IBAN number, or International Bank Account Number, is a standard international numbering system developed to identify an overseas bank account. Banks use IBANs to process money transfers and ensure payments arrive in the correct location.
IBAN Example
An IBAN is made up of a maximum 34 alphanumeric characters. Each set of characters represents a different detail for your bank account. You can see the breakdown of this IBAN number below.
Country code is the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) country code. Countries that participate have one code that designates their country.
Check digits are provided by the issuing financial institution.
Bank identifier identifies the financial institution. (When appropriate, the bank identifier may also identify the specific branch of the financial institution.)
Sort code and account number identify the account into which funds should be transferred. You will see from your statement that these are the same as your UK bank account details.
The chart below shows an example of an IBAN for a hypothetical bank in the United Kingdom. The IBAN number would be: GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19.
Country code | Check digits | Bank Identifier | Sort code | Account number |
GB | 29 | NWBK | 6016 13 | 31 9268 19 |