IBAN Country List - IBAN Format Example for Country (2024)

FAQs

What is IBAN country formats? ›

Up to 34 characters long, an IBAN is a combination of letters and numbers. It starts with a two-character country code, two bank control digits, and a Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) that contains data specific to your bank and account.

Banks based in the US, Australia, China, and New Zealand do not use IBANs, but instead use a routing number as well as a SWIFT code (otherwise known as a BIC code) when processing wire transfers. IBANs are most commonly used in Europe, but some countries outside Europe also use IBANs.

While an IBAN identifies a bank's country of origin and the precise account number, a SWIFT code breaks it down into three more specific elements. The unique code is comprised of 8-11 alphanumeric characters and includes: A four-letter bank code. A two-letter country code.

What does my IBAN look like? Your IBAN will start with two letters to denote the SEPA country where the account is based, e.g. IE for Ireland or DE for Germany. This country code is followed by two "check digits", and finally a country-specific basic bank account number.

It consists of a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-digit code that indicates the location of its head office. The last three characters are optional if the bank wants to specify a particular branch.

Using the wrong IBAN could result in a payment being returned or even sent to the wrong account altogether.

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, which you can use when making or receiving international payments. Your IBAN doesn't replace your sort code & account number ─ it's an additional number with extra information to help overseas banks identify your account for payments.

The United States does not currently use the IBAN system. Instead, U.S. bank accounts use ABA routing numbers for domestic money transfers and SWIFT codes for international money transfers.

Are IBAN and SWIFT code the same? ›

The primary difference between the two methods lies in what information the codes convey. A SWIFT code is used to identify a specific bank during an international transaction, whereas an IBAN is used to identify an individual bank account involved in the international transaction.

The last three (bank, branch, and account numbers) collectively make up the Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) and are used to locate a specific bank. The IBAN format is always the same for every country, although the number of digits may vary. For example, Norway uses 15 characters, while Liechtenstein uses 21.

If you are trying to transfer money into a specific account, you will use an IBAN code. The United States does not currently use IBANs. Instead, the US uses routing numbers when domestically transferring money and SWIFT codes when internationally transferring money.