PayID Already Registered? Find Where It's Linked (AU Guide)

"PayID already registered" message usually means your mobile or email is still linked to a PayID at another Australian bank.

If you're trying to set up a PayID with your bank and see a message saying your mobile number or email address is already registered as a PayID, it usually means that identifier is still linked to an account at another Australian bank, credit union or building society — or at a previous account of your own. A PayID can only be linked to one account at a time, which is why the "payid already registered" message blocks a second registration.

This guide explains what the message means, how to work out which bank currently holds your PayID, and the safest way to move it across so you can finish registering with your new bank.

Quick Answer

A PayID (mobile number, email or ABN) can only be linked to one bank account at a time. If you see "PayID already registered", the identifier is still active at another financial institution — often an old account, a joint account, or a bank you've since left. To fix it, you need to contact the bank that currently holds the PayID and either close it or place it into a transfer state, then complete the new registration at your current bank. If you can't work out where the PayID sits, your current bank's support team may be able to help identify it or guide the transfer process.

What This Message Usually Means

Australia's PayID service, run through Australian Payments Plus (AP+), assigns each PayID identifier to a single bank account. The rule is straightforward: one mobile number, one email address or one ABN can only be linked to one account at any given time.

So when your bank's app tells you the PayID is already registered, it isn't saying someone has "stolen" your details. It's telling you that the AP+ central register already has a live record pointing that mobile or email to a bank account somewhere in Australia. Until that record is removed or moved, no other bank can attach the same identifier.

This is different from a rejected or failed registration due to a temporary system error. If it were a system issue, the wording would usually say something like "unable to process" or "try again later". The specific "already registered" wording almost always points to an existing PayID record.

Common Reasons a PayID Is Already Registered

1. You created a PayID at a previous bank and forgot

The most common cause. Many Australians registered a mobile-number PayID years ago at a bank they no longer use day to day. Even if you rarely visit that bank's app, the PayID can still be active if the underlying account wasn't formally closed.

2. Your PayID is linked to a joint account or an old shared account

If you share an account with a partner or family member, the PayID may have been set up on that joint account rather than your personal one. Joint account holders can each link their own mobile number as a PayID to an eligible joint account.

3. You closed the bank account but the PayID wasn't removed

Closing a transaction account doesn't always automatically deregister a PayID linked to it, especially if closure happened by phone or in branch without a specific PayID instruction. The identifier can remain on the AP+ register.

4. Someone else has registered your email or mobile number

Less common, but possible if a mobile number was recycled by a telco or an email address was previously owned by someone else. In this case, the PayID is genuinely linked to another person's account, and you'll need help from your bank to sort it out.

5. You already registered the PayID at your current bank on a different account

If you have several accounts at the same bank, the PayID might be linked to a different one than the account you're viewing. Check every eligible account in your current online banking before assuming the PayID is at another institution.

How to Find Which Bank Your PayID Is Linked To

Because PayIDs are managed by the financial institutions themselves, there is no consumer-facing central directory you can log into to see where your PayID sits.

That's why "find which bank my PayID is with" isn't a one-click search. However, there are practical ways to narrow it down.

Try a small test payment from a trusted account

When you send money to a PayID from your online banking, you are shown the account name registered to that PayID before you confirm the payment.

If you send a small amount (for example, one dollar) to your own mobile number or email PayID from another account you control, the confirmation screen may reveal a familiar name — often your own — which can jog your memory about where the PayID lives. The name may be shortened or partly masked by some banks, but it's often enough to identify the account.

Check every bank you've had a relationship with

Log in to each bank you've used and look in the PayID section (often found under "Pay Anyone", "Payments" or "Profile"). If a PayID is registered there, it will normally be listed. Don't forget:

• Old savings accounts you haven't touched in years
• Digital-only banks or neobanks you tried briefly
• Credit union or mutual bank accounts
• Business accounts if you're a sole trader

Ask your current bank for guidance

If you can't find the PayID yourself, contact your current bank through their official app or the number on the back of your card. They may not be able to tell you which specific institution holds it (banks generally can't see other institutions' PayID records), but they can walk you through the transfer request process, which is often the fastest path forward regardless of where the PayID currently sits.

What to Do Now: Step-by-Step

1. Confirm the exact identifier that's blocked. Is it your mobile number, an email address, or both? Sometimes only one is registered elsewhere. If only your mobile is blocked, you may be able to register an email PayID at your new bank straight away as a workaround while you sort out the mobile.
2. Check your other accounts at your current bank. Open every eligible account and look at the PayID or "Manage PayID" section. If it's already registered internally, you may just need to move it to a different account within the same bank.
3. Log into any previous banks you've used. Look for a PayID section and check whether the mobile or email is listed there. If yes, you've found it.
4. Do a small test PayID payment to yourself. Send a token amount to your mobile or email PayID from another account and note the account name shown on the confirmation screen. This is often the quickest way to jog your memory.
5. Contact the bank that holds the PayID (once identified). Ask them to either close the PayID (if you no longer want it there) or place it into a transfer state so you can complete registration at your new bank.
6. Complete the registration at your new bank promptly. Once the old PayID is closed or moved into transfer state, log in to your new bank's app and finish the setup within the transfer window — some banks note that if the new registration isn't completed within around 14 days, the PayID will remain linked to the original account.
7. If you can't identify the holding bank, contact your current bank. Explain the situation and ask what options are available. Support staff can sometimes assist through internal processes when a customer can't locate the source institution.

