What is an IBAN number?

What is an IBAN number?

An IBAN — or International Bank Account Number — is a standardised international numbering system used to identify bank accounts across borders.

It facilitates the process of international money transfers and ensures that funds are routed to the correct account in a foreign country. It was developed to reduce errors and improve the speed of international payments.

Components of an IBAN

IBANs are made up of several components, as follows:

1. Country code: A two-letter code representing the country in which the bank account is held (e.g., "DE" for Germany, "FR" for France).
2. Check digits: Two numeric digits used to validate the IBAN and ensure its accuracy.
3. Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN): A unique identifier for the specific bank account within that country, which may include bank and branch identifiers, as well as the account number.

IBAN example

Here’s an example of an IBAN number for a bank account in Germany:

DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00

In this example:

• "DE" represents the country code (Germany)
• "89" are the check digits
• "3704 0044 0532 0130 00" is the BBAN, including bank and account details

What is an international bank account checker?

An international bank account checker is a tool or service that verifies the validity of the IBAN number. These tools help ensure that the IBAN is correctly formatted and can detect potential errors before processing international payments.

Using an IBAN checker can prevent delays and additional costs associated with incorrect international transactions.

How to find an IBAN number

You can find the IBAN of an account in several places, including:

• Bank statements. IBAN numbers are often printed on bank statements.
• Online banking. Log in to your online banking account. Most banks provide access to your IBAN in the account details or information section.
• Bank branch. Visit your local bank branch and request your IBAN from a representative.

Bank website. Some banks offer IBAN calculators on their websites, where you can enter your account details to generate your IBAN.