Bank accounts and deposits

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) has made it easier to deposit money into inmate accounts by using BPAY or by making a deposit at a post office.

Cash, cheque and money order deposits are not accepted at any correctional centres.

Inmates rely on money from families and friends to purchase items such as toiletries, magazines, newspapers and to make telephone calls that keep them in contact with their families and friends while in custody.

Fast facts

• Families and friends can deposit money electronically by using BPAY (internet and phone banking) or by making a deposit using cash or a debit card at any post office.
• BPAY deposits are free.
• Australia Post charges a fee for every deposit made at a post office. Check with Australia Post about the fee.
• The maximum amount that you can deposit per transaction is $100.
• From Monday 7 August 2023, the maximum amount inmates can receive will increase from $600 to up to $800 per month
• The General Manager of a correctional centre may approve a deposit greater than $100 to cover an inmate's external medical and/or educational costs. 
• The money deposit can be expected in the inmate's account after two working days. 
  
• Inmates can check the balance of their accounts each month. 
  
• If an inmate receives more than the maximum $800 in a month, the money will be given to the inmate when they are released from custody. Alternatively, it can be returned electronically to the person who made the deposit. CSNSW will require the bank account details of the person who made the deposit.

Families and friends who wish to deposit money need

• a visitor index number (VIN), which visitors receives when they visit a correctional centre inmate for the first time
• a CSNSW Depositor Reference Report, which contains a personalised Customer Reference Number (CRN) for BPAY and Australia Post, as well as the BPAY biller code for CSNSW; this will only be provided to those over the age of 18
• a different CRN for each inmate account unto which they wish to deposit money.

The CSNSW Depositor Reference Report can be

• obtained by families and friends at the correctional centre when visiting an inmate
• sent electronically by CSNSW staff to an email address
• posted by CSNSW staff to a residential address.

More information

Contact the correctional centre that houses the inmate.