How to Transfer a PayID to Another Bank

The general process for moving a PayID between Australian financial institutions works like this:

• Ask the bank that currently holds the PayID to put it into a transfer state.
• Register the PayID at your new bank within the transfer window.
• Until the new registration is completed, payments made to that PayID continue to go to the original bank account.

Several major Australian banks describe this same pattern. For example, Westpac notes that customers can call to place a PayID into a transfer state, and if the transfer isn't completed at the new bank within 14 days, the PayID reverts to the original Westpac account. 

Suncorp Bank offers an in-app "Transfer PayID" option and applies a similar 14-day window before the transfer expires.

 ANZ allows transfers between an ANZ account and another financial institution through its Internet Banking.

Exact steps and time frames may vary depending on your bank, so confirm the process with the specific institution holding the PayID. Business PayIDs (linked to ABN or an organisation identifier) may follow a slightly different process, sometimes requiring a phone call or branch visit rather than an in-app change.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming your PayID was auto-closed when you left a bank. A PayID can survive account closure if it wasn't specifically deregistered. Always confirm with the previous bank.
• Ignoring the transfer window. Once the old bank puts the PayID into a transfer state, complete the new registration promptly. If you delay, the PayID may snap back to the original account.
• Responding to unsolicited messages about your PayID. AP+ has stated PayID will never contact you directly. Emails or text messages claiming to be from PayID and asking you to click a link, verify details or "upgrade your account" are scams. Always go to your bank's official app or website instead of tapping a link in a message.
• Sharing verification codes with anyone. Legitimate PayID setup uses codes sent to your registered mobile or email. Never share those codes with anyone claiming to be from your bank, PayID, or a "recovery" service.
• Trying to re-register repeatedly. Multiple failed attempts won't override an existing PayID. The record has to be removed or transferred at the source first.

How to Reduce the Chance of This Happening Again

• Deregister PayIDs before closing an account. If you're switching banks, remove or transfer any active PayIDs first, then close the account.
• Keep a note of where your PayIDs are set up. A short note in your password manager or a secure notes app helps you track which mobile or email is linked where.
• Consider using different identifiers on different accounts. You can have multiple PayIDs — for example, a mobile number for personal use and an email for a side business.
• Review your PayIDs during regular banking checks. A quick look in the PayID section of your main bank's app once or twice a year is enough to catch stale registrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can two people share the same PayID?

No. Each PayID identifier can only be linked to one account at any point in time.【1-029df6】 If someone else's account is holding your mobile number or email, that link needs to be removed before you can register the same identifier.

How do I find which bank my PayID is with if I've had many accounts?

There is no public directory to look this up. The most reliable approach is to send a small PayID payment to yourself from another account and check the account name shown on the confirmation screen, then log into any bank you've held an account with and check its PayID section. Your current bank may also be able to guide the process.

What if the PayID is linked to a bank account I've already closed?

Contact that bank through their official channels (their app, the number on your old card, or their published support line). Explain the situation and ask them to remove the PayID from their records. Once they confirm removal, you can register the identifier at your new bank.

How long does a PayID transfer take between banks?

Timing depends on both banks involved. Some banks describe a window of up to 14 days to complete the transfer at the new bank; if the new registration isn't finished in time, the PayID may remain with the original institution. 

 Check directly with each bank for their current process.

Can I just use my email address as a PayID instead of my mobile?

Often, yes. Because you can have more than one PayID, if only your mobile is blocked, you may be able to register an email address at your new bank as a workaround. Confirm with your bank which PayID types they support.

Is it a scam if my PayID is showing as already registered?

Not usually. The message almost always reflects an existing legitimate registration, often one you set up and forgot about. However, if you receive a text or email claiming to be from "PayID" and asking you to click a link, provide codes or transfer money, treat it as a scam. PayID never contacts customers directly.

What should I do if I think someone else has registered my mobile or email?

Contact your current bank through the official app or the number on the back of your card. Do not click links in unsolicited messages. Your bank can advise on next steps, which may include contacting the institution that holds the record or reporting the matter for investigation.

Conclusion

"PayID already registered" almost always means the identifier is still active at another account — often one you've forgotten about, a joint account, or a bank you no longer use. Because a PayID can only be linked to one account at a time, the fix is to locate the current record and either close it or move it into a transfer state so you can complete registration at your new bank.

Start with quick checks: your other bank accounts, a small test payment to reveal the registered name, and the PayID section of any previous bank. If you can't find it, contact your current bank through official channels. Avoid clicking links in any text or email that claims to be from PayID — the service does not contact customers directly.