Reference Guide

IBAN & BIC Codes Explained

Understand International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN) and Bank Identifier Codes (BIC/SWIFT). Learn their structure, how to find them, and validate account details before making transfers.

What is an IBAN?

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized international format for bank account numbers. It was developed to facilitate cross-border payments by reducing errors and speeding up processing.

IBANs are used primarily in Europe and some Middle Eastern, North African, and Caribbean countries. They combine your country code, bank code, and account number into a single, verifiable format.

IBAN Structure

An IBAN consists of up to 34 alphanumeric characters:

                  DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
                

Component	Characters	Example	Description
Country Code	2 letters	DE	ISO 3166-1 country code
Check Digits	2 digits	89	Error detection via MOD-97
Bank Code	4-8 digits	37040044	Identifies the bank
Account Number	Variable	0532013000	Your account identifier

IBAN Length by Country

Country	Code	Length	Example
Germany	DE	22	DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
France	FR	27	FR14 2004 1010 0505 0001 3M02 606
United Kingdom	GB	22	GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
Spain	ES	24	ES91 2100 0418 4502 0005 1332
Italy	IT	27	IT60 X054 2811 1010 0000 0123 456
Netherlands	NL	18	NL91 ABNA 0417 1643 00

What is a BIC/SWIFT Code?

A BIC (Bank Identifier Code), also known as a SWIFT code, is an 8-11 character code that uniquely identifies a financial institution globally. BIC is used in conjunction with IBAN for international transfers.

                  DEUTDEFFXXX
                

Component	Characters	Example	Description
Bank Code	4 letters	DEUT	Institution identifier
Country	2 letters	DE	ISO country code
Location	2 characters	FF	City/location code
Branch	3 characters	XXX	Optional branch code

Where to Find Your IBAN and BIC

Bank Statement
Your IBAN and BIC are typically printed on your monthly bank statements.
Online/Mobile Banking
Log into your bank account and look for account details or settings section.
Bank Card
Some banks print the IBAN on the back or front of debit/credit cards.
Contact Your Bank
Call or visit your bank branch to get your official IBAN and BIC.

Frequently Asked Questions

For SEPA transfers within Europe, only the IBAN is required - the BIC can be derived automatically. However, for international SWIFT transfers, you typically need both the IBAN (or account number) and the BIC/SWIFT code.

IBANs have built-in check digits that can be validated using the MOD-97 algorithm. Many online IBAN validators can check if an IBAN is structurally correct. However, validation only confirms the format is correct - not that the account exists or belongs to a specific person.

Your IBAN is not highly sensitive - you need to share it to receive payments. However, you should only share it with trusted parties. Someone with just your IBAN cannot withdraw money from your account, but combined with other personal information, it could potentially be misused.

No, the United States does not use IBAN. Instead, US bank accounts are identified by a routing number (ABA/ACH) and account number. For international transfers to/from the US, you'll need the SWIFT/BIC code along with the routing and account numbers.