CommBank Introduces Confirmation Of Payee

Commonwealth Bank is rolling out a new anti-scam measure known as Confirmation of Payee (CoP), a name-checking tool developed to prevent mistaken payments and reduce fraud across Australia’s banking system.

The move is part of a broader effort by local banks to adopt new safeguards as scam losses continue to rise.

Developed by Australian Payments Plus (AP+), CoP is being gradually introduced across the country’s major banks. CommBank will pair CoP with its existing security tool, NameCheck, to improve the accuracy and reliability of recipient verification during transactions.

CommBank General Manager Payments, Alison Chang, said the two systems would complement each other.

“NameCheck already provides a strong layer of defence by using our data to assess whether payment details look right,” she said. “CoP will allow us to go further by confirming name and account matches across institutions.”

How Confirmation Of Payee Works

CoP uses infrastructure from the New Payments Platform (NPP) to check whether the name entered by a payer matches the name held by the recipient bank for the target BSB and account number.

When making a payment, customers will be alerted if the names don’t align, giving them an opportunity to reassess before completing the transaction.

CommBank’s NameCheck already performs a similar role within its ecosystem. It analyses internal payment records to assess the likelihood that a payee’s name and account number are correct. It also considers variations such as nicknames, trading names and other behavioural indicators.

Together, the tools are designed to increase transparency at the point of payment and offer customers more information to reduce risk.

According to CommBank, NameCheck has already prevented an estimated $650 million in mistaken and fraudulent transactions.

Combining Tools To Improve Accuracy

Chang said the integration of NameCheck and CoP would enable more nuanced results.

“There are situations where CoP may not have data on an account, but NameCheck can fill that gap,” she said. “In other cases, NameCheck’s ability to recognise name variations can enhance the customer experience.”

As an example, Chang pointed to her own father, a Singaporean immigrant whose preferred name differs from his legal name.

“He goes by a different name in everyday life. NameCheck understands those kinds of nuances. That’s where its strength lies,” she said.

Industry-Wide Adoption Underway

Most major Australian banks are expected to implement CoP this year, under the guidance of AP+. The rollout is aimed at addressing persistent gaps in payment verification that scammers have exploited.

While CoP brings banks closer to international practices already adopted in markets like the UK, its local integration with tools like NameCheck could help Australian institutions deliver a more robust defence for consumers.

CommBank confirmed it will continue to evolve its fraud detection tools to adapt to emerging threats.

“Protecting customers remains a core focus,” Chang said. “These tools give people more confidence when they send money, whether it’s to a friend, a business or a new payee.”

Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Nick Ross