Frequently Asked Questions

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized international numbering system for identifying bank accounts across national borders. It was originally developed to facilitate payments within the European Union but is now used in over 80 countries worldwide.

IBAN length varies by country, ranging from 15 characters (Norway) to 33 characters (Russia). The ISO 13616 standard allows a maximum of 34 characters. For example, German IBANs are always 22 characters, Austrian IBANs are 20 characters, and Swiss IBANs are 21 characters. You can see the exact length for each country on our IBAN formats page.

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. The standard is defined by ISO 13616 and is maintained by SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).

BBAN stands for Basic Bank Account Number. It is the country-specific part of the IBAN that comes after the country code and check digits. The BBAN contains the domestic bank code and account number in a format defined by each country's banking authority.

IBAN validation involves several steps: checking the length matches the country's standard, verifying the format (2 letters, 2 digits, then alphanumeric BBAN), confirming the country code is valid, and calculating the mod-97 checksum. Our IBAN checker performs all these checks plus additional national format validation.

The IBAN checksum consists of two digits (positions 3-4) calculated using the mod-97 algorithm defined in ISO 7064. To validate, the IBAN is rearranged (BBAN + country code + check digits), letters are converted to numbers (A=10, B=11, etc.), and the resulting number must be divisible by 97 with a remainder of 1.

Yes. IBAN validation confirms the format and checksum are correct, but it cannot guarantee the account actually exists or belongs to a specific person. A valid IBAN means the number is structurally correct and the bank code is recognized, but the account itself may be closed or non-existent.

BIC (Bank Identifier Code), also known as SWIFT code, is an 8 or 11 character code that uniquely identifies a bank worldwide. While IBAN identifies the account, BIC identifies the bank. For SEPA payments within Europe, the BIC is often optional as it can be derived from the IBAN.

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a payment integration initiative of the European Union that simplifies bank transfers in euros. SEPA covers 36 countries including all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, and Vatican City.

Over 80 countries use IBAN, including all European countries, many Middle Eastern countries, and parts of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. IBAN is mandatory for cross-border payments in Europe. Notable exceptions include the United States, Canada, Australia, and most Asian countries, which use different systems. See our complete country list on the IBAN formats page.

The Bankleitzahl (BLZ) is the German bank routing code, an 8-digit number that identifies a specific bank and branch. It is embedded within the German IBAN at positions 5-12. You can use our converter tool to combine a BLZ and account number into a valid IBAN.

A German IBAN consists of "DE" + 2 check digits + 8-digit BLZ + 10-digit account number, but the conversion is not always a simple concatenation. The Deutsche Bundesbank maintains bank-specific IBAN rules (IBAN-Regeln) that can require account number transformations or even substitution of a different BLZ before the IBAN is built. These rules are published in an extended BLZ file and updated quarterly. Our free converter tool applies these rules automatically — just enter your BLZ and Kontonummer and it will calculate the correct IBAN.

A German IBAN has the structure DE + 2 check digits + 8-digit BLZ + 10-digit account number, so you can read these components directly from the IBAN. However, because some banks use special IBAN rules (IBAN-Regeln) that transform the account number or substitute a different BLZ during IBAN creation, the values in the IBAN may not always match the original BLZ and Kontonummer. Our IBAN checker shows the embedded components when you validate a German IBAN.

Your IBAN is typically printed on your bank card (debit or credit card), shown on your bank statements, and available in your online banking portal. You can also contact your bank directly or, for German accounts, use our converter tool with your BLZ and account number.