Santander- transfer. I don't KNOW the EXACT name on their account, do I??

[Miljea]

Yes, I know the a/c number and the sort code, but to do a transfer to them (a friend), I now need the exact name on the account! Oh, and then I have to await a one-time passcode (in a place with zero phone signal...) in order to complete the transaction.

Why has this suddenly become so complex?

Because fraud has increased during the pandemic.

Nothing to do with the pandemic, this is a planned increase in security to improve your personal protection against fraud.
Can you ask your friend for the precise name used on the account?

I ‘guessed’ at a name yesterday and the app provided me with the correct name. I used the initial and surname but she has the account in her full name including middle name.

I was recently paid for tutoring & the parent paying me said they needed my name to make the transfer. But the bank couldn’t find my name! The money did come through though. I assume, as others have said, that it’s a security issue.

My husband was telling me about this when he did a transfer they still let him do it without the correct name it's someone we send money to regularly and the details were saved in the app she recently got married so the surname don't match up

Going forward this will help if you get a digit wrong and don’t accidentally send things to the wrong account (and to make it harder for fraudsters)

So if your intention is to send to Millie Smith but the account name is Brian McGuire then the payment will be refused

I asked my friend the precise name on her account. She said it was V.J. Harvey (made up!).

So I typed that in, along with the sort and a/c number- and it didn't recognise the name (but did recognise which bank it was...)- but it 'recommended' I used that sort, that ACN, and Victoria Jane Harvey

So why ask for the name on the account if it doesn't recognise it?

You can link your bank account to your mobile number using Paym then your friends just need to know your mobile number. It’s really simple to use once you’ve set it up.

So if your intention is to send to Millie Smith but the account name is Brian McGuire then the payment will be refused

not refused, but the system should ask you if you want to proceed with the payment to 'brian' who might be 'millie's' husband.

(disclaimer: I'm in forrin where a name check is standard)