What Does BP Mean on a Bank Statement? (Both Meanings Explained)[2026]

“BP” on a bank statement has two completely different meanings depending on context. If BP appears as a transaction code next to a payment description, it stands for “Bill Payment,” a standard banking abbreviation. If BP appears as a merchant name (often with a store number, location, or “FDMS CAT” suffix), it’s a charge from BP plc, the global petrol and energy company. Here’s how to identify which one applies to your statement.

Key Takeaways

• BP as a transaction code stands for “Bill Payment,” meaning you made a payment to a company, utility, or service provider from your account.
• BP/SO means “Bill Payment / Standing Order,” indicating the bill was paid via a recurring standing order.
• BP as a merchant name refers to a purchase at a BP petrol station, convenience store, or via the BPme app.
• BP petrol charges may appear as “BP,” “BP#[store number],” “BP FDMS CAT,” or “BP [location]” on your statement.
• BPme app payments can trigger a pre-authorisation hold of up to £150 (UK) or the preset fill amount, which drops off within a few days.
• BP plc was founded in 1909, operates in over 60 countries, and runs approximately 21,200 retail sites worldwide.
• To quickly identify and sort all BP-related transactions on your statement, convert your PDF bank statement into a searchable spreadsheet with Your Bank Statement Converter.

What Does BP Mean on a Bank Statement?

BP on a bank statement most commonly stands for Bill Payment. This is a standard abbreviation used by UK, US, and international banks to indicate that money has left your account to pay a bill. The bill could be for utilities (gas, electricity, water), council tax, insurance, a phone contract, broadband, or any other recurring or one-off payment to a company.

You’ll typically see BP followed by additional information identifying who received the payment. For example:

• BP BRITISH GAS
• BP VODAFONE LTD
• BP HMRC
• BP SKY UK

The BP code tells you the type of transaction (bill payment), while the text that follows tells you the recipient.

Related abbreviations you may see alongside BP on UK bank statements include:

• BP/SO meaning Bill Payment / Standing Order, a fixed recurring payment you set up
• BBP meaning Branch Bill Payment, processed at a bank branch
• DD meaning Direct Debit, which is different from BP as the payee initiates the collection rather than you
• FPI meaning Faster Payment Inward, money received into your account
• FPO meaning Faster Payment Outward, money sent from your account
• BGC meaning Bank Giro Credit, a deposit made at a branch

According to Raisin UK, hundreds of people search for bank statement abbreviation meanings every month, with “POS,” “FPO,” and “BP” among the most commonly queried codes.

What Does BP Mean as a Merchant Charge?

If “BP” appears on your statement as a merchant name rather than a transaction code, it refers to a purchase at a BP petrol station or through BP’s mobile payment app, BPme.

BP plc (formerly British Petroleum) is one of the world’s largest energy companies, founded in 1909 and headquartered in London. BP operates approximately 21,200 retail fuel stations across more than 60 countries. In the UK alone, BP runs over 1,200 forecourts.

BP merchant charges appear on bank statements in several formats:

• BP [location]
• BP#[store number][operator name]
• BP FDMS CAT [location]
• BP CONNECT [location]
• BPme

BP FDMS CAT is a particularly common descriptor in the US. FDMS stands for First Data Merchant Services, the payment processor that handles card transactions at many BP stations. CAT stands for Customer Activated Terminal, meaning you paid at the pump rather than inside the store.

Why Is There a Pending BP Charge on My Statement?

If you used the BPme app or paid at the pump with a card, your bank may show a pending pre-authorisation hold before the final charge posts.

In the UK, BPme pre-authorises up to £150 (or the preset fill amount you selected) to confirm your card has available funds before unlocking the pump. You are only charged for the actual fuel dispensed. The held amount is released by your bank within a few days, though in some cases it can take up to 10 days.

In the US, pay-at-pump pre-authorisation holds typically range from $1 to $175, depending on the card issuer and station. Visa and Mastercard have different hold limits. The final charge replaces the hold once the transaction settles, usually within 1 to 3 business days.

If you see two BP charges on your statement around the same date, one is likely the pending pre-authorisation and the other is the settled amount. They should not both fully process.

How to Verify a BP Charge on Your Bank Statement

For BP bill payments (transaction code):

1. Check the payee name after “BP” to identify which company received the payment.
2. Cross-reference the amount and date with any bills you’ve recently paid.
3. Review your online banking payment history for scheduled bill payments.

For BP petrol/merchant charges:

1. Check the date and amount against any recent fuel stops.
2. Look for a store number or location in the descriptor to identify which station.
3. Check the BPme app if you use it for payment history and receipts.
4. Contact BP customer support at BPmeUK@bp.com (UK) or through bp.com for charge enquiries.

For both types, converting your bank statement into a filterable spreadsheet with Your Bank Statement Converter lets you search “BP” and instantly see every bill payment and fuel charge in one view.

How to Dispute an Unrecognised BP Charge

If you don’t recognise a BP transaction:

• Bill payment: Contact your bank to trace the payment. They can provide the full payee details and reference number. If it was set up in error, request a reversal or cancel the standing order.
• Petrol charge: If you didn’t visit a BP station, contact your bank to dispute the transaction and request a chargeback. Report suspected card fraud and request a replacement card.
• Pre-authorisation hold that didn’t drop: Contact your bank and ask them to release the hold. Provide the date and amount so they can match it to the pending transaction.

Keep records of all transactions. Use Your Bank Statement Converter to export your statements as clean spreadsheets for faster dispute resolution.

Other Common Bank Statement Abbreviations

If BP confused you, these related guides cover other frequently searched codes:

• What Does BGC Mean on Bank Statement?
• What Does FPI Mean on a Bank Statement?
• What Does FPO Mean on a Bank Statement?
• What Does Point of Sale Mean on a Bank Statement?
• What Does DR Mean on a Bank Statement?

Conclusion

“BP” on your bank statement means either “Bill Payment” (a transaction code for outgoing payments to companies) or a charge from a BP petrol station. The context makes the difference: if BP appears as a prefix code before a company name, it’s a bill payment. If BP appears as the merchant name with a location or store number, it’s a fuel purchase. Use Your Bank Statement Converter to convert your PDF statements into searchable spreadsheets where you can filter and identify every BP entry at a glance.

Frequently Asked Questions