from the end of April 2018 we started to gradually increase the volume of these cheques that are processed in this way.

Before the end of 2018, we’re also planning to introduce this system into our branches and Voucher Processing Centres for cheques that you pay into your account.

More information on this initiative, and how it applies across the UK banking industry, is available on the Cheque & Credit Clearing Company(opens in a new window) website.