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BACS Formats in Cezanne

BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Services) is the UK payment network that allows businesses to make electronic payments directly into employees’ bank accounts. In payroll, BACS files are generated to instruct the bank to pay employees, HMRC, and other third parties.
Cezanne Payroll supports exporting BACS payment files in multiple formats so that they can be uploaded directly into your bank’s portal or secure BACS submission service.
 
This article outlines:

What is a BACS Format?

A BACS format is a predefined electronic file layout (usually a .txt file with fixed-length fields or a .csv) that specifies how payment information is structured for the bank to process.
Each UK bank or BACS bureau can have its own format requirements, but many follow a common set of industry standards.
The most widely used is the Standard 18 Format, but variations exist depending on the bank and system.
 

BACS Templates in Cezanne

Cezanne provides standardised BACS templates out-of-the-box, which cover the most common banking requirements. These templates can be configured and assigned to your company payroll.
 

Supported BACS Templates in Cezanne 

Note:
  • Your Cezanne Implementation Consultant or System Administrator can help confirm which template should be configured depending on your bank’s requirements.

Choosing the Right Template

  • Check with your bank: Each bank provides technical specifications for their required BACS format. 
  • Test before going live: Generate a test file in Cezanne and upload it to your bank’s portal to confirm acceptance. 

Key Points to Remember

  • Cezanne supports multiple bank-specific BACS templates in addition to the industry-standard format. 
  • Templates are configurable and can be assigned per company or payroll.
  • Always validate the BACS file with your bank before making live payments.
  • If your bank requires a variation not listed here, speak with your Cezanne Implementation Consultant who can provide advice.